Children's Books > poetry

Oliver is fed up when he finds out he's going to be spending Christmas with his bullying cousins, Thug and Thugette, and things just go from bad to worse when they play a nasty trick on him. But with a little inspiration from a magical Christmas cracker, he comes up with a plan to save the day.

Bill Manhire's first new book since Lifted shows him building on the themes and expanding the techniques of that prize-winning collection. Here are finely crafted lyrics, found poems, and even a bracket of songs. The Victims of Lightning is Bill Manhire at the height of his powers.

First published March 2010.

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

A poetry collection to tickle your funny bone, Something Big Has Been Here features more than 100 original poems and black-and-white drawings from the best-selling team of Jack Prelutsky and James Stevenson. Here are four ferocious tigers, a meat loaf that defies an ax, five flying hot dogs-and many, many more people, animals, and things that are destined to become a part of the lives of everyone who loves to laugh.

This is a lovely anthology of poems for the whole Christmas season. There are traditional carols and songs, and modern poems about children's experiences of Christmas: food and families, presents and celebrations, and the snow and ice of winter. The collection is both reflective and joyful and includes contributions from Eleanor Farjeon, Roger McGough, Judith Nicholls, U.A. Fanthorpe and Gareth Owen, among many others. With beautiful colour illustrations throughout, this collection makes a perfect gift at Christmas.

When Gulls Fly High is actor and poet Peter Bland's second collection of children's verse following the popular The Night Kite. Beautifully illustrated by Peter's daughter, Joanna Bland, this lively, humourous and often thought-provoking collection of poetry will appeal to readers of all ages.

Nature and the countryside has provided inspiration for generations of poets and their audiences, from Virgil to Wordsworth; from Matthew Arnold to Robert Frost.