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The Usborne book of poetry
Summary
Poetry
The Usborne book of poetry
- A wonderful collection of much-loved poems for young readers.
- Features work by classic poets such as Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Yeats alongside modern poets including Ted Hughes and Wendy Cope.
- Gorgeously illustrated by Kristina Swarner.
- Shortlisted for the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) Poetry Award 2008.
“a wonderful blend of classic and contemporary writing”
Parent Talk
- Buy online
- Hardback
£15.99 Add to basket
Information
Key Stage: KS1/2 E; Age 6+ (info)
Hardback:
ISBN: 9780746084151
128 pages
270 x 230mm
Author/Editor: Sam Taplin
Illustrator: Kristina Swarner
Press & Blog Reviews
This new collection of poetry, containing a wonderful blend of classic and contemporary writing, explores life in all its poetic glory. Beautifully illustrated with great charm, this is a very accessible introduction for little readers.
Parent Talk
Some people bemoan the lack of new books of classic children's verse but here's one published with full-colour suggestive art work.
Michael Rosen reviewing his favourite children's poetry books - Junior Education Plus
The Usborne Book of Poetry, collected by Sam Taplin, illustrated by Kristinn Swarner, is a handsome new hardback which would make a good gift. It has spacious pages, sparkling colour and silk bookmarks to mark your favourites. It is full of traditional plums from poets such as Kipling, Hardy, Lear and Tennyson as well as poems from the era marked by Frost, Larkin and Hughes. There are also newer poets like Kit Wright and Richard Edwards and two good poems from the compiler. A collection to be browsed by young readers and serve as a useful reference for adults.
Carousel - the guide to children's books
Recommended in the Guardian Christmas books for kids podcast, Christmas 2009.
The Guardian Books Podcast
Poems for children should be strong on visual appeal too. Children’s poetry is generally illustrated, especially that for younger children, which greatly increases the sensuous impact of the poetry book on the reader. Pictures by Masumi Farukawa, Cathy Shimmen and Kristina Swamer add to the enchantment of three collections of children’s poetry from Usborne: Poems for Little Children, Poems for Young Children and The Usborne Book of Poetry.
Writing Magazine
Reader Reviews
Do you agree or disagree with the reviews below? Why not write your own?
Gorgeous book
I think every parent should own this. I bought it yesterday and me and my kids cannot stop looking at it. The poems are mostly familiar pieces by the biggies, like Robert Frost and William Blake, with some other more contemporary ones mixed in, and all of them are wonderful. The illustrations bring each poem to life so beautifully, and make this book a delight to page through. It is my new favorite book, and will be passed down through our family, for sure. (I have the cloth-covered one embossed with silver, and it's so lovely.) Thank you to Sam Taplin and Kristina Swamer for putting together this amazing book.
Sara, 24th September 2010
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