There are, alas, many people who don't realize that poems are wonderful things. They don't know that poems can be funny, thought-provoking and relevant to us, no matter who we are. Two women set out to prove to such people that poems are treasures to be enjoyed and savored, and this is the collection of poems that they put together.
Edited by Allie Esiri and Rachel Kelly
Illustrated by Natasha Law
Poetry
For ages 6 and up
Cannongate Books, 2012, 978-0-85786-5571
Many people are under the impression that poetry has a
limited appeal and a limited use in real life in the modern world. They believe
that poems are for the classroom or occasionally one might read one aloud at a
special event. In an effort to encourage children to “love, learn and even
write poems,” the editors of this anthology created an app. The If Poems app
gives children “poems to read or hear being read by well-known actors.” The IF
Poems app was so successful that the editors ended up producing this remarkable
anthology to compliment it. Over the
years people have written poems about all kinds of things and therefore there
is a poem out there that is relevant to just about any situation. With this
anthology in hand readers can dip into a selection of poems that will suit
every mood and offer insights that are powerful or amusing.
Growing up can
be a painful process, one that is full of pitfalls, and many poets have written
about this issue. This anthology begins by looking at poems about growing up.
Some of them are amusing, such as Roger McGough’s The Leader. In this poem we meet someone who is eager to be a
leader. When at last the coveted status is achieved the person wonders “OK what
shall we do?” In Love Between Brothers
and Sisters Isaac Watts encourages his readers to “let their anger cool” when
they are upset with a sibling so that “Our hearts may all be love” when they
“grow to riper age.”
For those days
when the world is looking dark and grim there are poems that focus upon Humor
And Nonsense. Here you will find poems by Dr. Seuss, A.A. Milne, Roald Dahl,
and others. Here you will encounter the words of Frog from Wind in the Willows, you will hear about Macavity the criminal cat,
and you will learn all about the Jabberwocky, a creature with “eyes of flame,”
sharp teeth and claws.
If you are in the
mood to hear a story, then the Tell Me a Tale poems will suit you to perfectly.
The story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the description of that famous visit
Saint Nicholas makes on Christmas Eve, and many others story poems can be found
in this section. Some of the tales are humorous, while others have a dark tone
that might even give readers the shivers.
Other sections
in this anthology include Magic, Friendship and Love, and Lessons for Life.
Readers of all ages will enjoy dipping into this book to savor poetry
treasures.
No comments:
Post a Comment