…And I Hear Dragons

I make no secret of the fact that I love poetry and am always excited to explore a new collection! Conceived and edited by the National Poet of Wales, Hanan Issa (who is also partially responsible for ‘We Are Lady Parts’, one of my all-time favourite programmes!), ‘…And I Hear Dragons’ is a wonderful collection featuring the work of Welsh poets and illustrated by Eric Heyman.

In her introduction, Hanan shares the fact that she used to have a book of dragon poems as a child which inspired her to gather together all the magic and wonder of those ‘unruly, mythical creatures’ in this new anthology- and what a fabulous ‘dragon-focused’ selection it contains!

‘Dragon Dreams’ is one of two poems in the collection contributed by Alex Wharton (Daydreams and Jellybeans and Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees) and would make a lovely poem to share and discuss with a class. Similarly, Emma Barton-Smith’s ‘The Dragon in my Pocket’ would spark plenty of ideas, perhaps inspiring children to write their own poems on this theme.

The collection is rich in its celebration of Wales- the country, its language, its culture, and its people. Some of the poems use/introduce (depending on your position!) Welsh words. E. L Norry (Fablehouse) entitles her poem ‘Hiraeth’ (a Welsh word that has no direct English translation, but is likened to homesickness tinged with grief and sadness) , a term which I had to look up, making her words even more poignant. Other poems feature short glossaries or quick notes to support the reader’s understanding- like ‘Marged Fwyn ferch Ifan’ by Grug Muse which led me on another voyage of discovery!

A veritable cornucopia of dragon-y delights, this collection offers a wealth of wonderful words!

…And I Hear Dragons

edited by Hanan Issa, illustrated by Eric Heyman

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444578

Find Peace in a Poem

Things got very crazy at the end of last year so I took a couple of weeks off from reviewing…which means I am very behind in sharing all the lovely books I have been reading! However, new year and all that so let’s start 2024 with this gem!

‘Find Peace in a Poem’ is the latest in a series of poetry books from Little Tiger, joining ‘My Heart is a Poem’, ‘Courage in a Poem’ and ‘Our Earth is a Poem’. Making a lovely collection, each book is beautifully produced, with thoughtful details like biographies of each poet and illustrator and a name plate with the dedication ‘Words of calm for…’. Four illustrators have contributed to the collection with their differing styles perfectly complementing the poems.

Like a spell, poetry wields the right words at the right time and has the power to transform us.

Whoever wrote the book’s introduction obviously loves poetry as much as I do and has created the perfect starting point for the collection. As usual with this series, there is comment at the end of the book explaining that the poems have been presented in their original dialect as the poems are ‘rooted in the places they were dreamt up and written’.

The poems have been chosen with great care, each one offering a sense of calm and joyful optimism, encouraging the reader to focus on and appreciate the small things in life, the moments that create their days, the joy in the world around them. ‘A Lesson from the Trees’ by Nikita Gill reflects on the longevity of the trees around us and the constant, listening presence they offer. Kate Wakeling’s ‘The Ink Cure’ suggests a way of combatting feelings of sadness and letting your troubles go whilst ‘Over the Weather’ by Naomi Shihab Nye offers calming thoughts. Each poem is a joy!

The anthology is perfect for sharing at home or in school with many of the poems offering excellent models or starting points for children to develop their own poetic ideas. Zaro Weil’s ‘Hide and Seek’, for example, might inspire children to concentrate on and describe the sounds that they can hear in different locations as well as the importance of finding those quiet moments. ‘My Inner Weather Report’ by Georgia Heard is the perfect starting point for supporting children with identifying and sharing their feelings, recognising all the different moods and emotions which everyone experiences. And, of course, Kit Wright’s ‘The Magic Box’ - a perennial favourite- is a magical way of gathering all the special sights, sounds, people, places and imaginative details which make life so rich and joyful.

The perfect place to start 2024- happy New Year!

Find Peace in a Poem

Mandy Coe, Jack Prelutsky, Pat Mora, Kate Wakeling, James Carter, Nikita Gill, Joseph Coelho, Valerie Bloom, Amina Jama, Michael Rosen, Sue Hardy-Dawson, Mary Ann Hoberman, Georgia Heard, Sophia Thakur, Sanah Ahsan, Elizabeth Acevedo, Kit Wright, Naomi Shihab Nye and Zaro Weil

Illustrated by Annalise Barber, Mariana Roldan, Masha Manapov and Nabila Adani.

Published 4th January 2024

You can read my review of ‘My Heart is a Poem’ here, ‘Courage in a Poem’ here and ‘Our Earth is a Poem’ here.