Poems Aloud: Poems Are for Reading Out Loud! (Poetry to Perform)

by Joseph Coelho (Author) Daniel Gray-Barnett (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
In this fantastic collection, Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho shows us that poems are made to read OUT LOUD! In this wittily illustrated anthology of poems, designed to be read aloud, twenty poems arm children with techniques for lifting poetry off the page and performing with confidence. Perfect for confident children and shy readers alike, this book teaches all sorts of clever ways to performing poetry. Children will learn 20 techniques for reading aloud by trying out 20 funny and thoughtful original poems by the much-loved and award-winning performance poet, Joseph Coelho. There are tongue twisters, poems to project, poems to whisper, poems to make you laugh. There are poems to perform to a whole class and others to whisper in somebody's ear. Richly textured, warm and stylish illustration by Daniel Gray-Barnett bring each page to life. "Poetry for children is dead. Really? Not when there are young poets like Joseph Coelho" --Books for Keeps
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$17.99

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Publishers Weekly

In this spunky anthology, Coelho encourages a theatrical approach to poetry: "Poetry and performance have always gone hand in hand," he offers in an introduction about its early days, when it was set to the tune of a lyre (ergo, "lyrics"). Featured poems follow different styles (tongue twisters, action poems), communicate clever reading tricks (crescendo, reading in a group), and come with difficulty levels and recommendations--homophone-based "The Chilly Chili" instructs readers to emphasize bolded terms when reading. Vibrant mixed-media drawings by Gray-Barnett suggest loosely drawn poster art; expressive free lines and bright colors enliven each spread (a bear gazing out on a pink landscape attends "This Bear," footprints decorate a page of riddles). The poems themselves range from zippy and amusing to thoughtful and leisurely ("This lumbering bear is old") in this engaging approach to connecting young readers with poetry, which will be of particular use in the classroom. Ages 5-10. (Feb.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A pleasant-enough gathering, with some bright spots." —Kirkus Reviews—Kirkus Reviews
Joseph Coelho
Joseph Coelho, selected as UK Children's Laureate in 2022, is an award-winning poet, playwright, and children's book author. His first poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules, won the CLPE Poetry Award in 2015. His picture books include If All the World Were . . ., illustrated by Allison Colpoys, and Luna Loves Library Day, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers. He is also the author of the Fairy Tales Gone Bad trilogy, illustrated by Freya Hartas. Originally from London, Joseph Coelho now lives in Folkestone, England. Follow him on Twitter @Poetryjoe and on Instagram @josephcoelhoauthor.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780711247697
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Wide Eyed Editions
Publication date
February 04, 2020
Series
Poetry to Perform
BISAC categories
JNF042000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Poetry | General
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Children's poetry, English
Humorous poetry
Performance poetry

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