The Big Amazing Poetry Book is beautiful door-stopper of a book edited by Gaby Morgan, introduced by Roger McGough and illustrated by Chris Riddell. It’s a warm, funny collection that’s packed with all different styles of poetry – ballads, riddles, tongue-twisters, shape poems, haikus, sonnets and raps – about seasons, festivals, animals, birds, love, war, food, fish and football and much more. There are seven poems and a biography to showcase each poet and stunning line artwork on every page.
Includes poems from: John Agard, Ruth Awolola, Gerard Benson, James Berry, Clare Bevan, Brian Bilston, Valerie Bloom, Liz Brownlee, Steven Camden, Lewis Carroll, James Carter, Charles Causley, Mandy Coe, Joseph Coelho, Dom Conlon, Paul Cookson, Pie Corbett, Shauna Darling Robertson, Jan Dean, Peter Dixon, Julia Donaldson, Carol Ann Duffy, Eleanor Farjeon, John Foster, Nikita Gill, Chrissie Gittins, Martin Glynn, Matt Goodfellow, Sue Hardy-Dawson, David Harmer, A. F. Harrold, Jenny Joseph, Jackie Kay, Ian McMillan, Wes Magee, Roger McGough, Michaela Morgan, Brian Moses, Laura Mucha, Grace Nichols, David Orme, Gareth Owen, Brian Patten, Rachel Piercey, John Rice, Coral Rumble, Roger Stevens, Nick Toczek, Kate Wakeling, Zaro Weil, Colin West and Kit Wright.
“There are many poems here which would work perfectly as models for inspiring writing… and could instigate discussion,” writes teacher Sue Wilsher in her review for ReadingZone.com. “‘Give and Take’ (Roger McGough), ‘93% Stardust’ (Nikita Gill), ‘Checking Out Me History’ (John Agard), ‘Earthtalk’ (Shauna Darling Robertson); poems to sprinkle across the curriculum; poems to perform; poems using different forms and techniques… I could go on and on!”
PS. You’ll also find the poem ‘Earthtalk’ in my book Saturdays at the Imaginarium.
Shauna Darling Robertson 