A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young

by Michael Rosen (Author) Chris Riddell (Illustrator)

A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
A collection of children's poems from children's author and poet Michael Rosen.
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Hardcover
$19.99

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School Library Journal

Starred Review

Toddler-PreS--This collection of silly rhymes and poems is sure to please the prereading crowd. Most of the entries are a page or less, and although they are often nonsense, they are notable for their joyful rhymes and bouncy rhythm. The text often echoes the style of traditional nursery rhymes, working with nonsense words and made-up characters to bring fun and action to poetry. The illustrations are large and playful and vary in style from very realistic to out of this world but will surely appeal to babies and toddlers. The large format makes this title good for sharing, and children will likely find favorite poems that they will wish to hear again and again. VERDICT An excellent choice for prereaders and very young children, as well as anyone with a love for nursery rhymes.--Ellen Norton, Naperville Public Library, Naperville, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

This collection of silly rhymes and poems is sure to please the prereading crowd...An excellent choice for prereaders and very young children, as well as anyone with a love for nursery rhymes
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Riddell's fluid watercolor-and-pencil illustrations bring a grace to each poem, no matter what its subject, and he depicts many ethnicities of children...Despite (or perhaps because of) the odd bits, this book successfully celebrates the private, gleeful, imaginative world of toddlers.
—Kirkus Reviews

Nonsense words and jaunty rhymes pack the oversize pages of this beautifully illustrated collection of poems...Preschoolers probably won't sit still for the entire collection at once, but individual selections are likely to get them moving to the lively beat.
—Booklist

As for A Great Big Cuddle, don't be surprised if your copy of the book becomes the most tattered collection of poetry in your home. That's okay. The most loved become the most well-worn.
—Kirkus Reviews

The oversized volume is beautifully designed and laid out, and at his best Rosen writes with echoes of great childhood poets such as Milne (as in the domestic simplicity of "Coming Home") and Lear (in the nonsensical joys of "Once").
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen is one of the most popular contemporary poets and authors of books for children. He received the Eleanor Farjeon Award for services to children's literature in 1997 and served as Children's Laureate in the U.K. between 2007 and 2009. His books include the worldwide bestseller We're Going on a Bear Hunt and the award-winning Michael Rosen's Sad Book as well as What's So Special About Shakespeare? and What's So Special About Dickens? He lives in London.

Tony Ross was born in London in 1938. After training at Liverpool School of Art, he worked as a cartoonist, graphic designer, advertising art director, and art lecturer. In 1976 he published his first illustrated children's book. He is best known for the Horrid Henry and Little Princess series of books, which have both been adapted for television, as well as illustrating books for David Walliams. He lives on the Welsh Borders and has three daughters.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763681166
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
September 22, 2015
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV057000 - Juvenile Fiction | Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
JUV055000 - Juvenile Fiction | Nursery Rhymes
Library of Congress categories
Poetry
Children's poetry, English
Parents Choice Awards (Fall) (2008-Up)
Recommended 2015 - 2015

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