The Literacy Classroom
Improving, inspiring and supporting
English teaching and learning
Poetry Years 3 & 4
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry
edited by Brian Patten
An utterly brilliant collection of the very best poems, from Puffin Books,
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.
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.
This collection features poems and illustrations from:
Spike Milligan; Kit Wright; Michael Rosen; Charles Causley; Roger McGough; Benjamin Zephaniah; Brian Patten; Jackie Kay; John Agard; Allan Ahlberg; Emma Chichester Clark; Korky Paul; Alison Jay; Lydia Monks; Ali Chatterton; David Mostyn; Sue Williams; Sheila Moxley; Fritz Wegner
Poetry Pie
by Roger McGough
There are over 50 poems in this hugely enjoyable poetry collection with themes ranging from food and animals to school and ghouls. As always, Roger Mcgough’s poems are full of wit and wisdom, with word play, puns and sharp observations on all aspects of life. He’s even included his own unique line drawings which are full of humour and pathos. Children are sure to ask for another slice of this brand new poetry pie!
Spooky Poems
by James Carter and Brian Moses
Spooky Poems is a collection of scary poems about ghosts, ghouls, bats, witches, vampires and all things creepy – by bestselling children’s poets Brian Moses and James Carter.
A Good Scary Poem Needs . . .
A haunted house,
a pattering mouse.
A spooky feeling,
a spider-webbed ceiling.
A squeaking door,
a creaking floor.
A swooping bat,
the eyes of a cat.
A dreadful dream,
a distant scream.
A ghost that goes ‘BOO’
and You!
The Works: Every Poem You Will Ever Need at School
chosen by Paul Cookson
THE WORKS contains every kind of poem you will ever need for the Literacy Hour but it is also a book packed with brilliant poems that will delight any reader.
It's got chants, action verses, riddles, tongue twisters, shape poems, puns, acrostics, haikus, cinquains, kennings, couplets, thin poems, lists, conversations, monologues, epitaphs, songs, limericks, tankas, nonsense poems, raps, narrative verse and performance poetry that's just for starters.
It features poems from the very best classic and modern poets, for example: William Blake, Michael Rosen, Robert Louis Stevenson, Allan Ahlberg, W.H. Auden, Brian Patten, Roger McGough, Roald Dahl, Charles Causley, Eleanor Farjeon, Benjamin Zephaniah, Ted Hughes, T.S. Eliot and William Shakespeare to name but a few.
A book packed with gems for dipping in to time and time again.
Evidence of Dragons
by Pie Corbett
EVIDENCE OF DRAGONS brings Pie Corbett’s achingly beautiful poems together for the very first time. His poems are full of the wonder of the ordinary and introduce us to characters and topics as varied as THE LAST UNICORN, MY BROTHER’S PIG, THE DRAGON WHISTLER, STARS, SHADOW PUPPETS and THE CLOUD APPRECIATION SOCIETY.
A delightful collection of poems about everything from dragons to walking backwards! Pie Corbett’s poems have an easy accessibility and a clarity of writing which makes them easy to read and fun for all.
An Imaginary Menagerie
by Roger McGough
From the anaconda in a Honda (don’t ask him for a ride, you might end up inside), to the zonk (good for nothing and very rude), from the useful catapillow and the reliable teapet to he newt who plays the flute, and the wordfish – who’s a swordfish in a state of undress, this is an A-Z of animal poems with a difference! Choose your own favourite from Roger McGough’s witty and wicked menagerie of rare breeds real and imaginary.
Revolting Rhymes
by Roald Dahl
“The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.”
Fairytales as you’ve never seen them before! Gruesome and grisly, dastardly and daring, these Revolting Rhymes turn familiar stories topsy-turvy. Maybe Cinderella decides against her prince? Perhaps Jack outwits the giant in an unexpected way? No-one is safe – not Snow-White nor Goldilocks, and the Big Bad Wolf better watch out, because Little Red Riding Hood won’t go down without a fight.
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
by T. S. Eliot, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Cats! Some are sane, some are mad and some are good and some are bad.
Meet magical Mr Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy and curious Rum Tum Tugger. But you'll be lucky to meet Macavity because Macavity's not there!
In 1925 T.S. Eliot became co-director of Faber & Faber, who remain his publishers to this day. Throughout the 1930s he composed the now famous poems about Macavity, Old Deuteronomy, Mr Mistoffelees and many other cats, under the name of 'Old Possum'. In 1981 Eliot's poems were set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber as Cats which went on to become the longest-running Broadway musical in history.
This charming new edition contains original colour illustrations by the award-winning illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler.
Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy
by Michael Rosen
“You Can’t Catch Me” and “You Can’t Put Mustard in the Custard” were first published twenty-five years ago and were groundbreaking in that they were full-colour illustrated new poems for children. “You Can’t Catch Me” won the Signal Poetry Award in 1982. Both books went on to be bestsellers and both poet and artist are stellar names in the world of children’s books. The book includes an introduction by Michael Rosen and an audio CD of the book, with all the poems also read by Michael. Michael’s brilliantly conversational poetry is fantastically matched by Quentin Blake’s loopy yet perfectly detailed art.
Heard it in the Playground
by Allan Ahlberg
This illustrated collection of amusing poems and songs celebrating primary school life won the Signal Poetry Award in 1990.
Meet Billy McBone and the Mad Professor’s Daughter, be amazed by the Longest Kiss Contest, shed a tear for the Boy Without a Name and – if you’re a stressed teacher – sing the Mrs Butler Blues.
Michael Rosen's A-Z: The Best Children's Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah
by Michael Rosen
From Agard to Zephaniah, the very best of children’s poetry from the very best of children’s poets appears in this wonderful and exciting anthology edited by Michael Rosen, the Children’s Laureate.
Coinciding with his laureateship and a very welcome public promotion of the need for children’s poetry in our education system, this future classic will delight readers young and old.
The Ride by Nights
by Walter de la Mare, illustrated by Carolina Rabei
Up on their brooms the Witches stream,
Crooked and black in the crescent’s gleam
It’s Halloween and a family is preparing to go trick-or-treating. Little do they know that up above them a coven of witches flies unseen through the starry sky…
Carolina’s stunning illustrations beautifully illuminate Walter de la Mare’s thrilling, magical poem, published as a picture book for the first time.
Snow
by Walter de la Mare, illustrated by Carolina Rabei
As the day draws to a close, a family prepares for Christmas – decorating the tree, hanging stockings by the fire, putting out a plate of mince pies…
Outside, the world turns to white.
‘No breath of wind,
No gleam of sun
Still the white snow
Whirls softly down’
Walter de la Mare’s classic poem is revisited in a stunning fashion in this picture book that celebrates the wonder of snow.
Summer Evening
by Walter de la Mare, illustrated by Carolina Rabei
The sandy cat by the Farmer’s chair
Mews at his knee for dainty fare;
Old Rover in his moss-greened house
Mumbles a bone, and barks at a mouse.
Carolina Rabei’s stunning illustrations beautifully illuminate Walter de la Mare’s glorious celebration of a balmy summer’s evening.
Silver
by Walter de la Mare, illustrated by Carolina Rabei
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One spring evening, the fairies gather in the woods. Two sleepy children join in the parade to a wonderful, dream-like fairy party.
Illustrated by bright new talent, Carolina Rabei, this Walter de la Mare poem is brought to life with shimmery, ethereal illustrations, making it the perfect book for bedtime. One of four seasonal Walter de la Mare picture books that form a set, each with complementing colour palates and illustrations by rising young star Carolina.