BEST BOOKS > POETRY BOOKS

Have you ever heard of a doctopus or a hippopotamustn't? Have you ever visited the Ning Nang Nong or lived in a floorless room? Did you know that in Japan cows go 'mo', in Vietnam they go 'o-o' and that in the Philippines they go 'ngna-ngna'? This title collects nonsense poems from all around the world.

Know some twins, or expecting to? This twinspired collection pairs poems and pictures in a lighthearted salute to the many twins among us. Old twins, new twins, famous twins, not-at-all-alike twins, side-byside twins, let's play twins, not-yet twins, mirror twins - all kinds of twins! - come together in a collection of original poems by two of our most celebrated authors for young people: J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen. From a wave and a wink to a twin switcheroo, from a rocket to the moon to the old woman who lived in a shoe, th... read more

Following the publication of bestselling Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy, Michael Rosen has followed up with a brilliant new book of poems that are funny, thought-provoking and always with Michael's immediately accessible and child-centred voice. The poems included are a mix of classic favourites and also many brand new poems. The cheeky, full-colour illustrations by much loved Babette Cole make the perfect partnership.

This collection of poetry by Lorraine Marwood focuses on family: holidays, siblings, school life, relatives and play. Whether she is describing the joys of a holiday at the beach, or the frustration of a day spent sick in bed, Lorraine's poems capture the innocence, wonder and difficulties of growing up. Ages 8+.

Now I am Bigger captures all the excitement and wonder of a small child's world, when every day brings something new - new teeth, new words, new shoes, new bed - and every little change is very, very BIG.

A poignant verse novel depicting the joys and heartbreaks of a farming family as they struggle to cope with the devastating effects of long-term drought. Told through the eyes of Ruby, day-to-day farm life involves playing in grassy paddocks with siblings, doing jobs and helping out, and witnessing birth, death and sacrifice. The family are devastated when they have to sell off some of their herd, but in the spirit of hope it is Ruby who tries in her own small way to help the family by making miniature bales of hay.

A beautifully-illustrated collection of nursery verses for young children. From Iran to Iceland, Sweden to Samoa, readers can delight in quirky, touching and funny verses from 22 different countries. Brought to life by the artwork from exciting young UK illustrator, Mique Moriuchi. Original languages and phonetic versions included.

This fun collection of poems is perfect for children from 5 to 12. They're about food and colours and cats and dogs and nursery rhymes and odd folk. Some rhyme, some just have rhythm, some play with words and others are just playful. They're great to read aloud and there's plenty of inspiration here for children to write their own poems. Sarah Laing's inventive illustrations add another layer of fun and meaning to each poem.

This anthology brings together a selection of poetry for children. From Dennis Glover to Laura Ranger, 100 New Zealand Poems for Children samples some of the best poetry New Zealand has to offer. Covering such themes as animals, bikes, families, spirituality and the weather, this collection is enhanced by the delightful illustrations of David Elliot. Hardback

Compelling poetry, to be enjoyed by all.

Poet and performer Sam Hunt first became aware of the poems of James K Baxter as a schoolboy. Aged 14, he was strapped for reciting Baxter's poem 'Evidence at the Witch Trials' in an English lesson (one of the final in a series of events resulting in his expulsion from college). James K Baxter later became a friend and mentor who greatly influenced the unconventional poetic course Sam Hunt's life would take. Here, Hunt offers a selection of almost 50 poems by Baxter that have made an indelible impression on the grooves of his brain... read more

In Flamingo Bendalingo, all the animals of the zoo, from sea lions to giraffes, from meerkats to elephants, come to life in poems written by 50 children and experienced AUP poet Paula Green. The animals roar, they squeal, they lope and lie, they splash and munch. The lines of the poems capture in words, their funny shapes and their bright colours. Energetic rhythms and sparkling images make you laugh and make you think. In three parts, with Paula's poems making up one part, the poems by the children making up another, and ... read more

An illustrated collection of 50 funny poems by a master of the genre. This anthology of rhymes on a range of silly topics will have children (and adults) rolling with laughter. For example, "Coathanger". "I gave my love a coathanger. She flung it back at me. It acted like a boomerang, And hit her on the knee." All poems are illustrated in an absurdly appealing style.

This is a stunning collection of nursery thymes and lullabies, including action verse, playtime rhymes and counting rhymes that will inspire and excite young children and remind adults of the magic of encountering rich language and imagery for the first time.

A collection of thirty poems featuring bears (and one extra one not about a bear!) to celebrate thirty years of Walker Books and in aid of The Children's Trust. The poems in this book are selected and illustrated by Colin West, a popular children's author who has written over fifty children's books and continues to produce poetry and picture books. He has also written the foreword. The book features poems by Spike Milligan, Edward Lear, Roger McGough, Stanley Cook, Colin West himself and many more well-known poets.

This is a gloriously illustrated first book of poetry, collecting together verse from a range of well-known authors. "Here's a Little Poem" is a superb selection of over fifty poems by English and American authors, including Wendy Cope, Roger McGough, John Agard, Grace Nichols, Colin McNaughton, Jack Prelutsky, Langston Hughes and many more. Affectionately describing the early experiences of young children, this is a warmly illustrated, imaginative world of first encounters. Simple text and exuberant illustrations make this an idea... read more

"Walker Illustrated Classics" is a new series which brings together some of the best-loved stories ever told, illustrated by some of today's finest artists. These exquisitely designed books, with their magnificent words and glorious pictures, are a pleasure to read - and re-read. The classics have never looked so good!This title includes over eighty of the most memorable poems written in the English language, from William Blake's "The Tyger" to Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky". Selected by Children's Laureate Michael Rosen and accompa... read more

This is a delightful collection of quirky poems by one of this country's most popular poets. Enter the celebrated poet's weird, witty, bespectacled world and meet the organic leek who has learned to speak, the octopus who gets a nasty shocktopus, the man who drew his cornflakes and a whole cast of other interesting characters. Surprising, serious, and sometimes just plain silly, this is a collection of poems even your dog might like. Unless your dog is a carrot too.

This alluring collection of bedtime poems from both side of the Atlantic is an inspired gift for children, and will find a treasured place by their bedside. From the hoot of an owl to the noisy horns of the city, from children giggling in the bath to the hushed notes of a lullaby, here is an exquisite anthology that captures the universal poetry of bedtime. Expertly gathered by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, these sixty poems showcase such writers as Alfred Tennyson and Langston Hughes, Lee Bennett Hopkins and Sylvia Plath, El... read more

No Description