Wendy Cooling Books

All the Wild Wonders, an imaginative selection made by Wendy Cooling, includes poems from a rich diversity of writers around the world, including China, Turkey and the Caribbean as well as traditional writers such as Blake, Milton and Tennyson. The title of the anthology is borrowed from a poem by Elizabeth Honey from Australia which uses lists and repetitions to conjure up the wonders of nature and the ‘much work to do’ to save them. There’s also an alphabet for the planet by Lebanese/English poet, Riad Nourallah. Other works are more philosophical like We’re Going to See the Rabbit by Alan Brownjohn or For Forest by Grace Nichols and can be used to spark debate and discussion. Yet others, like Snaggers Pond by Wes Magee, are more of a call to direct action: his description of the successful rejuvenation of a local pond is both hopeful and would fit in well with any community activity like a litter pick. It really is a treasure trove which can help broaden children’s horizons, develop their language and encourage critical thinking all at once.