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An
occasional review of the latest children's poetry books. Our aim is to
produce a useful guide for teachers.
If you are a publisher and wish to have your latest releases reviewed
here please contact Roger Stevens at the usual address. Books listed alphabetically
by author.
To buy a book or for more details
click on  which will
take you directly to Amazon or Rabbit
Press.
N
E W .R E L E A S E S
Best
Buy
Pirate Poems David Harmer
Best
Buy
Hey, Little Bug James Carter
Best
Buy Don't Dis Miss Ian
Billings
Best
Buy
Silly Superstitions Graham Denton
Best
Buy Why Otters Don't Wear Socks Roger
Stevens
Best
Buy Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry Fiona Waters
I
Don't Want an Avocado for an Uncle Chrissie Gittins
Staircase
to Heaven Jennifer Hutchison
Caught
in a Moment Christopher Powell
Puzzling
Poems to Drive You Crazy Susie Gibbs
THE
WORKS - ONE to SIX
All six of these books are worth having in your school - but how do they
compare? And which book would best suit your needs? Hopefully this comparison
by the Poetry Zone will help you decide.
COMPARE THE WORKS
THE
WORKS - WHICH TO BUY - A COMPARISON FOR SCHOOLS
THE
WORKS ONE - The first and best.
What a brilliant idea this was. A huge book of poems based around forms
and styles. If you're looking for a haiku - look up the section on haikus.
If you're after action verse - you'll find some here. Over five hundred
pages. A wide range of poets - ancient and modern - and some excellent
poems too from daft verse to worthy and more serious works. Every classroom
should have a copy of this book. If you haven't yet got a copy - why not?
Edited by Paul Cookson
Macmillan Children's Books 550 pp £6.99
ISBN: 0-330-48104-5
plus more info from amazon!
TWO
- After the success of the first book came the follow
up. Slightly shorter (but still 450 pages!) and this time poems arranged
by subject heading. if you need poems to supplement science lessons or
poems about the environment then this could be your first port of call.
As with the first book - a great and wide-ranging selection of poets and
poems. Buy this for your classroom too.
Edited by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett
Macmillan Children's Books 456pp £5.99
ISBN:
0-330-39902-0
plus
more info from amazon!
THREE
- How to follow up one and two? How about a poet a week? Here
are fifty two poets each given a week's worth of poems. As Paul says in
his introduction - So often we see poems in isolation, dotted about in
anthologies... here we get to see seven in a row and we get a better impression
of the person behind the poems - the variety of style, tone, rhythm and
rhyme. And it works. The poets range from Wordsworth, Burns, Tennyson,
Rosetti and Emily Dickinson - through classic children's poets such as
Robert Louis Stevenson and Eleanor Farjeon to Spike Milligan and contemporary
children's poets. Again - great value.
Edited by Paul Cookson
Macmillan Children's Books. 541pp £6.99
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 41578 - 6
plus
more info from amazon!
FOUR
- Every kind of poem on every topic that you will
ever need for literacy hour. Arranged alphabetically and not really having
a lot to do with literacy hour - another excuse for a big book of poems.
Animals, Boy's Stuff, Celebrations and Festivals, Dinosaurs, Dragomns
and Dodos... and so on. Again a wide range of poetry by a wide range of
poets - both in style and form and poets old and new.
It also contains teachers' notes and a glossary of terms including explanations
of different poetic forms. As with
the first three books - excellent value for money.
Edited
by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan
Macmillan Children's Books 568pp £5.99
ISBN: 0-330-43644-9
plus
more info from amazon!
FIVE
- Following on from the Works 3 Paul Cookson now finds a poet for every
letter of the alphabet (is the format wearing a bit thin by now? Possibly
- but who cares.) The best thing about the book for me is finding poets
who seldom appear in children's anthologies. For example L turns up Edward
Lear and CS Lewis but also DH Lawrence and Philip Larkin. In many ways
the most serious and interesting of the Works collection. Also interesting
- there are a couple of poets featured who don't actually exist! (There's
a challenge for your bright year 6s) - and here's a clue. Paul's a big
fan of that popular 1970s beat combo Slade.
Edited by Paul Cookson
Macmillan Children's Books 358pp £5.99
ISBN 0-330-39870-9
plus
more info from amazon!
SIX
Another big fat yellow Works book. This time full of poems for assemblies.
It's divided into seven sections - Festivals, Celebrations and Seasons;
Feelings and Faith; People - Families and Friends; Heroes and Heroines;
Looking After the World; Celebrating Small Things; The Journey - Growing;
Changing, Old and New; Signs, Stories and Symbols. And as always there's
a great range of poems, from lighthearted to serious - in a great variety
of styles. Great value for money, too.
Poems chosen by Pie Corbett
Macmillan Children's Books 470 pp
ISBN 978-0-330-43439-3
plus more info from amazon!
Other
Works books
The Works Key
Stage 1
The Works Key Stage 2
Poems for each year group chosen by Pie Corbett, ex primary teacher and
head teacher. Pie advised the National Literacy Strategy, especially on
teaching poetry, writing and grammar. And so, as you would expect, a good
and varied collection of poems from someone who knows what he's talking
about. This books also come with a short section of teachers' notes and
workshop ideas for your class.
The
Big Book of Christmas
Not exactly a Works book but
in the same format and by the same series editor, Gaby Morgan. This contains
a wealth of Christmas material. As well as a great collection of poems
there are carols, plays - including a song-filled nativity and a play
by Julia Donaldson - the Christmas story and even instructions for making
Chrisrtmas decorations and party food. And great value.
Name of Book: Pirate Poems
Author: David Harmer
Illustrator: Matt Buckingham
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books £3.99 88pp ISBN 978-0-330-45181-9
Age Range: 7 - 12 and older
Quality of Writing: Excellent. I always find it difficult writing
about pirates for children - they are so bloodthirsty! (The pirates -
not the children.) But here David Harmer does it with style.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes indeed. Lots of fun and
lots of joining in. Lots of variation and some great illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Very useful if you're using pirates as a means of getting into other things.
Lots of odd facts but mainly lots of fun in a good range of poetic styles.
Final Verdict: Buy a set for the classroom. This book could become
a classic.
Name of Book: Hey, Little Bug! Poems for Little Creatures.
Author: James Carter
Illustrator: Mique Moriuchi
Publisher: Hands Up Books 48pp Large Format £4.99
ISBN: 978-0-9542710-9-1
Age Range: 3 - 7
Quality of Writing: Excellent. Full of quiet, tender and fun poems
for little ones. And not, thank goodness, twee and sentimental.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. A good variety of poems
with lots to join in with and learn by heart. Lovely illustrations, too.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
A wonderful introduction for young children to the delights of poetry.
Final Verdict: Buy one for the classroom, one for the school library
and one for every child you know under the age of seven.
Name
of Book: Don't Dis Miss
Author: Ian Billings
Illustrator: Debbie Slater
Publisher: E Print 44pp £4.50
ISBN: 1-905637-11-X
Age Range: 7 and upwards
Quality of Writing: Good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Ian Billings is a relatively
new children's poet and I'm delighted to report that he's produced a book
full of funny and irreverant poems that don't go down the poo and bottoms
route.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Not particularly useful. But full of fun and will be read and enjoyed
by boys, which is always a good thing I think.
Final Verdict: A bit short - I'd have liked a few more poems. Buy
one for the classroom.
Name
of Book: Silly Superstitons
Author: Poems chosen by Graham Denton
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £4.99
ISBN: 0-330-43727-5
Age Range: 7 and upwards
Quality of Writing: Good throughout. A wide range of styles from
some of the best contemporary children's poets.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. As David Horner says, If
you walk to school and very carefully avoid all the cracks in the pavement,
you'll be late.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Useful. Some good models and ideas for writing poems. And a lighthearted
look at superstitions - ideal for class discussions.
Final Verdict: Buy one for the classroom.
Name
of Book: Why Otter Don't Wear Socks
Author: Roger Stevens
Illustrator: Sarah Nayler
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £3.99
ISBN: 978-0-330-44851-2
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Good
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Lots of silly and funny
poems and quirky illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Several poems in the style of other poets and some more thoughtful pieces
make this a worthwhile addition to your class library.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class and for the school library.
Name
of Book: Red Lorry,Yellow Lorry
Author: Poems chosen by Fiona Waters
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £3.99
ISBN: 978-0-330-44338-8
Age Range: 5 and above
Quality of Writing: Good. With poems tilted towards the younger
reader.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Ideal for KS1 as well as younger juniors. Poems on the theme of travel
with lots of writing ideas and poems to say aloud.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your classroom.
Name
of Book: I Don't Want an Avocado for an Uncle
Author: Chrissie Gittins
Illustrator: Kev Adamson
Publisher: Rabbit Hole Publications 64pp £5.99
ISBN: 0954328817
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Good. Chrissie is an experienced and widely
anthologised poet. This is a well-produced book from a small publisher
and worth paying a little more for.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
A good variety of poems - with many for the younger reader.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your classroom.
Name
of Book: Staircase to Heaven
Author: Jennifer Hutchison
Illustrator: Anne Hutchison
Publisher: Hutchison Books
ISBN: 0-473-11619-7
Age Range: 7 - adult
Quality of Writing: Good. Jennifer wrote these poems aged 12 and
her mum illustrated them. I know that this doesn't sound very promising
but these nature poems, set in New Zealand, are surprisingly mature.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? I think they will.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
A model, maybe, for a book of class poems.
Final Verdict: Make your own mind up by visiting www. jenniferhutchison.com.
Name
of Book: Caught in a Moment
Author: Christopher Powell
Illustrator: At a guess - Microsoft Clip Art
Publisher: Olympia Publishers 224pp £7.99
ISBN: 190551310-0
Age Range: 8 and older
Quality of Writing: Mixed. Christopher Powell is a new and undoubtedly
talented young writer. Here are 100 poems in a variety of rhythmic and
rhyming structures - tall stories and cautionary tales - told with gusto
and flair. But the poems need a good editor and I feel that the publishers
have not really done their protégé justice. The illustrations are awful
and the cover is dull. With poems cut by half, judicious editing and better
production this could be a winner.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes - if they can get past the
dull exterior.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
It's big - with lots to enjoy.
Final Verdict: Worth a copy for the classroom.
Name
of Book: Puzzling Poems to Drive You Crazy
Author:
Poems collected by Susie Gibbs
Illustrator: Kelly Waldek
Publisher: Oxford University Press 64pp £4.99
ISBN: 0-19-272608-0
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Good. Not many actual poems - but lots of verse
and... yes, you guessed it - puzzles!
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Lots of fun here. A bright lively
collection of riddles, anagrams, codes and tongue-twisters.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool:
Particularly good as models for riddles, anagrams, codes and tongue-twisters.
Final Verdict: A definite classroom buy. In fact buy two or three
for your class as they'll get plenty of wet-play usage.
Name
of Book: Don't Take Your Elephant To School (An Alphabet of Poems)
Author: Steve Turner
Illustrator: David Mostyn
Publisher: Lion Children's Books 96pp £4.99
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6020-3
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Excellent
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes, lots. Steve wrote the best-selling
The Day I Fell Doen the Toilet - which is much better than the title suggests.
His new book is full of funny poems as well as more thoughtful work.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Tightly structured verse and some
good teaching models, including the book's format. Why not produce an
alphabet of poems in your class?
Final Verdict: Buy one for every classroom and the library.
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Name
of Book: Mad, Bad and Dangerously Haddock
Author: Andrew Fusek Peters
Illustrator: Alastair Stevens
Publisher: Lion Children's Books 96pp £4.99
ISBN: 978-0-7459-6021-0
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Ezxcellent throughout.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? The Tall Poet (he's eight foot
six you know!) is well known for his teenage collections but he's written
some great poems for younger children too - the best of which have been
collected here.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Good. Lots of variety for models,
and, as always, a rich vein of simile. And I adore this haiku -
His
breath was a cloud
As
Jack Frost rode slowly by
On
his icicle
Final Verdict: Buy a set for your class.
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Name
of Book: Mrs Pringle's Jolly Jingles
Author: Linda Knaus
Illustrator: Linda and Kevin Knaus
Publisher: Hands Up Books
ISBN: 095427108-4
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Good throughout. Lots of clever rhymes and,
unusually for books of largely comic verse, unexpected pay offs.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? They certainly will.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Great for something to read in those
last few minutes waiting for the bell.
Final Verdict: Hands Up Books continues to produce good collections,
often by lesser-known poets (Linda is well known in the USA but not yet
in the UK) They don't have the resources of the big publishers - but,
as the cliche goes, you shouldn't judge a book by looking at the cover.
Buy this for your classroom.
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Name
of Book: How To Survive School
Author: Poems chosen by David Harmer
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 96pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-43951-0
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Good
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Lots and lots. There seem to
be a never-ending supply of poetry books about school - some pretty dreadful
- but this is one of the better collections.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A wide range of poems, mainly humourous,
from a wide range of poets - with lots of ideas for poems such as How
To Survive Sports Day and a great array of excuse poems.
Final Verdict: A fun book for the classroom and library.
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Name
of Book: The Secret Life of Pants
Author: Poems chosen by Roger Stevens
Illustrator: Nigel Baines
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 0-7136-7631-0
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Very good
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Lots of variety with a good range
of styles from a variety of authors
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class
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Name
of Book: Grotters, Griffins, Goats…..and other beastly poems
Authors: Andrew Donaldson & Spencer Wakeling
Illustrator: Antony Mapes
Publisher: Grotty Publications £4.99
ISBN: 0-9552636-0-3
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Good
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will. An abundance
of fun poems based around such creatures as the Galumphing Cronker, the
Angular Angler and Eskimoles.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Lots of rhymes and word play.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your classroom. Should particularly
appeal to boys with its offbeat wit and grotesque illustrations. Grotty
publications is a new venture and we wish it well.
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Name
of Book: Dinosaur Poems compiled by Paul Cookson
Illustrator: Sarah Nayler
Publisher: Scholastic 110pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-439-95174-7
Age Range: 6 and older
Quality of Writing: Superb. This is the latest in the Scholastic
range of poems that say what they are on the cover (Funny Poems, Disgusting
Poems etc) and I think the best. There's a fantastic range of poems and
poets - from daft and funny to slightly more serious. This is a book for
boys and girls and grown-ups too.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Excellent. Great fun to read to -
and with your class.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? They'll love it.
Visual Presentation: A brilliant front cover and stuffed full of
brilliant Sarah Nayler illustrations.
Final Verdict: A first class book. Buy some copies for your junior
classroom. Older KS1 children will love it too.
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Name
of Book: A Stegosaurus Is For Life
Author: Trevor Millum
Illustrator: Elaine Hill
Publisher: Hands Up Books 48pp £5.99
ISBN: 095427107-6
Age Range: 6 plus
Quality of Writing: Very good. Trevor Millum is a popular and accomplished
children's poet.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Good value for money. Although only 48 pages the
book is landscape format, printed on good paper, and has the feel of a
more expensive tome.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. Trevor Millum can be found
in a host of children's anthologies and he has a good feel for both rhyme
and rhythm. Children love poems about animals and so this should be a
welcome addition to your class bookshelf.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your library and for your class.
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Name
of Book: Space Poems
chosen by Gaby Morgan
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-44057-8
Age Range: 5 and older
Quality of Writing: Very good. An excellent collection of poems
by a wide range of contemporary children's poets. It's great to see poems
written for younger children in this format, too.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Excellent. Lots of funs poems for
younger readers.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Great fun.
Visual Presentation: A good front cover, lovely illustrations and
a nice size text for the age group - all well laid out.
Final Verdict: A first class book for KS1 and younger KS2. Buy
a set for your classroom!
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Name
of Book: I Love My Mum - poems
chosen by Gaby Morgan
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 86pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-44102-7
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Very good. The collection includes poems by
a wide range of contemporary children's poets. There are also some poems
by children - including the winners of the Poetry Zone's- write-a-poem-about-your-mum
competition. These poems stand up well, too.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Good. Some fun verse alongside a few
more serious poems - although the general tone does tend towards the sentimental.
(Mums will like this book I'm sure)
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Great fun.
Visual Presentation: A very pink cover - which lets the book down.
The sort of book designed for girls, which is a shame, as the poems aren't
particularly "girly" and it would be good to encourage boys
to read these poems I would have thought.
Final Verdict: A good classroom standby. Buy a copy or three.
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Name
of Book: Best Friends - poems
chosen by Fiona Waters
Illustrator: Michael Broad
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-43789-5
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Very good. The collection includes poems by
a wide range of contemporary children's poets on the theme of friendship.
Fiona is a very good anthologist.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very good. Lots of fun poems - but
poems touching on more serious issues too. Lots of things to talk about
and discuss here. Most of the poems seem designed for girls - which is
a shame. Don't boys have best friends?
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes - girls in particular.
Visual Presentation: A typical Macmillan issue on cheap paper.
Not a very inspiring cover and rather heavy handed illustrations too -
which add little or nothing to the text. (Lots of little flowers around
the page numbers. Why?)
Final Verdict: A good book for the classroom.
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Name
of Book: On My Way To School I Saw a Dinosaur
by Roger Stevens
Illustrator: Michael Leigh
Publisher: Hands Up Books 58pp £4.99
ISBN: 095427106-8
Age Range: 4 - 7
Quality of Writing: Very good throughout. From fun poems - as in
the title - to more serious and thoughtful poems such as A Slient Song.
Typical of Stevens' style - a lightness of touch, attention to form and
lots of humour.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very good. There are not enough books
of poems for KS1 children - and this book helps redress that balance.
Lots of ideas for children's own poems.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will. The poems cover
a school year in the life of Frog Class - with lots of humour and characters
they can identify with.
Visual Presentation: Well produced on good paper with a bright,
funny cover. The illustrations were maybe a little awkward in places -
but that's a minor quibble. Another good production from Hands Up Books.
Final Verdict: An excellent book for KS1 teachers.
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Name
of Book: Look Out - the Teachers are Coming
Author: Chosen by Tony Bradman
Illustrator: Michael Broad
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 86pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-43351-2
Age Range: 7- 12
Quality of Writing: Very good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Good value for money. Packed with poems at a low
price. Nice cover and good illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. Tony Bradman has a good eye
for well written poems. There are the usual collection of funny and irreverant
poems that you might expect from a book about teachers - but also some
more thoughtful and serious poems.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your library. Or a set for your class.
Name
of Book: Guzzling Jelly with Giant Gorbelly
Author: John Rice
Illustrator: Chambers and Dorsey
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 90pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-330-41499-2
Age Range: 7- 12
Quality of Writing: Excellent. John Rice is an accomplished poet
and performer.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Good value for money. Cheap and cheerfully produced
with good illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. John Rice delights in rhythms
and rhymes. He loves word play and the sounds of words. There is a good
range of poems and styles both comic and serious. Plenty for more serious
pupils to delve into. And good for reading aloud and performing.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your library. Or a set for your class.
Name
of Book: The Secret Lives of Teachers
Author: Chosen by Brian Moses
Illustrator: Various
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 200pp £4.99
ISBN: 0-330-43282-6
Age Range: 7- 12
Quality of Writing: Very good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Excellent value for money. Brian Moses' three
best-selling Secret Lives of Teachers books all rolled in to one. Not
best-quality paper - but two hundred pages for a fiver. You can't complain
about that.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. A wide range of poems, mainly
funny or irreverant, from the best children's poets of the last few years.
Especially good for less-motivated boys or those children who think they
don't like poetry.
Final Verdict: Your classroom needs this book.
Name
of Book: Spider Flavoured Sausages
Author: Daphne Kitching
Illustrator: Elaine Hill
Publisher: Hands Up Books 80pp £5.99
ISBN: 095427104-1
Age Range: 6- 12
Quality of Writing: Good. Daphne Kitching's poems can be found
in a wide range of anthologies.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Good. Printed on good paper in an A4 format.Produced
by small press Hand-Up books.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. A good variety of poems, including
some historical and some Christian. Good for church schools.
Final Verdict: A good book for your classroom.
Name
of Book: Wanted Alive
Author: Bernard Young
Illustrator: Jessie Gillick
Publisher: Hands Up Books 76pp £4.95
ISBN: 0-9542710-5-X
Age Range: 7- 12
Quality of Writing: Very good. Bernard Young is a popular and accomplished
children's poet.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Value for money: Good value for money. Well produced with interesting
and quirky illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. This is Bernard's second solo
collection and features a wide range of moods and styles, with lots of
scope for joining in. Funny poems mix easily with more thoughtful pieces.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your library. Or a set for your class.
Name
of Book: Monster Poems
Author: Chosen by Brian Moses
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 88pp £3.99
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 42048 - 8
Age Range: 7- 11
Quality of Writing: Very good throughout. A varied selection of
poems and styles..
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Good value for money. Excellent illustrations
by that Gruffalo artist.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Useful. You could probably use it
to talk about friendship, and inter-personal skills. But I'd have it around
simply to read. It's very addictive and will appeal to both boys and girls.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class.
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Name
of Book: Taking Out the Tigers
Author: Brian Moses
Illustrator: Chris Garbutt
Publisher:
Macmillan Children's Books. 90pp £3.99
ISBN:
0-330-41797-5
Age
Range: 7 and older
Quality
of Writing: Very good. Brian Moses must be one of the UKs most travelled
poets. This is his latest collection.
Usefulness
as Teaching Tool: A good selection of styles. More serious poems than
perhaps usual for Brian. Plenty to talk about and simply enjoy.
Fun
Factor. Will children like it? Yes. With some good poems that the
teacher will really enjoy reading aloud to the class.
Visual
Presentation: Okay - with interesting and stylised illustrations.
Cheap and cheerful.
Final
Verdict: Every classroom should have some of Brian's poems. And this
would be a good place to start your collection.
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Name
of Book: Crash
Authors: Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books 112pp £9.99 Hardback
ISBN: 0-340-88468-1
Age Range: 11 and older
Quality of Writing: Good throughout.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Yes. A well-designed book.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A useful addition to the secondary
school library. This story is told in verse. Different characters are
depicted in different typefaces. The story is quite tough (as you might
expect from the author of Poems With Attitude) It's a tale well told using
a wide variety of poetic styles.
After the great reviews and puzzled bookshops - of The Journal of Danny
Chaucer (Poet) - it's heartening to see more verse-novels being written
and published.
Final Verdict: Buy this for your school library and to coax relectant
teenagers into reading poetry.
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Name
of Book: Cloud Busting
Author: Malorie Blackman
Illustrator: Helen Van Vliet
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
ISBN: 0385607962
Age Range: 9 - 11
Quality of Writing: Very good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Good value for money. Well produced hardback with
good illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A very useful addition to the classroom.
This gentle tale about friendship and individuality will strike a chord
with most children. Quite a low-key story after Noughts and Crosses but
well told. Malorie also talks a little about verse forms that she uses
at the end of the book. Maybe not as useful as having a copy of the Works
to hand. But good to see more verse novels being published in the UK.
A trend I would welcome and one that I think we should encourage.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class.
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Name
of Book: Whispering in God's Ear
Author: Poems chosen by Alan MacDonald
Illustrator: Susie Poole
Publisher: Lion Children's Books 96pp £4.99
ISBN: 0 7459 3672 5
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Excellent throughout.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Good value for money. Well produced paperback.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A very useful addition to the classroom
and as a resource for assemblies. This book was first published in 1994
and its reissue should be welcomed. As the title suggests there is a strong
Christian element to the book, making it ideal for Church schools. Plus
an interesting and well-rounded selection of poems, both serious and funny.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your school.
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Name
of Book: Sensational!
Author: Poems chosen by Roger McGough
Illustrator: Sara Fanelli.
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books. 225pp £9.99
ISBN: 1 405 00005 8
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Very good throughout.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Good value for money. It's a well-produced hardback
edition.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very useful. A wide range of poems
based on the five senses. As well as contemporary children's poets it
includes classic poets and modern grown-up poets too, such as Carol Ann
Duffy and Billy Collins. There are also a lot of poems by Roger McGough,
which I'd consider a bonus.
Final Verdict: Every Classroom should have one.
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Name
of Book: The Monster That Ate the Universe
Author: Roger Stevens
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books. 84pp £4.99
ISBN: 0 - 330 -41523 - 9
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: The poems are better than the "cheap and
cheerful" production might suggest. But you can't argue with the
price.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very useful. As well as the
usual funny poems this collection has a wide selection of styles - haiku,
kennings - even a couple of sonnets - as well as some quite serious poems
about, for example, death - written in Stevens' deceptively simple style..
Final Verdict: Every classroom should have one.
Name
of Book: Spooky Schools
Author: Edited by Brian Moses
Illustrator: Sam Hearn
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books. 90pp £3.99
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 41358 - 9
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Generally good.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Value for money: Another cheap and cheerful book from Macmillan.
You can't argue at the price - £3.99.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Not very useful. It's unlikely you'll
be covering Ghosts in the Literacy Hour. Some good poets represented,
though, with a variety of forms and styles. More of a fun book for spookaholic
kids.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class library.
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Name
of Book: Disgusting Poems
Author: Compiled by Paul Cookson
Illustrator: Sarah Nayler
Publisher: Scholastic 128pp £3.99
ISBN: 0 - 439 - 96880 - 1
Age Range: 7 plus
Quality of Writing: Very good. Another in the series of poetry
books that do exactly what it says on the cover. Whether you'll want it
for your classroom or not would depend upon your take on poetry. Funny
poems and clever poems and... well, some pretty mucky poems it has to
be said.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A wide range of poets, forms and styles.
A lovely Michael Rosen poem. Good for helping those "less-motivated
boys" along.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? I would guess so. Boys in particular..
Visual Presentation: Okay. And I do love Sarah Nayler's illustrations.
I hope she'll do one of my books one day.
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Name
of Book: Poems For My Best Friend
Author: Collected by Susie Gibbs
Illustrator: Lucy Truman
Publisher: Oxford University Press. 64pp £4.99
ISBN: 0 - 19 - 275390 - 8
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Generally good with lots of variety in content
and style. Poems about relationships and best friends.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? This one is for girls. Boys
will be put off by the cover as much as anything.
Value for money: Not very good. A poorly produced book. Expensive,
too. Susie Gibbs is a very good anthologist and deserves better. A grotty
cover design.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Good for discussing social issues.
Final Verdict: Some good poems. Worth having a copy for your classroom.
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Name
of Book: I'm Not Telling You
Author: Rachel Rooney
Illustrator: Hannah Bryan
Publisher: Rabbit Press 58 pp. £4.99
ISBN: 0 - 9526541 - 2 - 1
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Very good. This is Rachel's first solo collection
and ranges from alternative nursery rhymes to more serious poems for older
readers.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes, they will.
Value for money: Good value. Printed on good paper and nicely produced.
Well illustrated, too.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very useful. A wide range of poems
and styles.
Final Verdict: Buy a couple for your classroom. Something here
for everyone.
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Name
of Book: I Was Only Asking
Author: Steve Turner
Illustrator: Nigel Baines
Publisher: Lion Children's Books 96pp Hardback £9.99
ISBN: 0 - 7459 - 4821 - 9
Age Range: 7 - 11 (although could be useful in secondary schools)
Quality of Writing: Very good. Steve is mostly known for The Day
I Fell Down the Toilet. But his poems here show a more considered and
reflective mood. As well as a confidence with form and child-friendly
style.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes.
Visual
Presentation: A good looking book with a striking cover and excellent
line illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: As well as being an interesting and
witty collection of poems the theme of the book - tackling life's big
questions - provides a great starting point for class discussion on social
and other philosophical issues.
Final Verdict: Buy it for your classroom. The paperback comes out
in September 2004.
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Name
of Book: Whoop an' Shout
Author: Valerie Bloom
Illustrator: David Dean
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books. 96 pages. Hardback £9.99.
Also in paperback..
ISBN: 0 - 333 - 99811 - 1
Age Range: 9 - 11
Quality of Writing: Excellent throughout. From poems written in
strict form to poems written in Caribbean patois. Lyrical and exhuberant.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Visual Presentation: The harback edition is well presented and
produced. I haven't seen the paperback yet. The illustrations are simple
and suit the text very well.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: It could be a useful book when talking
about Caribbean culture but more importantly I think it will serve more
simply as a book with a wide range of well written poems, just right for
the target age range (and above.)
Final Verdict: Buy several for your class.
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Name
of Book: Breaking the Rules
Author: Coral Rumble
Illustrator: Nigel Baines
Publisher: Lion Children's Books
ISBN: 0 - 7459 - 4857 - X
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Very good throughout
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Visual
Presentation: Nicely printed on good paper with excellent illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very useful. A wide range of thoughtful
and humorous poems include many shape poems and poems that play with form.
Final Verdict: A very good buy. See Coral's interview in the Interview
section of the Poetry Zone.
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Name
of Book: Dancing With Frankenstein and other limericks.
Author: Robert Scotellaro
Illustrator: Jessie Gillick
Publisher: Hands Up Books 40pp £5.99
ISBN: 0-9542710-2-5
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Good
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Visual
Presentation: Large format with nice pencil illustrations printed
on good paper.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A good supply of witty and strange
limericks.
Final Verdict: Buy one for your class. Robert can be found in the
PZs Interview Section
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Name
of Book: I Remember, I Remember
Author: Anthology edited by Brian Moses
Illustrator: None
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books. Hardback.182pp. £7.99
ISBN: 0 - 333 - 98591 - 5
Age Range: 9 - adult
Quality of Writing: A very good, well-chosen anthology from a wide
range of poets, from classical to contemporary.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes, they will. But I think
adults will enjoy it more, containing, as it does, many poems reflecting
upon and looking back to the often happier and more simple times of childhood.
Visual Presentation: A lovely book printed on good paper in a smaller
than usual, 120mm X 150mm, edition.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: If you love poetry then you'll find
this useful.
Final Verdict: One for the school library or the home. It would
also make a great present for grandma or grandad.
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Name
of Book: Snail Stampede and other poems
Author: Robert Scotellaro
Illustrator: Michael Clark
Publisher: Hands Up Books £5.99 98pp
ISBN: 095427103-3
Age Range: 7 and above.
Quality of Writing: Well written poems and a variety of forms.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will. Plenty of laughs
and jokes and quirky humour. Robert is a very popular children's poet
in America.
Visual Presentation: Large format - printed on good quality
paper.
Usefulness
as Teaching Tool: A useful addition to the school library.
Final Verdict: Hands Up Books is a new venture in children's publishing
and as such deserves to be supported.
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Name
of Book: Poems to Take on Holiday
Author: Anthology - edited by Susie Gibbs
Illustrator: Jess Mikhail
Publisher: Oxford University Press. 96pp. £4.99
ISBN: 0-19-275391-6
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Excellent throughout. A well-chosen selection
of poems from a wide range of modern poets.
Visual presentation: Good. A handy size to take to the beach. Illustrated
with lovely quirky line drawings.
Fun
Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will. Lots of variety and
some very funny poems. Poems are all subtitled as in Pass the Bucket -
Poems you shouldn't read just before a car journey.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A good book for the classroom. Lots
of poems to read in July to keep the class going until the holidays. Or
in September to remind everyone what a good time they had - or didn't.
Final Verdict: A good cheap paperback. Buy a set for your class.
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Name
of Book: The Trying Flapeze
Author: Anthology edited by John Foster
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0-19-276314-8 56pp £4.99
Age Range: 7 - 12
Quality of Writing: Varied. This a book of poems that are puzzles
(or possibly puzzles that are poems.) Some poems work very well - such
as Mary Green's Teacher's Torture or John Rice's tractor but others less
so. Many of the contribuitions aren't poems at all - just straightforward
puzzles that you might find in a puzzle book.
Visual presentation: Okay.
Fun
Factor. Will children like it? Yes
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A good addition to the classroom.
Less academic children will probably enjoy it and there are some good
shape and word-play poems included.
Final Verdict: Must Try Harder?
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Name
of Book: Black's Rhyming and Spelling Dictionary
Author: Pie Corbett and Ruth Thomson
Illustrators: Various
Publisher: A & C Black
ISBN:0 - 7136 - 6510 - 6
Age Range: 7+
Quality of Writing: Excellent. There are many rhyming dictionaries
on the market but I think this one is about the best for the junior age
range. As well as the rhyming dictionary itself, which is laid out in
a very straightforward and easy to understand way, there are tips on writing
poetry, notes on different types of poems and lots of examples. "Rain
smacks, attacks ramshackle back streets. Lightning crackles, cracks, the
glistening back of the tarmac night."
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Every classroom should have one. No
- make that a dozen.
Final Verdict: A good looking, lively and fun book. And a useful
classroom tool.
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Name
of Book: Words to Whisper, Words to Shout
Author: Compiled by Michaela Morgan
Illustrator: Chloe Cheese
Publisher: Belitha Press
ISBN: 1 - 84138 - 263 - 9
Age Range: 7+
Quality of Writing: Michaela is a popular children's author. Here
she shows a sure touch when choosing poems that will appeal to children.
Some excellent poems including one of my all-time favourites - Allan Ahlberg's
Dog in the Playground.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very good. It's always handy to have
poems that read aloud well. Dog in the Playground is great to read for
all ages. And you can have great fun with Brian Moses' Ghost train.
Final Verdict: This book has been nominated for the Blue Peter
Book Award. And deservedly so.
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Name
of Book: The Prime Minister is Ten Today
Author: Compiled by David Harmer
Illustrator: Sam Hearn
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 41522 - 0
Age Range: 8 +
Quality of Writing: Excellent. This anthology came from David Harmer's
great poem of the same name. Quality generally good throughout - with
a few stand out poems. Good value. And very nice illustrations.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A good book for coaxing reluctant
readers to read poems. It starts... This morning I abolished homework,
detention and dinner ladies. Say no more.
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Name
of Book: Who Rules the School Now
Author: Poems chosen by Paul Cookson
Illustrator: Steven Hanson
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 39975 - 6
Age Range: 8 +
Quality of Writing: Good throughout. Paul Cookson can always be
relied upon to put together a great collection of poems. You may think
that the Head Teacher rules the school. Well, you'd be wrong - as this
collection illustrates. Some great poems on this theme.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: As with The Prime Minister is Ten.
Great fun and will be a popular choice in the class library.
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Name
of Book: Funny Poems
Author: Compiled by Jan Dean
Illustrator: Sarah Nayler
Publisher: Young Hippo (Scholastic) 128pp £3.99
ISBN: 0 -439 - 97807 - 6
Age Range: 7 plus
Quality of Writing: Excellent. Don't be put off by the unimaginative
title. A great collection of funny and often clever poems. Poems from
new poets as well as great children's poets such Allan Ahlberg and Spike
Milligan.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A good classroom poetry book. Some
good poems to read aloud and plenty of poems that those "less-motivated
boys" will enjoy.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Visual Presentation: Poorly produced on cheap paper - but nevertheless
great value. Excellent illustrations, too.
 .
Final
Verdict: A very good anthology that does live up to its title. A must
for the classroom library.
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Name
of Book: Under the Moon and Over the Sea
A
Collection of Caribbean Poems
Authors: Compiled by John Agard and Grace Nichols
Illustrators: Cathie Felstead, Jane Ray, Christopher Corr, Satoshi
Kitamura, Sara Fanelli
Publisher: Walker Books. Large format - hardback. 78pp £14.99
ISBN: 0 - 7445 - 3736 - 3
Age Range: 7 and above
Quality of Writing: Excellent throughout. Traditional Caribbean
rhymes mixed with well-loved poets such as John Agard, Grace Nichols,
James Berry, Valerie Bloom and Bejamin Zephaniah as well as lesser-known
poets.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: A useful book when talking about Caribbean
culture and issues of race etc - but more importantly a great book for
its poetry - full of verve, rhythm and colour.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes they will.
Visual Presentation: Excellent. Big, bold, often clever and interesting
illustrations. Good for the school library and you might like one for
home, too.
Final
Verdict: First class.
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Name
of Book: Poems With Attitude - Uncensored
Author: Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters
Illustrator: No illustrations but interesting typefaces and layouts.
Publisher: Hodder Wayland. 96pp £4.99
ISBN: 0-7502-4117-9
Age Range: 12 and older
Quality of Writing: Generally very good. A no-holds-barred collection
of poems written for teenagers.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Excellent for use in Secondary schools.
Plenty of topics to provoke discussion. Alcohol and substance abuse, boyfriends,
girlfriends - and a wide range of poetic forms.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. One for older children.
Visual Presentation: Not quite up to the quality of the first book
- Poems with Attitude. But good, nevertheless.
Final
Verdict: The voices sound authentic... offers a place in which
some readers can breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that they're
not alone with their preoccupations - Education Guardian Book of
the Week.
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Name
of Book: The Teacher's Revenge
Author: Poems chosen by Brian Moses
Illustrator: Stephen Hanson
Publisher:
Macmillan Children's Books. 84pp £3.99
ISBN:
0-330-399-012
Age
Range: 7 and older
Quality
of Writing: Very good. There have been countless poetry books about
teachers and children - but usually told from the pupils point of view,
Here the teachers have their say - and their revenge.
Usefulness
as Teaching Tool: A good selection of contemporary poems.
Fun
Factor. Will children like it? Yes. With some good poems that the
teacher will really enjoy reading aloud to the class.
Visual
Presentation: Okay. Nice cover (the teacher depicted reminds me of
someone...) and excellent illustrations - although their style means they
print a little faint.
Final
Verdict: A varied collection of poems and a worthwhile addition to
the classroom or school library.
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Name
of Book: Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Author: Story poems chosen by Brian Moses
Illustrator: Jane Eccles
Publisher:
Macmillan Children's Books. 120pp £3.99
ISBN:
0-330-39704-4
Age
Range: 7 and older
Quality
of Writing: Generally very good. Particularly strong - John Coldwell's
embarrassing tale of a visit to Yalding and the life story Mick Gower's
cat, Hansel.
Usefulness
as Teaching Tool: A good selection of contemporary narrative poems.
Fun
Factor. Will children like it? Yes. With some good poems for the teacher
to read aloud to the class.
Visual
Presentation: Okay. Nice cover and excellent understated illustrations
by Jane Eccles.
Final
Verdict: A varied collection of poems and a worthwhile addition to
the classroom or school library. As with most of Macmillan's Children's
Poetry it is printed on poor quality paper. This does reflect the price,
however. Good value for money.
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Name
of Book: What Shape is a Poem?
Author: Poems chosen by Paul Cookson
Illustrated and designed by: Jason Cox
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 76pp £4.99
ISBN: 0 - 330 - 397 - 39707 - 9
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Very good throughout.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Excellent. Contains a varied selection
of calligrams and shape poems. A good source for the Literacy Strategy
Year 3 Term 1
and Year 5, term 1.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Lots of humour and ideas
to model their own poems on.
Visual Presentation: Very good. Well illustrated and designed on
good quality paper.
Final Verdict: An excellent classroom resource.
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Name
of Book: Now You See Me, Now You…
Author: Chrissie Gittins
Illustrator: Gunnlaug Moen Hembery
Publisher: Rabbit Hole Publications
ISBN: 0-9543288-0-9 62pp £4.99
Age Range: 8 upwards
Quality of Writing: This is Chrissie Gittins's first collection
of children's poems. The writing is excellent throughout, full of both
thoughtful and slightly surreal poems.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Some very good poems for older children
to get their teeth into.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes. Weird, interesting and
humorous poems that will bear repeated visits by children who enjoy poetry.
I loved the witty and original illustrations
Visual Presentation: Good. Well produced on good paper. I would
have preferred bigger pages and larger text.
Final Verdict: A very good book for older children with plenty
for adults to enjoy, too.
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Name
of Book: Cars, Stars, Electric Guitars
Author: James Carter
Illustrator: Mique Moriuchi
Publisher: Walker Books 64pp £3.99
ISBN: 0-7445-8635-6
Age Range: 7 and older
Quality of Writing: Excellent. A great variety of poems aimed fairly
and squarely at this age group
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Very good. Funny and thoughtful poems
presented in a lively and entertaining manner.
Fun Factor. Will children like it? Yes, very much. Packed with
humour and originality.
Visual Presentation: Superb. Presented in long thin format (11cm
X 22cm) with interesting typography, lots of shape poems and strong black
and white illustrations.
Final Verdict: An excellent book. A definite buy for the classroom.
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Name
of Book: The Works 2
Author: Edited by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books 456pp £5.99
ISBN:
0-330-39902-0
Age Range: 5 and older
Quality of Writing: Generally top class. A mixture of traditional
poems, classics and new contemporary poetry.
Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Superb. Thi | 
