Product Description

A celebratory anthology of the best of Puffin poetry publishing, including poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jackie Kay, Spike Milligan, John Agard, Brian Patten, Allan Ahlberg and Kit Wright. Each poet's work is illustrated by a different artist such as Emma Chichester Clark, Fritz Wegner and Korky Paul.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13412 in Books
• Published on: 1999-08-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Today I saw a little worm / Wriggling on his belly / Perhaps he'd like to come inside / And see what's on the telly.--Spike Milligan

This is a delightful, bright and gorgeously presented collection of poetry featuring the work of 10 popular and successful poets.

The selection has lots of different styles of poetry to enjoy and most poems are charming, funny or ridiculous. Some poems are familiar and probably already well-loved, but all are great fun and children will love the mad, surreal qualities of many verses featured. Each poet's section is accompanied by the work of different illustrators, making the book a wonderfully varied and colourful read.

Distinctive features of this collection are the interviews with each poet at the beginning of their sections which give the reader an interesting sense of their personalities and the roots of their poetry.

A wonderful high-quality selection sure to fire children's imaginations, this glossy book is amazing value. (Age 8-11) --Rachel Ediss

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a future life, Kit Wright would like to be "a brilliant painter, an ace musician, or a really great fast bowler." Spike Milligan went to school in a tent way off in the Indian desert. When he first arrived in England it felt like "living under an inverted bowl of grey." Michael Rosen calls himself "the best thief in the world." What and who does he steal from? Stories and jokes from his own children. If Michael Rosen wasn't a human being, he'd like to be a cockroach.

In this colourful, musical approach to children's verse there are 10 sections, each devoted to a poet and an illustrator. Accompanying each section is a short interview with the poet. So, along with poems about squirdles, sneaking slice after slice of chocolate cake, and having an itch in your nose when your hands are covered with glue, you'll learn cool stuff about the poets too. --Martha Silano

About the Author
Brian Patten came to public attention with the publication of THE MERSEY SOUND in 1967. He is a very popular performance poet, always in demand for conferences and school visits. Collections of his own poetry are published in Puffin and he is the editor of the PUFFIN BOOK OF TWENTIETH CENTURY VERSE. Brian lives in London.

Customer Reviews

utterly brilliant introduction to poetry for kids
my mate bought this for my children two years ago, when they were four and two. it's become a mainstay of bed-time reading in our house. beautifully illustrated, laid out, and with an accessible choice of 'rhythms', it's a regular part of the night-time routine. i used to read the poems to my kids: now they read them to me. when my daughter wants to cheer me up, she reads me benjamin zepheniah's 'body talk'; when she wants to wind me up, she reads spike milligan's 'kids'; and when we all want a hug, i read them brain patten's 'squeezes'. utterly brilliant poetry highlights that poetry is fun. in fact, i'm online today to buy my mate's kids the book for themselves.

My children wanted to read the poems again and again
They really couldn't get enough of the poems. There is such a good range from Spike Milligan through to Kit Wright and on (or back) to Roger McGough. That isn't to say that the others are any less important, funny or entertaining. Even the illustrations are great. I would recommend this book to parents of children of ages from 2 to 22. Although really I bought it for myself.

Puffin book of Utterly Brilliant poetry
Wow!

What a fantastic book, I am a parent of a young child (8) who has difficulties with reading and general literacy. He absolutely adored this book, some long poems for Mum to read but some that he could manage himself which was a huge confidence booster.

Spike Milligan's `The Squirdle' had him in fits of laughter as Mum kept getting it mixed up (on purpose of course) as did Benjamin Zephaniah's `Luv Song'.

I would highly recommend this book to parents and adults as it really has got something for everyone.

Believe me to see children who can't stop giggling whilst reading this book is a wonderful sight.