A Poem for Every Day of Christmas

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and auld lang syne!

What other poem would be as perfect for today’s entry in a book of poems for this time of year? And, indeed, the poem selected by Allie Esiri for the 31st December is ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Offering a collection of thirty-one poems, one for each day of December, ‘A Poem for Every Day of Christmas’ combines well-known carols and verses with some lesser-known poems. As the days pass, the choices reflect the anticipation and growing excitement of the season, mixing humour and poignancy, some dwelling on the religious significance of Christmas and some on the secular.

As perfect for sharing as for reading alone, the book offers an advent calendar of poems to be enjoyed- but be warned! Once started, it is very hard to resist flicking through the pages and delighting in each new offering. The eloquence of Christina Rossetti’s ‘In the Deep Midwinter’ one day contrasts beautifully with the joy of ‘Needles’, a wonderful shape poem by Brian Bilston; the traditional cumulative fun of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is followed by the humour of ‘On the Thirteen Day’, again by Brian Bilston. Teachers might enjoy sharing these, perhaps playing some of the traditional carols included, with their classes or in an assembly as much as families and friends will be entertained by them at home!

Although several of these poems also appear in ‘A Poem for Every Winter’s Day’ also edited by Allie Esiri, there is no doubting that this is a festive collection which can be enjoyed every year.

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas

Edited by Allie Esiri

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1035068388

The River’s a Singer

The river’s a singer,

As he dances along,

The countryside echoes

The notes of his song.

A lively, joyous collection of poems, ‘The River’s a Singer’ offers a wonderful range works, celebrating nature, family, cultural heritage and identity. Many of the poems feature elements of Jamaican patois and, for those who need it, there is a very useful, detailed glossary at the end of the book with a few additional notes at the end of some poems. However, there is nothing quite like hearing Valerie Bloom perform her poems- an inspirational treat everyone should enjoy!

This collection contains a mix of new and previously published poetry, such as ‘Fruits’ and ‘Outdooring’, using a wide range of styles and techniques. As well as being wonderful for performing, sharing or reading alone, many of the poems here would make wonderful models to explore and enjoy with a class.

‘The River’, for example, could be used as inspiration for a topic about rivers. Through using personification and metaphor, the personality of the river is explored, and this could lead to discussions about the vocabulary chosen to capture this with children then offering their own suggestions and considering how these might alter the meaning/ effect of the poem. Word play- and history- are introduced in ‘Henry the Eighth’ and ‘Watt Tyler’ and there is a lovely collection of Christmas poems, offering a Caribbean flavour to the celebrations. ‘Christmas is Here’ gives a wonderful sense of building expectations and excitement and could easily be used as a model for children to create their own poems about Christmas – or other important occasions/ events. Another poem which lends itself really well to encouraging children to create their own work is ‘When Granny’ which would also allow them to try to capture emotions through phrases and words!

One of my favourite poems in this book is ‘The Artist’, but there are so many which could be commented on.

 The River’s a Singer

Valerie Bloom, illustrated by Sophie Bass

Macmillan   ISBN: 978-1035043767

A World Full of Nature Stories

This is the ninth volume in this fabulous series by Angela McAllister and like its fellows, is sure to tempt a wealth of readers to explore the stories within. Gathered into seven sections, the theme of this collection of 50 folk tales and legends from around the world is nature in all its glory.

Each story is retold with great care and attention to detail, staying true to the original whilst making them accessible for a modern audience. Some of these tales are no doubt familiar- ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘The Little Fir Tree’- but the collection casts its net wide, gathering stories from all over the world. Children will enjoy locating the country of origin for each story and will, no doubt, exclaim over the similarities between versions of folktales they know and those they discover here.

Many of these tales seek to explain natural phenomenon. The reader learns how lightning began in the Khasi story from India, how the sun was made according to some First Nation’s Australians and why the Giant of the Rain showers the Earth with tears in the story from Brazil. Many of the stories have a strong message about respecting, and living in harmony with, nature.

Perfect for dipping in and out of and sharing at home, this series is also invaluable in school. The range and variety of stories, their length, the care with which they are told, make them an excellent resource for guided reading, both for guided and independent sessions. Children love these books with their beautiful illustrations- in the case the work of Hannah Bess Ross- and wealth of storytelling delights. ‘A World Full of Nature Stories’ is also brilliant for story times, perhaps lending a touch of story to another area of the curriculum.

An absolute ‘must have’- like the whole series! Angela McAllister is my guest on the Bookshelf tomorrow -find out more about her and her work then!

A World Full of Nature Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends

Angela McAllister, illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross

Frances Lincoln ISBN: 978-0711266452