Macmillan Childrens Books Heroes and Villains Poems About Legends.

by Ana Sampson

A fantastic gift book drawing together legendary poems - classic and contemporary - from around the world, compiled by bestselling anthologist Ana Sampson and illustrated throughout in black and white by award-winning former children's laureate Chris Riddell.

Folklore and tales have been the lifeblood of every culture worldwide since the beginning of time. Similarly, legends have traversed this passage, believed to have a speck of truth nestled at their heart. Heroes and Villains pays homage to the glittering royal courts and journey through ancient landscapes and perilous voyages, meeting Arthur and Guinevere, the Queen of Sheba, Kubla Khan, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, and Mulan along the way.

In this poetry collection you will also meet mythical beings such as the phoenix, yeti, dragon and kraken, as we witness them leap from travellers' tales and compendiums into the world of verse.

Genres: Poetry, Mythology, Fantasy, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2024

About the author

Ana grew up in Kent. She studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield and gained a BA and MA before starting a career in publishing PR. Ana has contributed articles to various publications including Writers’ Market UK, The Book Club Bible (Michael O’Mara, 2007), Cringe and The Bookseller. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud: And Other Poems You Half-Remember From School, her first anthology of well-loved poems, was the third bestselling poetry book of 2009. This was followed by Tyger Tyger Burning Bright: Much-Loved Poems You Half-Remember, Poems to Learn by Heart, Green and Pleasant Land: Best-Loved Poems of the British Countryside and Best-Loved Poems: A Treasury of Verse. She has appeared on television and radio discussing books, book clubs, teenage diaries and poetry. Ana lives in Surrey with her husband, two daughters and two demanding cats.

Reviews

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated poetry about villains, heroes, quests, voyages, royalty, and beasts. Some poems were already known to me (Sylvia Path, Shakespeare, Keats, etc), but there were also new creative poems which flowed perfectly!

If you are worried poetry might be too boring for you - the illustrations are spectacularly interwoven and the poems cover well-known people, places, or places so it is easier to follow along!

My favourite was URBAN MYTH by Caroline Bird.

I don't even know if that's how planes work, or if gumming punctures keeps you airborne... We played our love like that for a while. Chewing then stoppering. A patch-up job cobbled in midair from whatever we had in our pockets at the time, fighting fire with blobs of miscellaneous optimism, aiming only for temporary insulation, to stopper the sky whistling through us, stay airborne, unofficial and miraculous, cork each new wound with a wad of sweetness freshly printed from the panic of our mouths.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books for sending me an arc in exchange for a review!

Bookstagram

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunning book, both in its contents and written word to the beautiful illustrations. Can we just appreciate how much work the legend of Chris Riddell would have had to put into this book to provide all of the gorgeous illustrations?! Each page was a feast for the eyes and they were a perfect accompaniment to the poems.

Also to appreciate the amount of research that has gone into compiling the poems as there was a great line up in here.

I really enjoyed this book on poems based around the many legends of legend. From the myths of King Arthur to the Loch Ness monster, heroes, villains, kings and queens. I also loved the little sentence round up at the end of a few of the poems about a certain historical event or character.

We have favourites from Shelley, Lord Tennyson (Lady of Shalott is a new favourite) and Edgar Allan Poe, to poems based off real historical events and those maybe not quite so true. That coupled with the illustrations made it a really enjoyable read and a great addition to have on your shelf!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Meg Scarbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

thank you to my besties at netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

this was an absolutely wonderful collection of poetry, the mix of older and modern pieces worked together so well. riddell’s illustrations were just gorgeous, for pencil drawings they were still so rich with details. a really lovely lovely book, and I’d love to see the hard copy when it is released

[Jess Milner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided by netgalley for a free and honest review.

"When a girl faces her fears, Amelia climbs still."

I've read the other books in this 'series' and I can say they always feel like a treat. This one is no exception. They are a mixture of modern and older poetry and verse with beautiful illustrations by Chris Riddel. His illustration suits the timeless feel of these collections perfectly.

Sometimes there are lyrics included in these collections, but this one focuses much more on the poetry and because of the heroes and villains aspect, it makes it feel a little more elevated. I love that these collections can be read and enjoyed by any age group and will introduce readers, especially younger ones, to a lot of different concepts that they can go away and look into more on their own in an accessible way. This spans a wide range, but I loved the inclusion of Mulan, Rani Lakshmi Bai and a lot of welsh mythology including Saint David, Gruffydd ap Llwelyn and, my favourite, the reminder that Merlin is actually from Camarthen, in Wales.

I loved the illustrations - Seeing classic verse brought to life such as Ozymandias and The Skye boat song made those pieces very vivid and powerful. My favourite illustration was possibly a more lighthearted one however - The three drawings accompanying The queen of Sheba. The drawing of 'the lasses' really reminded me of Derry Girls, so that was a delight.

All in all, another lovely collection!

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following on from the brilliant poetry anthology Gods and Monsters, Ana Sampson has curated another wonderful selection of poems - Heroes and Villains.

Bringing a varied range of accessible poetry to older children and a YA readership is a challenge but this anthology is as good as the previous one. Categorised into a range of themes; Quests and Voyages; Cheats and Misfits; Heroes .. and many others, there is plenty to please everyone- some familiar poets and poetry and some less so.

As with the previous compendium, the illustrative talents (or should that be genius) of Chris Riddell bringing every poem to life showing the darker and mischievous side as well as powers and strengths of the various characters who are explored.

Ranging from historical figures- well- known and lesser so -to mythical characters and monsters and even Saints, the focus is broad but also perfectly compiled .

This is a book that can be enjoyed by young and old and one to be recommended to dip into for teachers of upper Ks2 and up to KS4 to broaden the palette of poetry.

Another winner

[Michael Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroes and Villains: Poems About Legends is a beautifully conceived celebration of mythology, folklore, legendary figures, and the enduring power of poetry to keep ancient stories alive.

Ana Sampson brings together classic and contemporary poems from around the world, creating a collection that moves effortlessly between royal courts, ancient landscapes, dangerous voyages, and mythical realms. Familiar figures such as Arthur and Guinevere, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, Mulan, and the Queen of Sheba appear alongside legendary creatures including the phoenix, yeti, dragon, and kraken.

One of the collection's greatest strengths is its sense of discovery. Each poem offers another doorway into a different tradition, character, or legend, demonstrating how stories can travel across generations and cultures while continually being reimagined through verse.

The combination of poetry, mythology, folklore, and Chris Riddell's black-and-white illustrations gives the book a distinctive visual and literary identity. It feels both like a celebration of familiar legends and an invitation to discover stories that may be new to the reader.

For readers interested in poetry, mythology, folklore, fantasy, legendary figures, cultural storytelling, and beautifully presented literary collections, Heroes and Villains offers an engaging and wide-ranging journey through the stories that have captivated humanity for generations.

[Sarah Gallego · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly brilliant collection of poems for the modern era. There are all the traditional poems you would expect from the likes of Keats, Shakespeare. As you would expect from an anthology aimed at younger people you get The Highway man and all the other classics we read growing up, but these poems sit alongside newer, fresher poems exploring the ideas of heroes and villains in a new light. There are so many powerful female lead poems, as well as many from other cultures. As a proud Welsh woman, I was so happy to see a range of poems about Dewi Sant and Santes Dwynwen. Not only are the poems very accessible, but they are all accompanied by the wonderful and unique illustrations of the brilliant Chris Riddle. These truly help to bring the characters and their stories to light. I would say this book is a must for anyone who works with children and I hope every library gets themselves a copy. A truly wonderful collection of classics, traditional, modern and fresh. This is book that will be poured over for a long time.
Thank you so much to Netgalley annd the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

[Aldana · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, i want to thank netgalley, macmillan's children books, Ana & Chris for the arc.⠀
Now, to the book. This is a recompilation of poems about heroes, saints & monsters, among others, where in poems we find new things, new aspects to this legends, new emotions, new authors describing the fantasies we know but we were never curious about or those we once obsessed over, that we still love, shining under a new light.⠀
I'm new to poetry so this might be a little short & rather to the point, but i deeply enjoyed the book, making connections to the characters i just new in passing, those i love since my childhood years, those i never read about. It was fun & refreshing, but perhaps one of the biggest things that draw me to this book was the illustrations by my all-time favourite illustrator, Chris Riddell. I do collect the books he illustrates like the little gems they are.⠀
Again, thank you to the author, the publisher & netgalley for the arc & i hope more of you give this book a chance, 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰! Also, as a mythology obsessed girlie, please read Gods and Monsters as well.⠀

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

TL;DR: In Heroes and Villains there will surely be a poem for everyone, young and old! Chris Riddell's illustrations are also what make this collection and brings it to life. I can’t wait to get the hardback of this and get my hand on the others he has illustrated.

Review:
I’m so happy to have been approved to review this poetry collection as it’s not what I typically request. I would never have been introduced to Chris Riddell’s illustrations which would have been a travesty. His illustrations really brought these poems to life and some were framed so beautifully. Some notable favourites were Eldorado, The Moonlit Stream, Oweynagat, and The Saint and the Sky Serpent but there’s honestly so many to fall in love with.

Can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands!

[Haxxunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrated poems for children and adults

The mark of a great illustrated book is the breadth of its audience. Books with pictures aren't just for kids, and Riddell's detailed images perfectly lift the already fascinating collection of poems selected by Sampson in the second of these anthologies. Wide-ranging in author, mood and cultural background, there is sure to be a poem to tickle your fancy, illuminate something you already know, or to raise a whole new train of exploration and reading.

A lovely, lovely book, words and pictures both: four stars.

[Szandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the eARC opportunity to netgalley. As always, this is an honest, voluntary review.

I loved this carefully gathered collection of incredible poems. I really appreciate the obvious love and effort put into making this book happen. Some poems I knew beforehand, some I read for the first time but I loved them all. I was especially happy finding my personal favourite, Nikita Gill in the collection. The illustration was fitting and so beautiful, it really added a lot to the poems and the two things worked together perfectly. This is a great read to anyone who likes poems.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Heroes & Villians. There's much to love waiting & found in the poems & illustrations of mermaids, animals, such as Greyfriars Bobby, dragons, royalty & famous names, like Elvis, by a treasure trove of poets.

A favourite was Elvis Lives by Carol Ann Duffy.

Elvis lives.
He's in my class at school.
His cool. -Carol Ann Duffy

Another favourite was Greyfriars Bobby by Jill Townsend.

A small desertion: at one each day
I find my dinner not far away.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quality Rating: Four Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

As with all collections, there will be some poems you like and some you don’t. Either way, Riddell’s illustrations are lovely and Sampson’s curation thoughtful. I found the design of themes not as united and consistently chosen as the previous collection between these collaborators, on myth inspired poems, but it’s still a nice collection to have on the shelf.

[Bethany Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this on Netgalley and had to request it, as Chris Riddell is one of my favourite illustrators, and I love poetry about myths and legends.

As with any anthology, I enjoy some poems more than others, but all are very suitable to the genre and the illustrations are perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

[Sandra4444 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott is always a favourite, but Poetry and the Dragon by A.F. Harrold, Melangell and the White Hare by Nicola Davies and Filey Brigg by J.H. Rice were all particularly nice surprises.
Overall, a fun concept of a book with great illustrations.

[Gina Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like the previous installment, this selection of poetry was fun, reflective, and enjoyable to read. Made even better by the gorgeous illustrations.

[Chris Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of fun poems, well illustrated.

[Grace]

DNF @pg. 66

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning collection accompanied by mesmerising Chris Riddell illustrations. Haven’t read much poetry in the past, but if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

dreadful, really didn't like it, the illustrations were stunning, the poetry was not.

[May Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and inspiring anthology of poems