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You are here: Home / Archives for poetry

Everything Comes Next: Collected and New Poems by Naomi Shihab Nye ill. Rafael Lopez

January 8, 2021 By achuka Leave a Comment


ACHUKA Book of the Day 8 Jan 2020

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“Emotionally resonant and stirring, this is a must-have title.”
KIRKUS
“Lucky the reader who would have this collection lying around for visiting and revisiting.”
HORN BOOK

Everything Comes Next is a treasure chest of Naomi Shihab Nye’s poems from the past 40 years, including several not previously published. From favourites such as “Famous” and “A Valentine for Ernest Mann,” to the widely shared “Kindness” and “Gate A-4,” this collection celebrates her term as Young People’s Poet Laureate in the US. The book is an introduction to her work for new readers as well as a comprehensive edition for classroom and family sharing. Writing prompts and tips by the award-winning poet make this an outstanding choice for aspiring poets of all ages.

Follow Naomi Shihab Nye on Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/naomishihabnye/
Follow the book’s illustrator, Rafael Lopez, on Twitter:

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Rafael Lopez (@rafael_l61)


Filed Under: Blog, BookOfTheDay, Books, Poetry/Tales Tagged With: collection, poetry

A World Of Poems ed. Sylvia Vardell ill. Sonny Ross

November 16, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Nov 2020

The American anthologist (and poetry blogger) of this new collection from DK writes: “It was such a privilege to have this project come my way at the beginning of the year and once the pandemic hit in March, it became such a therapeutic outlet. I read and read and read and pored over piles and piles of poetry books—and probably recommended five times as many poems as they were finally able to include in this anthology. Then I learned a TON working through the permission process—wishing we could afford to include a poem by Langston Hughes or Pablo Neruda, for example, but not able to afford them within the DK budget. But I learned HOW to get permission! And I lobbied hard for diverse voices and was fairly successful, although I would have loved to include even more. And it was fascinating to work with people in the London office and alert them to some of our new U.S. poets and also be educated about some of their most distinguished voices in the U.K.”

The poems are gathered together in eight major sections:

  1. Family and Friends
  2. Feelings
  3. Animals and Nature
  4. Cities, Towns, and Travel
  5. Fun and Games
  6. Science and Art
  7. Body and Health
  8. A World of Learning

and closes with a variety of poetry activities for children and families.

The UK illustrator graduated from Birmingham City University in 2014 with a first-class degree in Illustration and has gone on to work full time as a freelance illustrator working in editorial, conceptual, lifestyle, food and children’s books. 
Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonnyrossillustration/

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Filed Under: BookOfTheDay, Illustrated, Poetry/Tales Tagged With: anthology, poetry

The Girl and the Goddess by Nikita Gill

October 28, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment

Lyrical wonder, spiritual revelation and revolution meet with epic mythical landscapes in this deeply intimate coming-of-age story, told in verse.

Meet Paro. A girl with a strong will, a full heart and much to learn. Born into a family reeling from the ruptures of Partition, follow her as she crosses the precarious lines between childhood, teenage discovery and realising her adult self.

Nikita Gill’s masterful poetry and beautiful illustrations conjure up jasmine-scented voices and smiles inhabited by ancestor’s souls, rain dancing in a new city and the painful caverns in our hearts. We are taken on a journey of deity wisdom, fragmented family, and love lost and gained. Navigating different cultures, religions and identities, The Girl and the Goddess is a mesmerising poetic tale of where we come from, how we grow and how we become who we are.

Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikita_gill/

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Filed Under: YA Tagged With: poetry, verse

Cherry Moon: Little Poems Big Ideas Mindful of Nature by Zaro Weil ill. Junli Song

October 13, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment


ACHUKA Book of the Day 14 Oct 2020
Winner of the 2020 CLIPPA Poetry Award

A poetry collection that captures eye-popping moments, tender observations and a thousand whimsical reflections on the sheer joy of the natural world.

Cherry Moon bubbles with excitement and creativity. Discover parades of beast-doodles, preposterous penguins, talking blossoms, razz- dazzle birds, humble fleas and host of other exotic and everyday creatures who literally jump off the page and into our hearts. Thought-provoking, sensitive and delightfully original, Cherry Moon poses big questions about life with poems and other small gatherings of words; encouraging children of every age to explore the power, enchantment and sheer wonderfulness of nature.

As winner of the CLiPPA, Zaro Weil received a trophy and a cheque for £1000 and will also be recorded for the National Poetry Archive.
For more information about the CLiPPA Award and the Schools Shadowing Scheme visit:
https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/clippa

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Filed Under: BookOfTheDay, How About, Poetry/Tales Tagged With: clippa2020, poetry

CLiPPA 2020 Winner

October 9, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment

Poet Zaro Weil was today announced the winner of the annual poetry award, CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) for her collection of nature poems, Cherry Moon, published by ZaZaKids Books/ Troika Books and illustrated by Junli Song.

Zaro Weil lives in southern France with her husband and two sheepdogs, Spot and Clementine, alongside a host of birds, insects, badgers, wild boars, crickets, donkeys, goats, and hares. Her poetry for children has appeared in many anthologies and previous publications include Mud, Moon and Me published by Orchard Books, Firecrackers fromTroika and Spot Guevara, Guerilla Dog.

Junli Song, whose illustrations add so much to the appeal of this title, is an American, from Chicago.

Illustrator & Poet at the 2019 Bologna Book Fair from Junil Song’s Instagram

In a year of outstanding poetry publishing for children, the judges were particularly impressed by the thoughtfulness and variety of Weil’s poetry, the opportunities Cherry Moon offers for sharing poems aloud, and because, after months of lockdown, her book answers children’s growing need for poetry and the outdoors.

From a particularly strong shortlist, the judges also chose to honour Poems the Wind Blew In by Karmelo C. Iribarren, illustrated by Riya Chowdhury, translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel and the first work in translation to be shortlisted.

The announcement of the 2020 Award, delayed from the summer, was revealed in a live Poetry Show, part of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. 

Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive at CLPE said, “The CLiPPA is a huge, inclusive celebration of poetry and its power to engage children. There has been a marked upsurge in interest in poetry for children this year – the National Poetry Archive has seen record levels of site visits for example and subscriptions to our Shadowing Scheme are three times what they were in 2019. Our winner is the perfect book for today: Zaro’s poems allow children to explore their emotions and understand them as shared experiences; and it connects readers with the natural world, something that is vital at this time. Children need poetry right now…”

Zaro Weil receives a trophy and a cheque for £1000. As part of the prize she will also be recorded for the prestigious National Poetry Archive.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: awards, poetry, prizes

CLiPPA Poetry Award 2020 Shortlist

October 1, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment

On behalf of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) Michael Rosen today announced the 2020 shortlist for the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award). Established in 2003, the CLiPPA is the UK’s only award for poetry published for children. 

Birmingham-based independent The Emma Press has two books on the five-strong shortlist, including a collection by the Spanish poet Karmelo C. Iribarren, newly translated into English by Lawrence Schimel, and an illustrated collection of LGBT-themed poetry based on retellings of Scottish folk tales.

Tiny independent Troika Books are also represented with Cherry Moon, a collection of nature poems by Zaro Weil, illustrated by newcomer Junli Song. The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehogpublished by Walker Books is an anthology of ‘how to’ poems collected by the late poet Paul B. Janeczko (1945-2019) and illustrated by Richard Jones that features an eclectic mix of topics and ends with a directive to readers to: “Close this book./Look”. In Midnight Feasts, published by Bloomsbury, A. F. Harrold collects together poems ancient and very modern all on the theme of food.

Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive, CLPE said “In this challenging year, we are particularly delighted to be announcing the shortlist for the CLiPPA and to be doing it on National Poetry Day, when everyone is invited to celebrate and share poetry. Our judges have selected five poetry collections that, though very different, will each inspire and enthral young readers. We are excited to make the announcement and look forward to sharing the shortlist through our shadowing scheme.”

The full shortlist is:

Midnight Feasts. Tasty Poems chosen by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Katy Riddell, Bloomsbury. The judges said: a delicious and quirky collection of poems old and new, skilfully curated and perfectly paced.

Poems the Wind Blew In, Karmelo C. Iribarren, illustrated by Riya Chowdhury, translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel, The Emma Press. The judges said: a book to carry around with you, proof that poetry is ideas, thoughts and emotions captured in words.

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems, compiled by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Richard Jones, Walker Books. The judges said: a wonderfully varied collection of poems that will speak directly to young children, full of beautiful examples of the craft of poetry

Wain. LGBT Reimaginings of Scottish Folklore, Rachel Plummer, illustrated by Helene Boppert, The Emma Press. The judges said: a fresh voice and take on something that could have felt archaic but is made to feel new.

Cherry Moon, Zaro Weil, illustrated by Junli Song, ZaZaKids Books/ Troika Books. The judges said: meditative and nicely paced; Weil presents beautiful snapshots of the natural world and has thought carefully about the form for each.

This year the judges are poets Valerie Bloom and Steven Camden (winner of the CLiPPA 2019), alongside Tracey Guiry, director of the Poetry Archive and Charlotte Hacking, Central Learning Programmes Leader at CLPE.

In a first for the CLiPPA, thanks to a new partnership with The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, the winner of the 2020 Award will be revealed at the culmination of the CLF schools’ programme, on Friday 9 October, in a Poetry Show introduced by CLiPPAjudges, poets Valerie Bloom and Steven Camden, and featuring performances by the shortlisted poets as well as live drawing by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. Schools across the UK and beyond will be able to watch the show for free on The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival platform and access poetry CPD sessions created by CLPE.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: awards, poetry, prizes

Wain: LGBT reimaginings of Scottish folktales by Rachel Plummer ill. Helene Boppert

October 1, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment


Shortlisted for the 2020 CLIPPA Poetry Award

Wain is a collection of LGBT-themed poetry for teens based on retellings of Scottish myths. The collection contains stories about kelpies, selkies, and the Loch Ness Monster, alongside perhaps lesser-known mythical people and creatures, such as wulvers, Ghillie Dhu, and the Cat Sìth. These poems immerse readers in an enriching, diverse and enchanting vision of contemporary life.

The poems in this collection are fun, surprising, and full of a magical mix of myth and contemporary LGBT themes – it is a perfect read for teens who are learning more about themselves, other people, and the world around them. Wain is fully illustrated, in colour, and suitable for readers of all ages.

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Filed Under: Poetry/Tales Tagged With: clippa2020, LGBT, myths, poetry, Scottish

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems ed. Paul B. Janeczko ill. Richard Jones

October 1, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment


Shortlisted for the 2020 CLIPPA Poetry Award

A collection of “how-to” poems on all sorts of subjects and from all around the world…

Find a patch of unbroken snow; dye your hair green with purple spots; slowly breathe in and out; bounce in your space-boots … and don’t take off your helmet, whatever you do! A “how-to” poem shows the steps in a process – here, award-winning anthologist Paul B. Janeczko presents charming examples of the genre. There are over thirty poems in this beautiful, memorable treasury, each one illustrated with elegance and flair by picture-book talent Richard Jones. The poets featured are from around the world and through history, bringing together classic writers like Christina Rossetti and modern stars such as Kwame Alexander. And their poems pose all sorts of questions. Some are lyrical (How do you build a poem?), others seemingly practical (How do you mix a pancake?), many more wry (How do you pay attention?). They all share something in common: answers that are certain to delight and intrigue…

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Poems The Wind Blew In by Karmelo C. Iribarren tr. Lawrence Schimel ill. Riya Chowdhury (illustrator)

October 1, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment

Shortlisted for the 2020 CLIPPA Poetry Award

Be careful when you open this book: as soon as you do, the wind will whisk you up and take you on an adventure across the city. You’ll roam down empty streets, take a ride on the Metro, and catch glimpses of worlds within worlds in puddles and on chimney tops. But even as the wind hurries you along, there will always be time to stop for a moment and look: at the night, the rain, the trees, the sea…

These poems reveal the magic in small, everyday things: a plastic bag dreams of becoming a cloud, raindrops go on holiday to the sea, and hats fill up with thoughts. The book builds an immersive, tender world and encourages the reader to look at the world around them with wonder and delight.

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Midnight Feasts Tasty poems chosen by A.F. Harrold ill. Katy Riddell

October 1, 2020 By achuka Leave a Comment


Shortlisted for the 2020 CLIPPA Poetry Award

The perfect Christmas gift for any food or poetry lover, this scrumptious illustrated hardback contains over 50 poems about every type of food imaginable.

Food is the one thing that unites us all – across time, nations and peoples. From chocolate, rice pudding and sandwiches to breakfast in bed, marmalade in the bath and the fruit of a mythical jelabi tree, in Midnight Feasts A.F. Harrold brings together a wonderful and diverse collection of poems to tickle your taste buds. Poets include Ian McMillan, Brian Patten, Choman Hardi, Imtiaz Dharker, William Carlos Williams, Salena Godden, Joseph Coelho, Sabrina Mahfouz, Lewis Carroll, W.S. Gilbert and A.E. Housman, as well as A.F. Harrold himself. This stunning poetry book is beautifully illustrated in full colour by rising star Katy Riddell (daughter of former Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell) and is the perfect present – at Christmas or any other time year. It will have the poetry and food fans in your life licking their lips!

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Filed Under: Poetry/Tales Tagged With: anthology, clippa2020, poetry

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