Juggling With Gerbils

A great new collection of poetry, wide-ranging in both form and subject matter. Full of Brian Patten's wonderful wit and moments of beauty as in GERANIUMS IN THE SNOW: Like children snuggling down under a white duvet Slowly the red geraniums Vanish under the snow. Brilliantly complemented by Chris Riddell's illustrations.

In the summer of 1967, Tony Richardson of Penguin Books took a chance. Then Penguin’s poetry editor, Richardson devoted the tenth volume of the highly prestigious Penguin Modern Poets series to three unknown writers from Liverpool: Adrian Henri, Roger McGough, and Brian Patten. Little did anyone anticipate that the book produced, The Mersey Sound, would become one of the best-selling poetry anthologies of all time. A Gallery to Play To is an intimate account of the lives and careers of the three poets featured in that 1967 volume—and with unparalleled access to the lives of Henri, McGough, and Patten, the author has produced an indispensable volume for anyone interested in British poetry, popular culture, and literary society over the last forty years. Originally published in 1999, this revised edition includes new interviews with Patten and McGough, as well as a fully updated text and introduction.

Provides up-to-date profiles on the careers of leading and emerging poets.

An exciting and creative approaches that links literacy and oracy in a way that children will enjoy. Performing poetry is also proven to boost self-esteem. Includes: * Audio downloadable resources with recordings of published poets and children performing their own work * Activities to develop speaking and listening skills * Model poems from which to work * Guidelines for progressing through the writing and performance process * A three stage model: preparation -- writing -- performing

From questions and short tasks to full classroom events, this playful, powerful guide offers strategies to help student reflect on and determine what poetry means to them.

Roger McGough and Brian Patten have selected the very best of their animal poems in order to help two loveable monsters from outer space who visit Earth in search of a pet and need a bit of guidance...Split into sections, the monsters are introduced to animals that fly, swim, crawl and purr by two of our greatest childrens poets. Illustrated in Guy Parker-Rees' lively and intimitable style.

Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11 is a guide for primary teachers to the many kinds of texts children encounter, use and enjoy in their nursery and primary school years, providing an invaluable insight into the literature available. Addressing important issues and allowing for the voices of teachers, reviewers and children to be heard, it contains suggestions of best practice which offer a more creative approach to learning. Including both fiction and non-fiction, with genres ranging from picturebooks to biographies, this fully updated second edition features: New coverage on recent books Discussion of new changes in concepts of literacy, particularly focused on technological advances in moving image media and virtual worlds The balance between print and screen-based texts on developing children’s visual and multimodal literacy Annotated booklists for each genre for different age groups New sections on equality, diversity and translation Exploring fiction, non-fiction and poetry, Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11 is an invaluable resource, supporting teachers as they help children on their journey to becoming insightful and critical readers of non-fiction, and sensitive and reflective readers of fiction.

'The Mersey Sound is an attempt to introduce contemporary poetry to the general reader by publishing representative work by each of three modern poets in a single volume, in each case the selection has been made to illustrate the poet's characteristics in style and form'. With this modest brief, The Mersey Sound was conceived and first published in 1967. An anthology which features Roger McGough's work, alongside that of Brian Patten and Adrian Henri (The Liverpool Poets), it went on to sell over half a million copies and to become the bestselling poetry anthology of all time.