Rhythm and Poetry


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Karl Nova, illustrated by Joseph Witchall, Caboodle, 978-0995488540 £5.99


Karl Nova, a hip-hop artist, won the CLiPPA this year with this unique collection of poems infused with the lyrical rhythms of his music, bringing the buzz of the rich spoken word YA scene to a younger audience. Children love to read and perform his work, but this is also a book that could inspire many to take up writing themselves. The poems are rooted in everyday experiences


which readers can easily connect with and use as inspiration. For younger readers, Thinker, My Puppy Poet and Me (Tiny Owl) also introduces these ideas, alongside captivating illustrations by Ehsan Abdollahi.


The Rainmaker Danced


John Agard, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura, Hodder Children’s Books, 978-1444932607, £6.99 pbk


As children grow with poetry, they


learn that poetry can give them licence to have an opinion and a voice and use this to communicate with an audience. John Agard is a master of this in his poetry. Never patronising to his audience, his voice is powerful yet subtle, and encourages a deeper level of thought and discussion. Rich and lyrical poems, set against striking illustrations


by Satoshi Kitamura, invite us to consider our own impact on each other and the environment and to question, challenge and reflect. In the current climate of fake news, poetry such as this is essential in every classroom.


Werewolf Cub Rules


Joseph Coelho, Frances Lincoln, 978-1847804525, £6.99 pbk


Joseph Coelho embodies what we need in a new generation of children’s poets. Werewolf Club Rules, his first collection burst onto the scene in 2015, with its refreshing voice and depth of style. From the playful and humorous to the deeply reflective, tender and emotional,


Joe’s poetry shows what


can be achieved and enjoyed under the broad spectrum of poetry. For older readers, Overheard in a Tower Block,


illustrated by Kate Milner (Otter-Barry Books) offers us glimpses into the life of the main character as he grows, from young boy through adolescence to adulthood. The poems illuminate the challenges of this young man’s life, but ultimately conclude in moments of joy and possibility, offering readers at the transitional stage from primary to secondary experiences to reflect on and connect with.


Everything All at Once


Steven Camden, Macmillan, 978-1509880034, £6.99pbk


A large number of the teachers on CLPE’s Power of Poetry course described being put off poetry at secondary school, when the focus shifted from reading, performance and enjoyment to a heavy focus on analysis. It’s important as children move through secondary that we continue to find and recommend collections they can engage with and enjoy on a personal and emotional level. Steven Camden’s debut is a perfect


example of such a collection, speaking directly to teens about their own lives through a series of poignant and emotive poems.


Moonrise


Sarah Crossan, Bloomsbury, 978-1408867815, £7.99pbk


Before Bloomsbury published The Weight of Water, verse novels hadn’t entered into the consciousness of many in the UK; unless they knew of Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog or Karen Hesse’s powerful Out of the Dust. This form allows the reader to gain so much with its unique space for the reader to really get underneath the story. Sarah Crossan is a master of the form; using a rich variety of poetic techniques


and always managing to embody her characters so authentically that the reader cannot help but be engaged and empathise – two key skills we need to continue promoting with our young adult readers. Moonrise is a personal and highly emotional narrative that explores the injustices of the penal system and life’s inequalities. For upper primary readers Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover and Booked (Andersen Press) are fantastic examples of verse novels for this age.


A Poem for Every Day of the Year / A Poem for Every Night of the Year


Allie Esiri, Macmillan, 978-1509860548, 978-1509813131, £16.99


For adult readers of children’s poetry, these handsome anthologies are perfect to dip in to or to give a flavour of the wide landscape of children’s poetry across eras, forms and styles. The musicality of poetry is explored through lullabies and rhymes, the lyrical language of Shakespeare and the more modern lyricism of George the


Poet and Kate Tempest. Classic poetry from Keats, Rossetti and Causley sits alongside poets who shaped a generation such as Brian Patten and Roger McGough and new poets like Shauna Darling Robertson and Matt Goodfellow. Humorous poetry from the likes of Spike Milligan and Edward Lear is juxtaposed with emotive poetry from Derek Walcott and Imtiaz Dharker. The poems and poets are thoughtfully chosen, reflecting a wide range of cultures and styles, so whether you are a poetry novice or expert, there is something in here to draw you in, inspire, entertain or reflect on.


Books for Keeps No.232 September 2018 11


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