An Illustrated Children’s Poetry Book Full of Christmas Spirit
An Illustrated Children’s Poetry Book Full of Christmas Spirit
Each autumn, a small red flower begins to appear.
It flourishes at a time when others do not.
But what does it mean?
And why do people wear it?
Tomos Roberts’ moving poem, first performed at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in 2021, will help anyone hoping to better understand the meaning of the poppy.
Tomos Roberts – who performs as Tomfoolery – explains the history and the importance of the poppy symbol from the First World War to the present day.
Alive with Poppies strikes a chord with young readers wondering how the poppy came to be such an important symbol.
Former Children’s Laureates Michael Rosen and Sir Quentin Blake join forces for a landmark new collection, focusing on migration and displacement. Michael’s poems are divided into four: in the first series, he draws on his childhood as part of a first-generation Polish family living in London; in the second, on his perception of the War as a young boy; in the third, on his “missing” relatives and the Holocaust; and in the fourth, and final, on global experiences of migration. By turns charming, shocking and heartbreaking, this is an anthology with a story to tell and a powerful point to make: “You can only do something now.”
A book drawing together mythological poems – classic and brand-new – from around the world, illustrated throughout in black and white by award-winning former children’s laureate Chris Riddell. Compiled by bestselling anthologist Ana Sampson, with an introduction by Natalie Haynes, author of Stone Blind.
People all over the world have always told each other stories. And from the very earliest times, many of these stories were told in verse. This collection of poems includes retellings and reimaginings of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, Aztec, Japanese and Inuit mythology.
You will meet gods, monsters, tricksters, heroes, magical creatures and objects, magicians and spirits, including Medusa, Icarus, Loki, Osiris, the Minotaur, Pegasus, Bunyip, Kukulcan, Cerberus, Beowulf and Mjolnir, and there are footnotes to shine a light on the stories themselves.
An award-winning collection of poetry vividly evoking the experience of living in the Caribbean – and of leaving for other lands.
This prestigious anthology, which won the 2003 CLPE Poetry Award, conjures up the sights and sounds, tastes and tales of the Caribbean; the experience of living there – and of leaving for other lands. A companion to the acclaimed A Caribbean Dozen, this book contains more than fifty poems by over thirty poets, including John Agard, Grace Nichols, James Berry, Valerie Bloom and Benjamin Zephaniah.
The classic collection of poetry from the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Maya Angelou’s poetry – lyrical and dramatic, exuberant and playful – speaks of love, longing, partings; of Saturday night partying, and the smells and sounds of Southern cities; of freedom and shattered dreams.
A stunning book containing 150 bold, brave and beautiful poems by women – from classic, well-loved poets to innovative and bold modern voices. From suffragettes to school girls, from spoken word superstars to civil rights activists, from aristocratic ladies to kitchen maids, these are voices that deserve to be heard.
Collected by anthologist Ana Sampson, ‘She is Fierce: Brave, Bold and Beautiful Poems by Women’ contains an inclusive array of voices, from modern and contemporary poets. Immerse yourself in poems from Maya Angelou, Nikita Gill, Wendy Cope, Ysra Daley-Ward, Emily Bronte, Carol Ann Duffy, Fleur Adcock, Liz Berry, Jackie Kay, Hollie McNish, Imtiaz Dharker, Helen Dunmore, Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, Christina Rossetti, Margaret Atwood and Dorothy Parker, to name but a few!
Featuring short biographies of each poet, She is Fierce is a stunning collection and an essential addition to any bookshelf.
‘Force of Nature’ is a biography of Harriet Tubman, but told through a series of short poems.
They span her entire life and cleverly tell her journey. There is a glossary at the back of some of the words children may be less familiar with as well as a map showing all the places Harriet lived during her life. The illustrations are what make this book truly special – collages using paper, natural objects and photos and then being coloured with various media. They depict what is in the poems perfectly and are really interesting to look at.
This would be a fantastic book for KS2 children either as a class read or an independent read.
Funny and thought-provoking answers to curious questions … in poetry form!
Join renowned poet Brian Bilston for a hilarious, non-fiction adventure in 100 poems – with subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids, technology and MUCH more.
Questions include …
· How many stars in the Universe exploded today?
· Who invented football?
· Who is the champion weightlifter of the animal world?
· How did the ancient Egyptians make a mummy?
Each fascinating question about the world around us is answered with one of Brian’s unforgettable, witty and characterful poems. Expect the hilarious, thought-provoking, poignant – and downright silly!
Brian’s poems are accompanied by an extra non-fiction explainer, filled with facts and written with just as much humour and heart as the poems. Prepare to find some amazing stories and information to share with your family, teachers and friends!
Each page is brought to life with bright, humorous and characterful artwork by Bristol-based illustrator, animator and cartoonist Joe Berger. Joe has illustrated over 40 children’s books including Sammy Striker and the Football Cup by Catherine Emmett and Sometimes I am Furious by Timothy Knapman. He is a past official illustrator for World Book Day, and winner of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators Award.
‘It’s the hope that’ll kill you.’This haunting story of hope and heartbreak wrenches the emotions as it explores the meaning of life and death, love and forgiveness.
For Joe, his brother Ed is the person who attended his parents’ evenings, who saved up money so he could have proper Christmas presents, and who protected him from the disorder of a life of poverty with an alcoholic mother. But when Joe was seven, his brother – himself damaged by the disorder – left home. Then Ed is wrongly accused and found guilty of the murder of a cop in Texas, where the penalty for the crime is death. Years of appeals have failed, and now there’s a date for his execution. Joe, still only a teenager, travels alone from New York to Texas to visit his brother. There’s one final hope for reprieve.
Flashbacks fill in the details of the brothers’ relationship and show the poignant contrast between public perceptions and private memories of a convicted murderer on Death Row. Written in verse, the language is spare and simple and cuts directly to the emotional centre of Joe’s young life. I liked the way it is carefully nuanced. There is empathy rather than judgment for all the characters – even the warden responsible for the Death Row prisoners and Aunt Karen, who assumes that Ed is guilty and does her best to keep Joe from his wicked older brother. This beautiful book made me think, and cry – and I’m still worrying about Joe.
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Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
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