The Big Amazing Poetry Book
If there are any parents or teachers who feel lost about where to find an excellent selection of poems for their children, they need search no more! ‘The Big Amazing Poetry Book’ not only offers an introduction to 52 (that’s one for every week of the year) wonderful poets, it also contains a whole host of poems in different styles on a very wide range of subjects for all ages!
According to Roger McGough in his foreword, this is an ‘Annualogy’, containing seven poems by each of 52 poets. Often over my teaching career, I have met children (and adults!) who declare that they hate poetry- on further investigation, it quickly becomes clear that they just haven’t taken to the poems they have been offered, the way the poems have been approached- or both. This collection allows the reader real choice- not only choice of poet, but choice of poems by each poet, showing just how varied (and talented) poets can be. The book would be perfect of dipping in and out of as a family, for exploring at bedtime or for lingering with when alone.
For teachers, ‘The Big Amazing Poetry Book’ is a real gift. There are well-known, much-loved poems here- The Sound Collector (Roger McGough), ‘Timothy Winters’ (Charles Causley), ‘Give Yourself a Hug’ (Grace Nichols) and ‘Cats’ (Eleanor Farjeon) to name a few -alongside less familiar works which are sure to become new favourites. The current Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, is included- perfect for making sure children are introduced to Joseph and his work- as well as the 2011-13 Laurate, Julia Donaldson
There are many poems here which would work perfectly as models for inspiring writing- My Colours (Colin West), You’re Never Too…(Laura Mucha), A Flutter of Fairies (Clare Bevan); those which could instigate discussion- Give and Take (Roger McGough), 93% Stardust (Nikita Gill), Checking Out Me History (John Agard), Earthtalk (Shauna Darling Robertson); poems to sprinkle across the curriculum, poems to perform, poems using different forms and techniques…I could go on and on!
The book has been lavishly illustrated by Chris Riddell. The little mouse who appears on the cover sits reading on each mini-biography page introducing the next poet. Remove the dust jacket and there are more mice on shelves showing poetry books by the poets within the collection- an excellent starting point for further poetic exploration!
Simply wonderful!
The Big Amazing Poetry Book
Chosen by Gaby Morgan, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529099096
Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.