Saturdays at the Imaginarium

Meanwhile I’ve slipped into a secret side room,

locked the door

and imagined

the Imaginarium.

(Well, who did you think

runs this whole show!)

An imaginarium is a ‘place devoted to the imagination’ - an excellent way of describing this creative and thought-provoking collection of poems. All manner of ideas and thoughts are explored here in a seemingly random collection of fabulous wonderings and reflections.

There are so many poems worth commenting on, pondering over and enjoying. Some are very direct, written almost as a challenge, whilst others are softer, like whispers. All are enjoyable and engaging.

A Word of Advice, Sunshine’ and ‘The Nameless’ are two of my favourites. As well as appealing directly to me, my inner-teacher knows that these would be wonderful for sharing with and inspiring a class. ‘Eight, Maybe Nine, Magicians You Never Knew About’ is fabulous- a beautifully observed reflection, perfect for discussing and for using as a starting point for developing children’s own ideas on who and what in this world might really be magical.

The poems play with words and ideas, often honing in on the everyday, but considering them with a quirky eye and plenty of originality. Various types of poems are used, including a ‘liwuli’, a form I had never heard of, but plan to explore further. There are helpful notes about this form included at the end of the book.

There are illustrations throughout in black and white by Jude Wisdom and a delightful colour spread in the centre. These are as imaginative as the poems!

‘Saturdays at the Imaginarium’ is a wonderful collection of poems to explore again and again.

Saturdays at the Imaginarium

Shauna Darling Robertson, illustrated by Jude Wisdom

Troika Books ISBN: 978-1912745128