Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Spooky Poems Aloud
One grain of gritty midnight,
One iota of dust.
The figure spoke inside my head,
‘It’s time to join us.’
Just in time for the spooky season comes this suitably scary collection of poems from Joseph Coelho. ‘Spooky Poems Aloud’ is the fourth book in the ‘Poetry to Perform’ series and offers a perfectly pitched selection of poems to add some shivers to Hallowe’en!
Each of these twenty-five poems just cries out to be performed, encouraging children to explore the use of dynamics, tone and gesture to support their presentation, having great fun in the process. ‘On a Cold Whispering Night’ (which the quote above comes from) is perfect for whispering in spooky tones whilst the onomatopoeic refrain of ‘The Skeleton in the Basement’ might need a louder, sharper voice!
An introduction is added for each poem, giving suggestions not only for performance, but also tips for creating poems along the lines of those given. ‘It Woke Me From a Dream’ uses a repeating line to create a creepy atmosphere and the note suggest creating a poem in the same style. ‘The Grey Lady’ is a poem which uses the senses to describe something scary- another fun thing to try!
The book introduces children to a wonderful range of poetic styles and techniques- pantoum, villanelle, regna, tanka- enriching the reader’s experience and understanding of the wonders of poetry, making this an invaluable resource for teachers and interested adults as well as children. Full of appealing illustrations, ‘Spooky Poems Aloud’ is sure to encourage a love of poetry in everyone!
Spooky Poems Aloud
Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
Wide Eyed ISBN: 978-0711287396
You can read my review of ‘Courage Out Loud’ here.
Pause for Poetry: Courage Out Loud
Using a wide range of poetic forms and structures, ‘Courage Out Loud’ is a wonderful collection of poems which explores many ways of being brave and facing fears.
The book not only shares expressions of courage from Joseph, but actively encourages the reader to create their own, reminding them of the power of poetry to communicate their feelings and offering advice and guidance for both performing and writing.
Each poem is prefaced by a little comment from Joseph, offering some context or information about the poetic form. There are many poems here which could be used with classes as well as individual children. ‘Have a Little Cry’ is a lovely piece which reminds the reader how a little cry can make us feel better as there is ‘courage in every tear’. Other poems focus on particular occasions when courage is called for – diving into a pool, going on a rollercoaster or speaking out in front of an audience.
The whole collection is accompanied by lively, colourful illustrations which perfectly capture the mood of each poem. This book sits perfectly alongside the two previous volumes: ‘Poems Aloud’ and ‘Smile Out Loud’. I hope there are more books to come in this series!
Courage Out Loud
Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
Wide Eyed Editions ISBN: 978-0711279193
Published 23rd March 2023
Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.
