WATERVILLE — A lover of poetry, children and great literature, Ellen Richmond sought for months to get one of her favorite poets, Richard Blanco, to come to Waterville.

She had heard him speak twice in person, watched the 2013 inauguration of President Obama on television, when Blanco read his poem “One Today,” and has followed Blanco’s career since then.

Ellen Richmond, who owns the Children’s Book Cellar in Waterville, holds a copy of a new children’s book by Richard Blanco. She is hosting a reading by the Bethel poet at the Waterville Opera House on Dec. 15. He will sign copies of his books after the event. David Leaming/Morning Sentinel

Richard Blanco reads a poem at the second inauguration of President Obama in Washington in 2013. 2013 AP file photo

Richmond, owner of the Children’s Book Cellar on Main Street, wanted central Mainers to be able to hear him in person. So she emailed him, negotiated with his publicist for several months, finally cinched a deal and has rented the Waterville Opera House for his appearance at 7 p.m. Dec. 15.

At the event, Blanco, 47, who lives in Bethel and Boston, will read a version of “One Today” from his new children’s book, which is illustrated by Dav Pilkey of the “Captain Underpants” series.

“The illustrations are just vibrant, bright and beautiful and echo the intent of the poem,” Richmond said.

Books will be on sale in the lobby after the event, and Blanco will sign copies.

Richmond, 63, said Blanco will describe his life as a poet during his appearance.

“He, I believe, is going to talk a bit about how, for somebody in Bethel, Maine, it feels when you get a phone call saying the president would like you to write a poem for his inauguration,” she said. “I think it would be safe to say it probably has changed his life because he now is very visible.

“He wrote a poem, ‘Boston Strong,’ for Boston after the marathon bombing. He wrote another when the embassy reopened in Havana. He is much more prominent now. He is an amazing speaker.”

During the afternoon of Dec. 15, Blanco will visit Winslow Junior High School, where he will be hosted by the language arts department.

“He will speak to the students, read the poem and answer questions,” Richmond said.

Richmond had heard Blanco speak in 2014 at the New England Independent Booksellers Association show in Providence, Rhode Island, where he presented his memoir, “The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Memoir.” She also heard him speak at her nephew’s graduation from the University of Southern Maine this year.

“I’m thrilled he is coming to Waterville because I’ve heard him speak a couple of times and was just blown away,” Richmond said. “He’s incredibly accessible. He’s very personable. I love his poetry.”

Richmond, who comes from a family of literature lovers, posts a poem on Facebook every morning. They vary from contemporary to classic.

“Sometimes they’re serious and sometimes they’re pretty lighthearted, like A.A. Milne’s ‘The King’s Breakfast,’ ” she said. “I just kind of have this thing for poetry, I guess.”

Richmond is a 1974 graduate of Connecticut College, where she majored in English.

Blanco was born in Spain to Cuban exile parents, and when he was an infant, the family moved to Miami.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master of fine arts degree from Florida International University. He has taught at Georgetown University, Central Connecticut State University and at The Writer’s Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

In becoming an inaugural poet, Blanco followed in the footsteps of Robert Frost and Maya Angelou, and is the first immigrant, Latino and openly gay person to be chosen. He also is the youngest.

His first book of poetry, “City of a Hundred Fires,” was published in 1998.

He was named a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and holds honorary doctorates from Colby College, Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the University of Rhode Island.

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