Pause for Poetry: Tuesday

This week, I will be pausing for poetry every day in celebration of National Poetry Day on Thursday 6th October. The theme this year is the Environment, offering plenty of poems to choose from and plenty of inspiration for writing.

However, because poetry is not just for poetry day, I will be sharing a couple of favourite poetry books each day this week. It has been very hard to choose…

This is a collection packed with a wonderful range of poems about some of the amazing women and girls who have helped to shape our world. Young (Tallulah Bryan), from the past (Boudicca) and the present (Sara Pickard), well-known (the Bronte sisters) and unnamed (match girls) - these inspiring figures are celebrated in poetic form. There are also poems discussing the role of women in fairy tales and clothing and fashions.

Although about women, this is not a collection just for girls; there is something for everyone here.  Many of the poems start with some background information, placing the character into context and many would make a perfect starting point for lessons across the curriculum. 'Malala' by Michaela Morgan would make an excellent focus for discussion about human rights and could be used in conjunction with the wonderful picture book about her life, 'For the Right to Learn'.

The three poets responsible for this collection each bring their own voice and style, creating a diverse range of work. This is a must-have for any school or library!

Reaching the Stars- Poems about Extraordinary Women and Girls

by Jan Dean, Liz Brownlee and Michaela Morgan

Macmillan    ISBN: 978-1509814282

This beautiful picture book is an emotional tribute to the history and experiences of African Americans, both past and present. Kwame Alexander’s poetry takes the reader on a journey through the little known – the left out- history of those who are unforgettable, unflappable, undeniable and unafraid. Unspeakable events are also recorded in these pages. The images convey the horror whilst the words state that simple fact.

The Undefeated doesn’t just acknowledge familiar names-Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali, Ella Fitzgerald- it also commemorates the unnamed victims of the slave trade, the black soldiers who fought during the civil war, those held in slavery. The book ends on a positive note- it is for the undefeated, those whose futures are yet to come. Kadir Nelson’s powerful, evocative images adorn each page, each a work of art. At the end of the book, there are biographies of those included in the book, making the perfect starting point for further research.

This is an amazing book – a must for every library and classroom. Its message is powerful and essential: black lives matter.

The Undefeated Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Andersen ISBN: 978-1783449293

‘Shaping the World’ was the idea of Liz Brownlee, who approached poets with suggestions of historical figures they might wish to write about. Many had their own ideas and so the collection was developed.

The poems in this book are a wonderful mix of poignant and humorous: each powerful, each unique. The amount of thought and attention to detail that has gone into each is just stunning. Mat Goodfellow’s poem about Shakespeare brilliantly combines information about the man with Matt’s personal experiences and feelings. In Laura Mucha’s poem about Alexander Fleming’s petri dish, she has chosen to lay the words of her poem out to reflect what his discovery.

This is a collection which lends itself to use across the curriculum. The poems could be used as a starting point for learning about a particular figure, to be shared during a lesson on a particular subject, as the basis of an assembly or for PSHE sessions. Each poem is accompanied by a page with information about the famous figure, their achievement and a quote. A guide for how the poem should be read is also included which is an excellent idea!

‘Shaping the World’ is an excellent, diverse collection of poems, celebrating forty remarkable people and their achievements.

Shaping the World: 40 Historical Heroes in Verse

chosen by Liz Brownlee

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529036862

More tomorrow!

Pause for Poetry: Monday

This week, I will be pausing for poetry every day in celebration of National Poetry Day on Thursday 6th October. The theme this year is the Environment, offering plenty of poems to choose from and plenty of inspiration for writing.

However, because poetry is not just for National Poetry Day, I will be sharing a couple of favourite poetry books each day this week. It has been very hard to choose…

Poetry can be an incredibly powerful, personal form of expression which allows the exploration of thoughts and feelings or simply their release. Sometimes, we lack the words to encapsulate our emotions or the courage to commit them to paper. Finding that others have also experienced similar feelings can offer great comfort which is why poems like those in ‘Being Me’ are invaluable. Sharing and discussing emotions through the words of others helps us to make sense of our feelings, feel supported and encourage empathy for others.

This is a truly stunning collection of poignant, powerful poems by three outstanding poets, illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler. The anthology contains 45 poems exploring a wide range of emotions, worries and ideas. Invaluable for both home and school, this is a collection which should be on every shelf.

Each poem deserves to be savoured and could be discussed in detail, easily being used as the core of a session, for a discussion or read for pleasure, but I have selected just a few to look at here. There are notes at the end of the book written by Dr Karen Goodall, a developmental psychologist, which offer advice for discussions and links for support organisations.

Reading ‘My Head is Full of Hurry’ by Laura eases all the tension in your body as your mind slows with the calming images she creates. The use of alliteration and onomatopoeia help echo the sounds of nature and its healing beauty. Children could easily create their own poems using this as a model, drawing on images, sounds and experiences which help them to regain some peace and feel calm. My head is mostly ‘full of hurry’ - a wonderful description- and this poem is one which I will now mutter to myself at moments of need.

‘A Thought’ by Matt explores a mother’s depression from a child’s point of view. The imagery used is so poignant, yet easy to relate to and perfect for discussing the feelings of both adult and child.

Liz’s poem, ‘What to do with worries’ suggests many ways of sharing the things that are bothering you instead of bottling them up. This is another poem which children could use as a model for their own ideas as well as a starting point for discussing ways to tackle worries.

Other favourites include ‘The Land of Blue’, ‘Being Heard’, ‘In the Heart of a Book’ and ‘First Day’, but each and every poem is a real gem. Highly recommended.

Being Me: Poems about Thoughts, Worries and Feelings

Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Laura Mucha

illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler

Otter Barry ISBN: 978-1913074654

Whatever your feelings, there is a poem which can help! There are poems which can lighten your mood, poems to calm you down, those which entertain and those which inspire. ‘Everyone Sang’ is a fabulous collection which really has something for everyone and every emotion.

Gathered into four sections, the poems have been selected to help support different moods and capture how the reader is feeling. In his introduction, William Sieghart says, ‘There is a special magic in the perfect poem…’ and there is plenty of magic in these pages. There are plenty of classics- Wordsworth’s ‘Daffodils’, John Masefield’s ‘Sea Fever’ and ‘Silver’ by Walter de la Mare to name a few- alongside more recent treasures like ‘Granny Is…’ by Valerie Bloom

Each section has been carefully considered, offering a balance of older and more modern as well as from a wonderful range of poets from different countries and cultures. There are so many poems in this joyful collection which are perfect for sharing with a class or using for assemblies, encouraging children to reflect on their feelings and showing how poetry can help them to express themselves and understand others.

The illustrations are simply delightful, immersing the reader in the poems. They are full of colour, life and imagination. Each spread could be framed and displayed, but I particularly love the illustration for ‘The Sound Collector’ by Roger McGough and the one for ‘Don’t Go Into the Library’ by Alberto Rios.

A fabulous collection of poems for everyone to enjoy, ‘Everyone Sang’ would make a perfect gift.

Everyone Sang: A Poem for Every Feeling

William Sieghart, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406393613

'The Same Inside' is an amazing collection of poems by three very special poets. It is a collection to be shared, discussed and enjoyed again and again.

The opening poem entitled 'The Same Inside' by Liz Brownlee sets the tone of the book perfectly. Look inside any apple and what do you find- a star, and yet they all have different appearances. Cutting the apples, sharing the fruit and planting the seed of the idea could be used as the basis of an assembly or lesson to develop empathy and encourage thought and discussion. Having done this, it is amazing where it led!

There are poems here to help with many situations and each could be used as the basis for work in the classroom so I have selected a few of my favourites to discuss here- but it was very hard to choose!

'Each and Every One' is a poem by Matt Goodfellow which states 'I am human' in a range of languages, starting with Welsh and ending with English. Imagine the fun to be had discovering which language each sentence is written in, the joy of children identifying a language which they can speak. Families could add the same sentence in other languages they speak or are interested in and the poem extended, celebrated and displayed. Children could think of other sentences or phrases which they would like to translate and create a poem of their own along the same lines. This could lead to discussions about how the sentiment behind the phrase is the same, no matter what the language. 

Roger Stevens' poem, 'Boy or Girl?', offers a brilliant starting point for challenging ideas about gender stereotyping. Having listened to each 'riddle', they could be asked whether they think the subject is a boy or a girl and then discuss why. They could then gather ideas about themselves or their friends and write poems exploring the things they love to do, encouraging empathy and understanding and perhaps allowing children to share hobbies and talents that they have 'outside' school that others might know nothing about. 

'Differences of Opinion' by Liz Brownlee would make a great performance poem. Easy to learn, with plenty of humour, it also carries a poignant message about the beauty of friendship and celebrating difference. Children could create their own poems about the differences between themselves and others- but focus on how little this matters. Differences are to be respected and acknowledged, not ridiculed or loathed. 

Each and every poem in this collection is poignant and special- words to carry in your heart and remind us that we are all 'The Same Inside.'

The Same Inside: Poems about Empathy and Friendship

Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens

Macmillan     ISBN: 978-1509854509

 Enjoy these- more tomorrow!

Pause for Poetry: Scared?

Neal Zetter and Joshua Seigal combine forces in this collaboration of poems which explores the ‘darker side’ of life. Not afraid of tackling uncomfortable subjects, each of these poets offers words which could lead to important discussions, will challenge and perhaps, comfort those who read them.

‘Max is Not in School’ explores the relief felt by a child as they realise that this will be a day when they do not have to endure Max’s constant attacks whilst ‘Bully!’ exposes the lurking insecurity of the bully, offering reasons- not justifications- for their actions. There are poems about family relationships-’Circle Time’, ‘the d I vorce’, ‘When Dad Turns into an Incredible Hulk’ whilst ‘Gifted’ and ‘The Orange Table’ offer insights into life at school. There are so many poems here which open doors to potentially difficult discussions, developing empathy and building understanding as they encourage children to consider things from the point of view of others whilst giving a voice to those who might need it.

Although this sounds deep and dark, there are lighter moments to be found here too. Despite its name, ‘The Seriously Scary Poem’ really isn’t and ‘Skeleton in the Cupboard’ plays with words, not fears. ‘Tyrannosaurus Came to Tea’ is inspired by Judith Kerr’s classic and anyone who has had a cat is sure to recognise their feline friend in ‘Catastrophic’ whilst ‘Exclamation Mark!’ is a light-hearted look at punctuation.

With poems which can be used across the curriculum, this is a great collection for teachers of UKS2 upwards, but is also perfect for exploring at home. Are you brave enough?

Scared Neal Zetter and Joshua Seigal,

illustrated by Zoe Williams

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745142

You can read my review of ‘Yapping Away’ here and ‘When the Bell Goes’ here.

Pause for Poetry: Courage in a Poem

It’s no secret that I love poetry and relish savouring a new collection. ‘Courage in a Poem’ is not only a beautifully presented book, but also offers words of wisdom, comfort and hope. In the introduction, the poems are described as ‘little parcels of empowerment’ and it is easy to see why as they offer such a range of empathetic and inspiring words.

In ‘Your Epic Self’, Kate Wakeling fills the reader with positivity, reminding them that although this ‘epic self’ might not surface every day, it is always there, just beneath the surface. The words of Chief Dan George sing of all the beauty of life which made his heart soar, reminding us to look at the world around us and find inspiration and joy in nature.

‘Afro Hair Haiku’ is formed from a series of haiku, exploring the beauty of Afro hair and the importance of letting ‘it grow the way it wants to grow: confident again.’ whilst in ‘The Cancan’, Mandy Coe celebrates the amazing feelings of empowerment and freedom which dancing gives. Each poem needs dwelling on and lingering over- and each could be used with classes as the focus for discussion, to enhance a lesson or as a thought to end a day.

There are also poems which would work well as models to inspire children’s own writing. For example, Laura Mucha’s ‘You’re Never Too…’ is an absolute gift for adding additional lines to either individually or as a class, encouraging children to think about both Laura’s ideas and those that they are building.

Containing work from a wonderful range of poets, I am delighted to see that Little Tiger have chosen to keep the work rooted in the places they were written by preserving the subtle differences between British and American English, allowing children to appreciate how language reflects culture, place and time.

Bursting with vibrant artwork from four talented and creative illustrators, every page is a joy to look at, with colour and energy framing the words. This is a collection which will resonate with many, offering words of comfort, wisdom and courage.

Courage in a Poem: Poems About Empowerment

Cecilia Knapp, Debjani Chatterjee, Valerie Bloom, Mandy Coe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kate Wakeling, Elizabeth Acevedo, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Joe Cook, Jason Reynolds, Nikita Gill, Laura Mucha, Janet Wong, Nikki Grimes, Mahogany L. Browne, Matt Goodfellow, Sophia Thakur, Rachel Plummer, Jay Hulme and Chief Dan George

illustrated by Annalise Barber, Mariana Roldan, Masha Manapov and Nabila Adani

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838914394

Pause for Poetry: And Everything Will be Glad to See You

Nosy Crow have set a real precedent for beautifully presented poetry anthologies and this is no exception. The striking cloth bound cover with its stunning illustration is both tactile and tempting.

The collection contains a wealth of poems from well-loved, familiar voices to newer poets whose work is a treat to discover. However, this anthology only contains poems from women and girls. Ella Risbridger, the writer who selected these works, offers a full explanation for her reasons for this in a passionate, enthusiastic introduction (and afterword) to the reader so I will not dwell on this here, but will focus on the poems!

Although not organised into sections, there is a cohesive feeling to the anthology as the poems seem to flow from one to the next. Each spread glows with Shepeta’s beautiful illustrations which capture the essence of the words they accompany. A number of the poems are not only by women, but about women such as Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai and Harriet Tubman. Readers can discover the power and beauty of poems such as ‘Carving’ (Imtiaz Dharker), ‘Stars and Dandelions’ (Misuzu Kaneko), ‘Dancing’ (Yang Kuei-Fei) and ‘Remember’ (Joy Harjo) alongside the classic joy of Eleanor Farjeon’s timeless ‘Cats’.

There are many poems here which teachers could thread into their teaching or share as part of a story time, exposing their classes to the wonderful range of poets and their work. The beautiful presentation of the collection makes it the perfect gift to pass on the love of poetry.

And Everything Will be Glad to See You: Poems by Women and Girls

Selected by Ella Risbridger, illustrated by Shepeta

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1788009218

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Pause for Poetry: Yapping Away: Poems to Fill the World with Laughter

Joshua Seigal is well known for his humorous and inspiring poems and his most recent collection is every bit as wonderful as the others. Full of excellent poems, it is perfect for sharing at home, school or for curling up with on your own. With the start of the new school year rapidly approaching, it is well worth having to hand for those odd moments which need a poem or two!

The poems are playful, drawing on the everyday and inviting the reader to look at things differently. Like many, ‘Fill the World’ would be great fun to perform, adding actions – and/or creating new verses and performing these. The use of word play and pattern mean that children will pick many of the poems up without any effort, joining in with repetition- Icky Sticky Choccy Biccy, Happy or Sleepy Dust, for example, and thoroughly enjoying deciding how to present them. ‘Magic!’ is another which is calling out to be shared and which children would really enjoy using the structure to create their own versions.

These really are poems which will fill the world with laughter, but Joshua Seigal also offers places to pause and think. Drawing my Grandma is full of lovely images, but ends with a poignant thought.  Sad perfectly encapsulates that inexplicable feeling of sorrow which hit us all from time to time- great for initiating discussions and exploring feelings.

Many of the poems here would be perfect for inspiring children to create their own and Joshua Seigal has included ideas at the end of the book for the reader to try. Some of these would make great getting-to-know-you activities for the first days back to school.

Although aimed at a younger audience, these poems would work well with children of any age, helping them to explore poetic techniques and offering enjoyable examples. Even the subjunctive seems less hideous when in a poem! Other poems like ‘Lots’ are just perfect for PSHE for exploring ideas and encouraging discussion in these lessons or as the basis for an assembly.

With illustrations by Sarah Horne adding to the humour of the poems, Yapping Away’ is a wonderful collection- a must have addition to any teacher’s collection!

Yapping Away: Poems to Fill the World with Laugher

Joshua Seigal, illustrated by Sarah Horne

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1472972743

Pause for Poetry: Things That Should Be in a Poem

I love Coral Rumble’s writing! Her first collection, ‘Riding a Lion’, is full of poetic treasures like ‘One Shoe Tall and Three Shoes Wide’ and ‘After the Storm’, all perfect for sharing with children and using to inspire them to create poems of their own. Her verse novel, ‘Little Light’ is just beautiful- the evocative story of young Ada and how she faces- and overcomes- the daily challenges of her life. So when I received a copy of her latest collection, Things That Should Be in a Poem’, not only was I very excited, but my expectations were sky high!

And I was not disappointed! The range of poems in this collection is pure joy as Coral skilfully moves from the silly to the profound, from observation to imagination. The book opens with the titular poem which offers a perfect launching pad for discussions about poetry and what the reader does or doesn’t like. Used with a class, it could open doors to finding out about all manner of new poems and poets! But it also makes a brilliant model for writing as children can play with all their ideas for the things that they would use to ‘collect a poem today’.

Another poem which could be used as the spark for writing is ‘Magic Coat’. It could work with children of any age, sharing their ideas for what their magic coat would allow them to do and using these to form collective or individual poems to share and enjoy.

‘Secrets’, on the other hand, is one of those poems you sometimes need to read to a class and let the message sink in. Seemingly simple, it carries a powerful message, encouraging empathy and provoking a thoughtful response. Deeply poignant, ‘My Name’ is a very special poem.

The collection is illustrated throughout by Shih-Yu Lin whose lively, expressive pictures perfectly complement Coral’s poems. This is a must have collection for any teacher- or adult- or child!

Things That Should Be in a Poem

Coral Rumble, illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin

Troika Poetry ISBN: 978-1912745203

Published 5.9.22

Pause for Poetry: An Imaginary Menagerie

This is a new edition of a classic collection which has delighted readers for many years. It was one of the first poetry books I bought when I started teaching and one which I have used regularly since.

Illustrated throughout by Roger, the poems are about both real and imaginary animals from the Allivator to the Zonk. Rich in word play and puns, each poem is imaginative and full of humour. A particular favourite of mine is ‘Bookworms’ which starts…

Bookworms are the cleverest of all the worms I know

While others meet their fate on a fisherman's hook as bait

Or churn out silk or chew up the earth or simply burn and glow

They loll about in libraries eating words to make them grow.

The words trip off the tongue, making them a joy to perform and very easy to learn by heart as well as it being satisfying for children to explore the ideas, word play and patterns and use these in their own writing.

Discover the ‘Aunt-Eater’ and learn the fate of the Goodgers, know the habits of Squiggles and consider the virtues of a teapet in this ‘imaginary menagerie’ of delights.

An Imaginary Menagerie

Poems and drawings by Roger McGough, cover illustration by Petr Horacek

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074357

Pause for Poetry: Ready for Spaghetti

In ‘Ready for Spaghetti, Michael Rosen has created a series of joyful poems which capture moments of a child’s day from getting up in the morning to going to bed in the evening. Each is full of word play, perfect for encouraging children to join in and experiment with language.

Full of fun and energy, the playful nature of the poems will soon make them firm favourites, easy for children to learn and share as they go about their daily activities. Humour permeates the collection as Michael Rosen pauses to observe the smallest details- playing in a paddling pool, building a sandcastle, having a rumbly tummy- which Polly Dunbar captures perfectly in her irresistible illustrations.

Perfect for sharing, ‘Ready for Spaghetti’ is a wonderfully creative and imaginative collection!

Ready for Spaghetti

Michael Rosen, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406377644

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Pause for Poetry: When the Bell Goes

In this ‘rapping, rhyming trip through childhood’, Neal Zetter turns the clock back to his school days…which seem to have a lot in common with those of today! From mornings to teachers to lessons to home time, Neal brings his performance poetry skills to exploring school life in all its glory (or perhaps gory detail!)

Each poem is accompanied by a joke (What time is it when somebody eats your watch?) or fun fact which may or may not be true (Fire brigades and hospitals across the UK deal with an average of 19 people a week who, during a yoga session, tie themselves in knots from which they cannot escape) which relates to the poem.

The contents page is set out like a school time table with sections on subjects like clothes, playtime and afternoons as well as the less pleasant ‘sick’! Here, there is a poem about that well known ‘tummy ache’ which any teacher (or parent!) will tell you is still a major feature of the school day, one about the class nosepicker and that constant ssssssniffing!

There’s a playtime poem which acknowledges those of us who don’t love football (yay!). ‘Lists’ is a poem about creating- well, lists- and would make an excellent model to inspire children to create their own. A class could have great fun rewriting ‘Good Morning’ to suit its own members whereas ‘Fake News’ offers the opportunity to rewrite history!

The collection is illustrated throughout by Emily Ford whose black and white drawings add to the fun of the poems. A great addition to class shelves!

When the Bell Goes: A Rapping, Rhyming Trip Through Childhood

Neal Zetter, illustrated by Emily Ford

Troika ISBN: 978-19099991576

Pause for poetry: Follow that Word

Having been asked to update the FCBG book lists, poetry has been very much in my mind as this is where I decided to start. A great poetry lover, my collection of poetry books runs into the hundreds, going right back to my childhood.

I have always shouted about the importance of poetry in school and recently, there seems to have been a renewed interest in this much neglected area amongst teachers so I have decided to have a ‘pause for poetry’ every Wednesday, looking at some of my favourites past and present!

‘Follow that Word’ is a new collection from poetry master, John Agard, winner of the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award 2021, illustrated by Momoko Abe (whose picture book ‘When the Sun Goes Home’ is an absolute joy!). It is a masterclass in word play interwoven with myths, legends, history and wisdom. Packed with over sixty poems, there is much to ponder, amuse, delight and think about in these pages.

The collection includes a number of calypso poems. A type of folk song which often incorporates Spanish, Creole, and African phrases, calypso is originally from Trinidad but is also sung elsewhere in the Caribbean and these poems use the rhythms and energy of this musical tradition. ‘Two To Catch On’ is a joyful celebration of diversity and begs to be performed!

It’s been around from Creation dawn

and it only takes two to catch on.

Try it, people, and you will see

this is the dance that can set you free.

Other poems are concerned with figures from history or mythology. ‘Coffin’, for example, introduces the reader to Matthew Coffin, the carpenter who invented the wooden coffin whilst ‘Jumbo’ reflects the experience of Jumbo the first African elephant to arrive at London Zoo. All or any of these poems could be used with a class to enliven various areas of the curriculum, as starting points for discussion or reflection or simply for the joy of sharing their word play.

Often including lines from the poems, Momoko Abe’s illustrations add much to the collection. Lady Mosquito and her babies chase across one page whilst Greek vase inspired friezes border others.

There is so much to treasure and enjoy in this collection! A must for teachers.

Follow that Word John Agard, illustrated by Momoko Abe

Hodder ISBN: 978-1444964974

A few John Agard poetry books from my shelves.

Grow, Tree, Grow!

Oak grows taller each year, offering shelter and nourishment for hundreds of different creatures and plants. A section on ‘Tree Facts’ at the end of the book, offers fascinating facts about oaks and other trees, combining non-fiction with Dom’s poetic story.

‘Grow, Tree, Grow!’ depicts the life cycle of a tree from its first shoot to mighty oak to its decay. It explores the essential role it plays in the ecosystem- how it supports life and it needs the sun and the earth- as well as the impact of humans on forests, making it perfect for including in science lessons as well as for inspiring discussions.

Dom’s writing is beautifully lyrical. His use of kennings, alliteration, assonance, simile, personification make it a joy to read aloud and perfect for sharing. Anastasia’s vivid illustrations capture each scene, offering plenty of details to notice and encourage further discussion.

This is the fifth book in the ‘Wild Wanderers’ series (someone has ‘borrowed’ my copy of ‘Shine, Star, Shine!’) and forthcoming titles include ‘Fly, Butterfly, Fly!’ and ‘Flow, Water, Flow!’. These books make an excellent addition to bookshelves everywhere as they can be enjoyed by children (and adults!) of all ages.

Grow, Tree, Grow! Dom Conlon, illustrated by Anastasia Izlesou

Graffeg ISBN: 978-1802580761

Hay Festival: Alex Wharton

Lat week, I had the great pleasure of seeing Alex Wharton at the Hay Festival. His poetry collection, ‘Daydreams and Jellybeans’ is one of my favourites and I have used many of his poems in school with great success.

Full of energy and enthusiasm, Alex had the audience instantly captivated. He started with his poem, ‘Jellybean’ and soon had us all performing with him. Whilst queuing for the event, the man behind me had expressed concerns to his friend about whether the two little boys he was taking in would manage to stay engaged for the whole session- he need not have worried! They loved it, even taking part in reading a poem on stage with Alex!

Alex’s love of the natural world shines through his work and he explained how being in nature helps him to make ‘space and freedom’ in his brain to create- something which he encouraged the audience to try. He likened poetry to a therapy, saying that when we write, it helps us to untangle our feelings- something I have often found when using poetry with children in school.

Alex shared a selection of his poems, offering insights to the inspiration behind them, and encouraging everyone to join in and have fun. His passion for poetry was infectious, making this an excellent and enjoyable session for all. Most excitingly, he mentioned a new collection might be on the way soon…

Whether you consider yourself a poetry lover or not, ‘Daydreams and Jellybeans’ is a must have collection for everyone!

You can read my review of ‘Daydreams and Jellybeans’ here.

We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me

Written as a poem, ‘We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me’ tells the story of Mona Baptiste, a singer who left her Trinidadian home for England. It is a moving story, beautifully told and illustrated.

The happiness of Mona’s childhood on the island is brilliantly captured with her passion for singing celebrated on every page. Her courage and determination when leaving her family aboard the Empire Windrush to accomplish her hopes and dreams is shared in the faces of the others depicted waving farewell to their loved ones and homeland in search of pastures new. It offers the perfect opportunity for discussing the reasons for migration and encouraging empathy, as well as excitement, for those in search of a different life and celebrating the skills and cultural richness they carry with them.

Mona’s experiences as a ‘singing sensation’, travelling and performing all round the world, show she achieved her desire to share her love of singing, bringing joy to all who heard her. However, the difficulties she faced as a ‘Caribbean girl’ are alluded to, offering a great opportunity for further discussing her experiences and those of others who came on the Windrush. A little note about Mona Baptiste at the end of the book adds to the story and might inspire children to explore her life further.

The text is perfect for reading aloud and children will naturally join in with the repeated refrain. The book is sure to become a firm favourite and is a poignant reminder of the arrival of the Windrush, celebrated each year on Windrush Day, the 22nd June.

Benjamin Zephaniah’s dedication in the book is every bit as beautiful as the story itself:

For all children who love to sing

and children who love listening

Regardless of your colour or race,

please make this world a better place.

Wise words indeed!

We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me

Benjamin Zephaniah, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702311161

Published 7th April 2022

Dulce et Decorum Est…

Last night, I was delighted to be able to attend The Wilfred Owen Association’s Annual Birthday Lecture and listen to the very talented Martin Impey talk about the inspiration and research behind his incredible illustrations for Owen’s poem, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’.

I first fell in love with Martin’s work when I read the ‘Poppies’ series of books, written by Hilary Robinson, which are full of his detailed and endearing illustrations, chronicling the lives of best friends, Ben and Ray, and later, Lily, through the First World War. This is a series I have often used with children in school as each book conveys very poignant and ‘difficult’ subject matter in a way children can easily understand. The bonds of friendship and loyalty, the sense of hope and love these books convey, supported by Martin’s powerful illustrations, make them perfect for starting and developing discussions and their attention to detail offers a teacher many opportunities to deepen learning about and understanding of this time.

In addition to this series, Martin and Hilary collaborated on ‘A Song for Will and the Lost Gardeners of Heligan’, one of my all-time favourite books and again, one which I often share in school. The level of detail and research in this book is incredible and I have spent a happy afternoon at Heligan Gardens, matching the locations depicted by Martin in the book to the real life sites. With children, I have looked at the census returns and other historical documents which show that these were living, breathing people whilst enjoying the story these master story-tellers have developed.

Knowing how thoughtfully Martin researches his subjects, I was not surprised by the stunning and deeply poignant images he created for ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, but listening to his talk, I was completely mesmerised by the lengths he had gone to before he had developed his images. Martin’s understanding of Owen and his work- his letters and opinions as well as his poems- was incredible and there were many links and references in the pictures which I had missed, making me realise (once again!) how magical it is to be able to listen to authors and illustrators talk about their work.

The Association is clearly full of members who are passionate about Owen and his work and the question session which followed Martin’s talk was full of interesting points which can really only be raised by those with a deep knowledge and understanding of the subject, but I listened with interest and have decided to re-read the two biographies which I have about the man himself with fresh eyes and fresh interest.

Thanks to the Association for hosting such an interesting event and thanks to Martin for being as fascinating as ever!

Dulce et Decorum Est poem by Wilfred Owen, illustrated by Martin Impey

Strauss House Productions ISBN: 978-1527218253

Razzmatazz: The Poetry World of Roger Stevens

If you’re talking about poetry in school, Roger Stevens is a name which is sure to be mentioned! Ever-popular with children and adults alike, he has written poems which are often full of fun and laughter, but also those which capture poignant moments and make the reader reflect.

‘Razzmatazz!’ brings together a collection of his poems, most of which have been selected from the many books and anthologies he has written and contributed to. The result is a wide range of work which is sure to inspire and delight. If you have a child in your class who claims not to like poetry, there is sure to be something here to change their mind!

Many of the poems are perfect for performing. In fact, it’s almost impossible to read ‘Dad, Don’t Dance’ without feeling your foot tapping. The embarrassment of ‘dad dancing’ is universal and the repeated alliteration of ‘dad, don’t dance’ makes the poem easy to learn. Different groups of children could perform different verses, deciding how to bring the lines to life- and have great fun doing so! Another performance gem is ‘Get Your Poems Here’. Full of word play- and poetic terms- children could create their own additional verses about other types of poems, ‘selling’ their features to their audience. There are many other poems to be performed in this book and Roger’s notes at the end of some pieces share how he and others have used them, invaluable support for any who might need it!

There are many poems here which could be used as models to inspire children to write their own. ‘Half a Dozen Senyru’ offer a good starting point for investigating and playing with this Japanese form whilst the section entitled ‘Nursery Rhyme Fun’ shows how familiar verses can be reimagined with entertaining results! Mike Smith’s black and white illustrations add much to the collection- I particularly like his ‘Mosquito’ and know children enjoy creating pictures in this way too.

I could comment on each and every poem in the collection, but my advice is to get a copy and enjoy browsing the poetry world of one of our best poets!

Razzmatazz!: The Poetry World of Roger Stevens

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074418

Out on the 6th January 2022