Poems for newborn to the very old (but really for children)

New Zealand Poets and Illustrator

Paula Green editor, illustrated by Jenny Cooper

A Treasury of NZ Poems for Children
Random House 2014  $37.99hb 288pp
ISBN 978 1 7755 3356 6
Themes: Poetry for children

What a week it has been for handing and enjoying truly beautifully produced books. For me it started with Gavin Bishop’s Teddy One-Eye (Random House) went on to Julie Leibrich’s Little Book of Sonnets (Steele Roberts) and yesterday, to end the cycle, I found, in my post box,The Treasury of NZ Poems for Children. This last has the luxury of not one, not two but three bookmarks – a necessity because who could choose from this treasure box, just one poem to mark? Paula Green has gathered a delectable collection of poems from classic poets like Margaret Mahy and James K. Baxter (yes, The Little Ships is included) to several poems by children - one only 6 years old.

From Elena de Roo’s opening poem, Words to the last piece in the book, Joy Cowley’s Haere Mai ki te Moe we are spoilt for choices. And. Every poem is most generously illustrated by Jenny Cooper.

Recommended for everyone from newborn to the very old.

Poetry Collection - Adult and Secondary Schools

NZ Poet

Robin Fry   Love Song of the Wading Bird

Submarine (an imprint of Mākaro Press) 2014   $25.00pb   54 pp

ISBN 978 0 9941 0693 3

Robin Fry lives in Petone, Hutt Valley and most of her poems are about this area - a place where there are river stones to be seen in her garden, jelly fish and oyster catchers on the beach at the end of her street and long, long buried bones at her back door. This is a charming collection of poetry – just enough to read at a sitting and then to come back for more, of simple but eye catching design and the right size to put in your pack or back pocket. A collection I feel to inspire secondary schools and to give pleasure to everyone who reads it.

Google Robin’s name to find more about her and about her large collection of poetry already published. If you have any difficulty buying the book go to makaropress.co.nz. 

Adult and Year 9 up/ Age 13 up

Non-Fiction

Australian Writer & Illustrator

Lorraine Marwood, illustrated by Amy Daoud

Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems

Walker Books 2013           $16.95pb 144 pages

ISBN 978 1 9220 7742 4 

Lorraine Marwood lives on a dairy farm in rural Victoria, Australia and has spent much time working on adult literacy, ESL and encouraging children to read  - and to write poetry. This collection is full of great images (possum deciles on our tin roof/ a grey cow with a moist nose and a yellow tag munching hay like it is a sherbet lolly and pink roses are kitten’s noses – whiskers like fine fish bone lines) to get children going on creating their own.

Year 2 up/ Age 6 up