Saturday, November 15, 2014

The Father Goose House
The Father Goose House is a 100 year-old English Tudor cottage located in the old Edgewood section of Homewood, Alabama, 
home to Debra and Charles Ghigna for the past 50 years. Affectionately known as "Father Goose," Charles has written more than 
100 books and 5,000 poems in The Father Goose House. His writing room which he calls his "Treehouse" is located in the attic. 
 
Authors and poets who visited with Father Goose over the years include Betty Adcock, James Baldwin, Van K. Brock, Gwendolyn Brooks, Eric Carle, Clive Cussler, Ann Deagon, James Dickey, Rebecca K. Dotlich, Rita Dove, Mem Fox, Anne George, Nikki Giovanni, Robert Hayden, William Bradford Huie, Madeleine L’Engle, P.D. James, Robert McCammon, David Small, William Meredith, Michael Mott, Kenn Nesbitt, Eugene Platt, R.L. Stine, Mark Strand, Omor Sultonov, John Updike, Margaret Walker, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Allan Wolf,
Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and Jane Yolen.                  
 
See photos below of Charles Ghigna with some of these authors and poets. 
 
 
 
Father Goose
 

Charles Ghigna - Father Goose® lives in a Treehouse in the middle of Alabama.
He is a poet, children’s author, nationally syndicated feature writer, and the author
of more than 5000 poems and 250 books and anthologies for children and adults
ranging from the 1990 Pulitzer Prize nominee Returning to Earth to the popular children’s book
The Father Goose Treasury of Poetry for Children. His poems for adults have been published in
Harper’s, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, The Saturday Evening Post and The Wall Street Journal.
His poems for children are published in Highlights for Children, Cricket, Ranger Rick, Humpty Dumpty,
Jack and Jill, Spider, Ladybug, Babybug, Caterpillar, Children’s Digest
and The School Magazine.
He served as poet-in-residence at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, instructor of creative writing
at Samford University, and has received fellowship grants and various awards and recognitions
from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Mary Roberts Rinehart Foundation,
the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Library of Congress.
A popular speaker at schools, colleges, conferences, and libraries, Ghigna has spoken at the American
Library in Paris, the International school of South America, and at other events throughout the U.S.
and overseas. For more information, please visit his website at: FatherGoose.com
 
Celebrating 50 Years of Writing in the Treehouse
with Four Photos from the "Early Years"
 
 


Inside the Treehouse

 
The view out the window of the Treehouse
December 19, 2024
 
 
 
 Click link to watch video of the reading
 
Reading from BOUND TO DREAM: AN IMMIGRANT STORY
 Alabama Booksmith
Homewood, Alabama
Sept 26, 2024
 



Trish Taylor, Joe Taylor, Charles Ghigna, Jake Reiss
Alabama Booksmith
Homewood, Alabama
Sept 26, 2024
(photo by Larry O. Gay)
 
 

Summer Reading Program
 Blount County Public Schools
Oneonta, Alabama
June 3, 2024
 
 
Summer Reading Program
 Southeastern Elementary
Remlap, Alabama
June 3, 2024
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 



 
Summer Reading Program
 Cleveland Elementary
Cleveland, Alabama
June 3, 2024
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 







The Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids
Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
May 18, 2024
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)
 
 
 
 


Southern Festival of Books
Nashville, Tennessee
October 2023
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)





Homewood Public Library
 Homewood, Alabama
May 17, 2023
 
 
 
 
 
Homewood Public Library
 Homewood, Alabama
May 17, 2023
 (photo by Chip Ghigna)





 Little Professor Bookshop at the Pepper Place

 Birmingham, Alabama
May 13, 2023
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)





Charles Ghigna and Jake Reiss, owner
Alabama Booksmith
 Homewood, Alabama
April 27, 2023
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
 Charles Ghigna, Jake Reiss, Debra Ghigna, Chip Ghigna
Alabama Booksmith
 Homewood, Alabama
April 27, 2023
 
 
 
 
Charles Ghigna with Chantelle Grubbs and children
Alabama Booksmith
 Homewood, Alabama
April 27, 2023
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 


 
Charles Ghigna speaking to 500 teachers, parents, and children
Southern Kentucky Festival of Books
 Bowling Green, Kentucky
March 24, 2023
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)
 
 
 
Charles Ghigna with parents and children
Southern Kentucky Festival of Books
 Bowling Green, Kentucky
March 25, 2023
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)


 
 
 
Monroeville Literary Festival
Monroeville, Alabama
March 3-4, 2023
 
 
 Monroeville Literary Festival
Monroeville, Alabama
March 4, 2023
 
 
 
Debra and Charles Ghigna, Joy Harjo,
Robert McCammon, Lisa McNair, Jacqueline Trimble
Booksigning Table
 Monroeville Literary Festival
Monroeville, Alabama
March 4, 2023
 
 
 
 
 
Debra and Charles Ghigna
Monroeville Academy
Monroeville, Alabama
March 2, 2023

 
 
 
 
 
Hall-Kent Elementary School
Homewood, Alabama
Jan. 27, 2023
(photo by Maureen Kelley) 

 
 
 
 Hall-Kent Elementary School
Homewood, Alabama
Jan. 27, 2023
(photo by Maureen Kelley) 
 



 
Chip Ghigna, Debra Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Julie Pierce and Sparky
Santa Cruz, California
Nov 23, 2022
 (photo by Scott Pierce)
 
 


 
 
Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Santa Cruz, California
Nov 25, 2022
 (photo by Chip Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
 
Charles Ghigna celebrating one million books published by Random House
Springville Road Library
Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 18, 2022
(photos by Chip Ghigna) 
 

 
 

 
Charles Ghigna with bookstore owner and authors
Little Professor Bookshop
Homewood, Alabama
May 2022
(photo by Elise Ferrer)  





Librarians from the Children's Department
  Homewood Public Library
Cristina Castor, Mary Eller, Charles Ghigna, Laura Tucker, and Aaliyah
Jefferson County Public Library Association
Champions Banquet
Hoover Met Center
Hoover, Alabama
Dec. 3, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 






Trussville Public Library
Trussville, Alabama
Oct. 6, 2019
(photo by Chip Ghigna) 



 
 
 
 
 
Granddaughter Charlotte Rose Ghigna
and her daddy Chip Ghigna
visiting the Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 







Reading in the Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
July 16, 2019
(photo by Chip Ghigna) 
 



The University of Alabama
Gorgas Library
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
May 11, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)


 
 
 

Auburn University
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Auburn, Alabama
Apr. 13, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





Books-A-Million
Brookwood Village
Homewood, Alabama
Mar. 23, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 








Meadow View Elementary School
School Visit
Alabaster, Alabama
Mar. 7, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





Homewood Public Library
Booksigning
Homewood, Alabama
Jan. 2, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 






Alabama Literacy Association Conference
Birmingham, Alabama
Nov. 1, 2019
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





 
Kilby Laboratory School
University of North Alabama
Florence, Alabama
November 14, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Teacher Workshop
University of North Alabama
Florence, Alabama
November 14, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
National Book Festival
Washington, DC
Sept. 1, 2018
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





Editor Mary Burleson, Charles Ghigna, publisher Dawn Burbank
Whitman Publishing
Alabama Chapter of the American Pediatrics Meeting
Florence, Alabama
August 28, 2018
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
Charles Ghigna and editors
National Geographic Books for Children
American Library Association Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana
June 25, 2018
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 




National Science Teachers Association Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
March 17, 2018
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 





Chip Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Bryant Park
New York City
Dec. 17, 2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Museum of Modern Art
New York City
Dec. 15, 2017
(photo by Chip Ghigna)





Chip Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
The Roosevelt Hotel
New York City
Dec. 14, 2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
The Roosevelt Hotel
New York City
Dec. 13-18, 2017
(photo by Chip Ghigna)




A view from the Father Goose Tree House
Homewood, Alabama
Dec. 8, 2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




Inside the Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





Debra Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Homewood, Alabama
2017
 
 
 


Charles Ghigna and granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Ghigna
Homewood, Alabama
2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)









Southern Kentucky Book Fest
Bowling Green, Kentucky
2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)


 
 R.L. Stein and
Charles Ghigna
"Father Goose meets Goosebumps"
Southern Kentucky Book Fest
Bowling Green, Kentucky
2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 



Crestline Elementary School
Mountain Brook, Alabama
February 24, 2017
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 



Helena Intermediate School
Helena, Alabama
February 9, 2017
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)
 



 
Chip Ghigna, Debra Ghigna, Charles Ghigna
Deauville, France
2016
 


Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Deauville-La Touques Racecourse
Deauville, France
2016
 
 
 
 
 
Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Honfleur, France
2016
(photo by Chip Ghigna) 
 

 
Books-A-Million Bookstore
Animal Planet Book
Winner of National Science Teachers Association Award
Birmingham, AL
2016
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)
 
 
 
 
 
The Walker School
Marietta, Georgia
2016
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 





 
Sixes Elementary School
Canton, Georgia
2016
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 

 




Charles Ghigna, Charlottle Rose Ghigna and children
FoxTale Book Shoppe
Woodstock, Georgia
2016
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 


 


Mount Vernon, Washington
2016
(photo by Scott Pierce) 





Mercer Island, Washington
2016
(photo by Scott Pierce)  
 




Jake Reiss, Charles Ghigna, Chip Ghigna, Debra Ghigna
Alabama Booksmith
Homewood, Alabama
December 8, 2016







Tea Time in the Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
2015
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 





 Alabama Library Expo
5-City Book Tour
Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Wheeler, Huntsville
2015
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 



Books-A-Million
Brookwood Village
Homewood, Alabama
2015
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)



Barnes & Noble Bookstore
Birmingham, Alabama
2015
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charlotte Rose Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
 Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
2015
(photo by Chip Ghigna)
 







Charlotte Rose Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Chip Ghigna Art Show
The Ellenburg Art Gallery - Homewood Library
Homewood, Alabama
2015
(photo by Chip Ghigna)





St Tropez, France
2015
(photo by Chip Ghigna)




Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Montmartre
Paris, France
2015
(photo by Chip Ghigna)



 

Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Beach Party
St Tropez, France
2015
(photo by Chip Ghigna)


 
 

Debra Ghigna, Chip Ghigna, Charles Ghigna
St Tropez, France
2015
(photo by Diana Levaton)




Charles Ghigna and daughter Julie Pierce
Top of the Statue of Vulcan
Birmingham, Alabama
2014
(photo by Scott Pierce)





Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna
Celebrating the Elo Pillow
with 32 of our audio stories
Homewood, Alabama
2014
(photo by Chip Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Debra Ghigna, Librarian Ashley Fowlkes, Charles Ghigna
Southern Kentucky Book Fest
Bowling Green, Kentucky
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern Kentucky Book Fest
Bowling Green, Kentucky
2014
 (photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)
 
 






Charlotte Rose Ghigna serenades Grandpa Goose on the piano
Homewood, Alabama
2014
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 

 


Illustrator Lori Nichols and Charles Ghigna
Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
2014
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 

Charles Ghigna and children
Homewood Christmas Parade
Homewood, Alabama
2013
(photo by Chip Ghigna) 

Library Director Deborah Fout and Charles Ghigna
Christmas Parade
Homewood, Alabama
2013
(photo by Chip Ghigna)





Grandson Christopher Pierce and Charles Ghigna
Seattle, Washington
2013
(photo by Scott Pierce) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Texas Library Association
Dallas, Texas
2013
 






Rebecca Davis, Charles Waters, Amy VanDerwater, Charles Ghigna, Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Texas Library Association
Dallas, Texas
2013








Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna
Destin Beach, Florida
2013
(photo by Chip Ghigna)













Charles Ghigna and Charlotte Rose Ghigna
Birmingham Zoo
Birmingham, Alabama
2012
(photo by Chip Ghigna)









Charlotte Rose Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
2012
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)







Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
2012
(photo by Brigid Galloway) 





Charles Ghigna and Charlotte Rose Ghigna
Toys R Us
Birmingham, Alabama
2011
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)

 
 



Charles Ghigna and Librarians
Trussville Public Library
Trussville, Alabama
2010
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 

Debra Ghigna, Chip Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Julie Pierce
Seattle, Washington
2009
(photo by Scott Pierce)



Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Celebrating publication of Love Poems
Homewood, Alabama
2008
(photo by Beverly Taylor)
 


Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
2007
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 



 

Honey and Charles Ghigna 
Treehouse
Homewood, Alabama
2006
(photo by Beau Gustafson)
 
 
 


Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Jefferson County Board of Education
Birmingham, Alabama
2005



 
 
 
 
Jonathan Benton Bookstore
Mountain Brook, Alabama
2003
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




  Charles Ghigna, Honey and children
Front yard
Homewood, Alabama
2003
(photo by Beau Gustafson)




Debra Ghigna, Michel Levaton, Charles Ghigna, Diana Levaton
The Levatons' vacation home
Giverny, France
2002


 


Honey and Charles Ghigna
Homewood, Alabama
2001
 
 
 

Rick Bragg, Charles Ghigna, Debra Ghigna
Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham, Alabama
2000






Chip Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Julie Pierce, Debra Ghigna
San Francisco, California
1999
(photo by Scott Pierce)
 
 



Homewood, Alabama
1999
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)





Cooper Memorial Library
Opelika, Alabama
1998
(photo by Katie Lamar Smith) 


 
 
 
Charles Ghigna, Patricia Gauch, Jon Agee, Eric Carle
 The de Grummand Children's Literature Collection
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
1997
 

 


 
 
Vinemont Elementary
Cullman, Alabama
1996
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 




 
 
Homewood Park
Homewood, Alabama
1995
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 








 
Booksigning
Books-A-Million / Eastwood Mall
Birmingham, Alabama
1994
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 

School Visit
Birmingham, Alabama
1994
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 

 
 
 
Librarian Catherine Hill, Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna
Edgewood Elementary School
Homewood, Alabama
1994
 
 
 
 

Mark Strand and Charles Ghigna
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
1993
(photo courtesy of the Utah State Poetry Society)
 
 
 
 
 
Debra Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Diana Levaton
Paris, France
1993
 
 
 
 
 
 

Books of Wonder
First Booksigning
of four new titles from Disney/Hyperion
New York, New York
1993






Chip Ghigna, Charles Ghigna, Debra Ghigna
Homewood, Alabama
1992
(photo by Jerry Ayres)
 
 
 

Charles Ghigna and Chip Ghigna
Backyard, Homewood, Alabama
1992
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




Charles Ghigna, Heather Brinson, Brand Armstrong
Scholastic Writing Awards Ceremony
Brad, 1st Place for Poetry and Heather, 1st Place for Fiction
First time two student winners came from the same state (Alabama),
same school (Alabama School of Fine Arts), and the same class.
Previous student winners include Sylvia Path, Truman Capote, 
John Updike, Stephen King, and Amanda Gorman.
Waldorf Astoria
New York, New York
1991

 



Creative Writing Lab
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1991
 
 
 


Three Generations of Charles Vincent Ghigna
My father, my son, and me
Franklin, North Carolina
1988
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homewood, Alabama
1987
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)





Charles Ghigna with Catherine Hill, Librarian
Homewood Public Library
Homewood, Alabama
1986
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 

Charles Ghigna and Carolyn Scott, Fiction Instructor
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1986
 



John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Six-week summer residency
Washington, DC
1984
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)  
 
 




Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1984
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)



Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna
Seattle, Washington 
Photo taken right after interview by NASA Space Center Officials
for the Poet in Space Project on the Space Shuttle Challenger.
President Reagan later changed the mission to the Teacher in Space Project.
The Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight,
killing all seven crew members, including Christa McAuliffe,
the teacher chosen for this mission.
1984





  Charles Ghigna and James Dickey
Birmingham Art Museum
Birmingham, Alabama
1983
(photo by John Northrop) 




James Dickey and Charles Ghigna
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1983
(photo by John Northrop) 


 


Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Baylor School
Chattanooga, Tennessee
1983
(photo by Finn Bille)  


 
 


City Lights Bookstore
San Francisco, California
1983
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)  
 


 
Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna
Las Vegas, Nevada
1983
 
 
 
 


Homewood, Alabama
1983
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 

Grandfather's Funeral
New York City
1982




James Baldwin and Charles Ghigna
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1982
(photo by John Northrop) 



Baylor School for Boys
Chattanooga, Tennessee
1982
 
 


Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
1982

 


Columbiana, Alabama
1981




Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Cruise Ship
Bahamas
1981
 
 
 
 


 

PD James, Debra Ghigna, Patricia Ghigna, Charles Ghigna
Sanibel Writers Conference
Sanibel Island, Florida
1980
 
 
 
 

Linn Park
Birmingham, Alabama
1980
(photo by Carroll Dale Short)


 
 
Debra Ghigna, Julie Ghigna, Charles Ghigna with Mother and Father
Visiting Grandparents
New York, New York
1980
 
 

 
Debra Ghigna, mother Patricia Ghigna, daughter Julie Ghigna, grandmother Laura Ghigna
New York, New York
1980
 
 
 
 
Charles V. Ghigna (Father) and Charles Ghigna
Homewood, Alabama
1980
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 

Robert Hayden and Charles Ghigna
Montgomery, Alabama
1979




Robert Hayden and Charles Ghigna
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
1978
(photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)
 
 



Alabama State Poetry Society
Arlington Home
Birmingham, Alabama
1978
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 




National Writers Conference
Denver, Colorado
1978
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 
 
 
 
Homewood, Alabama
1977
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)




Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
London, England
1977
(photo by Chris Lawson)   
 
 


Debra Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Homewood, Alabama
1977
(photo by Sandra Simpson)   
 





Huntsville, Alabama
1976
(photo by Tim Weber)  




 Northeast Mississippi Jr. College
Booneville, Mississippi
1976
 
 
 
 

Charles Ghigna (Dad), Rev. E.M. Barnes, Charles Ghigna
Wedding Day
First Methodist Church
Hartselle, Alabama
1975
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna) 






Linn Park
Birmingham, Alabama
1974
(photo by Debra Holmes Ghigna)  




Charles Ghigna
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Celebrating the publication of poem
"The Alabama Wiregrassers" in Harper's Magazine
and the first year as Poetry Editor of English Journal
for the National Council of Teachers of English
1974


 
 
Daughter Julie Ghigna and Charles Ghigna
Fort Myers, Florida
1972
(photo by Nancy Minnicks Doe) 
 


Charles Ghigna
Edison Players Theatre Company
Fort Myers, Florida
1969
 
 


Charles Ghigna with Mother and Father
Age 18
Leaving for College
Saying goodbye to Mom and Dad
Fort Myers, Florida
1965



Age 9, 4th Grade
Tice Elementary
Fort Myers, Florida
1955
 


Charles Ghigna age 5 with Mother
Fort Myers, Florida
1950
 
 
 
 

 Age 3
Bayside, New York
1948