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Once Upon A Poem
A beautifully illustrated anthology of classic and contemporary narrative poems--each introduced by bestselling author Kevin Crossley-Holland. A perfect introduction to the magical world of poetry.
This stunning, fully-illustrated collection offers a dazzling array of narrative poems----each of which tells an unforgettable tale. Readers will find poems to suit every taste---from stirring, heroic verses to magical fables, and from cautionary tales to humorous tongue-twisters. "Old masters" such as William Wadsworth Longfellow and Lewis Carroll are paired with great twentieth century poets such as W.H. Auden & Roald Dahl. Contemporary poets such as Tony Mitton & Kevin Crossley-Holland (who introduces each poem) are featured as well. A one-of-a-kind anthology for every child's bookshelf.
This stunning, fully-illustrated collection offers a dazzling array of narrative poems----each of which tells an unforgettable tale. Readers will find poems to suit every taste---from stirring, heroic verses to magical fables, and from cautionary tales to humorous tongue-twisters. "Old masters" such as William Wadsworth Longfellow and Lewis Carroll are paired with great twentieth century poets such as W.H. Auden & Roald Dahl. Contemporary poets such as Tony Mitton & Kevin Crossley-Holland (who introduces each poem) are featured as well. A one-of-a-kind anthology for every child's bookshelf.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2004
2 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Crossley-Holland
206 books245 followersKevin Crossley-Holland is an English poet and prize-winning author for children. His books include Waterslain Angels, a detective story set in north Norfolk in 1955, and Moored Man: A Cycle of North Norfolk Poems; Gatty's Tale, a medieval pilgrimage novel; and the Arthur trilogy (The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing-Places and King of the Middle March), which combines historical fiction with the retelling of Arthurian legend.
The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal. The Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim and has been translated into 21 languages.
Crossley-Holland has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon, and his retellings of traditional tales include The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales (reissued as The Magic Lands). His collaborations with composers include two operas with Nicola Lefanu ("The Green Children" and "The Wildman") and one with Rupert Bawden, "The Sailor’s Tale"; song cycles with Sir Arthur Bliss and William Mathias; and a carol with Stephen Paulus for King’s College, Cambridge. His play, The Wuffings, (co-authored with Ivan Cutting) was produced by Eastern Angles in 1997.
He often lectures abroad on behalf of the British Council, regularly leads sessions for teachers and librarians, and visits primary and secondary schools. He offers poetry and prose workshops and talks on the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, King Arthur, heroines and heroes, and myth, legend and folk-tale.
After seven years teaching in Minnesota, where he held an Endowed Chair in the Humanities, Kevin Crossley-Holland returned to the north Norfolk coast in East Anglia, where he now lives.
He has a Minnesotan wife, Linda, two sons (Kieran and Dominic) and two daughters (Oenone and Eleanor). He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a patron of the Society of Storytelling and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal. The Arthur trilogy has won worldwide critical acclaim and has been translated into 21 languages.
Crossley-Holland has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon, and his retellings of traditional tales include The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales (reissued as The Magic Lands). His collaborations with composers include two operas with Nicola Lefanu ("The Green Children" and "The Wildman") and one with Rupert Bawden, "The Sailor’s Tale"; song cycles with Sir Arthur Bliss and William Mathias; and a carol with Stephen Paulus for King’s College, Cambridge. His play, The Wuffings, (co-authored with Ivan Cutting) was produced by Eastern Angles in 1997.
He often lectures abroad on behalf of the British Council, regularly leads sessions for teachers and librarians, and visits primary and secondary schools. He offers poetry and prose workshops and talks on the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, King Arthur, heroines and heroes, and myth, legend and folk-tale.
After seven years teaching in Minnesota, where he held an Endowed Chair in the Humanities, Kevin Crossley-Holland returned to the north Norfolk coast in East Anglia, where he now lives.
He has a Minnesotan wife, Linda, two sons (Kieran and Dominic) and two daughters (Oenone and Eleanor). He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a patron of the Society of Storytelling and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 3, 2017
I didn't know that the English wrote such dark bedtime stories for their children. There is a story of a child that died for disobeying, two stories of blue coats that were killed, a story of a highwayman and his lady that died in a gruesome way, a story about a man that was cremated, and another of the Minotaur eating children.
I did like Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, The Late Passenger by C.S Lewis, A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, The Grateful Dragon, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Roald Dahl.
I did like Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, The Late Passenger by C.S Lewis, A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, The Grateful Dragon, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Roald Dahl.
April 23, 2017
Once Upon a Poem is a collection of stories that are told through poetry. Depending on which poem/poems you chose to use in a classroom, this book could probably be used in a 3-5 grade classroom. It has fun, whimsical poems along with more serious poems about historical events and historical figures. Each of the poems are beautifully illustrated which also gives clues as to how serious or funny the poem will be. Because these poems are telling stories, they are longer than most so they could be used in a variety of ways throughout the classroom. These poems could be used as a read aloud for a poetry unit to show how many different ways poems are used, or could be used in small group assignments where students can choose which one they wanted to focus on. This was a wow book for me because of the many things that could be done with this book throughout a classroom. Students would enjoy reading the different poems and learn a lot from the different topics that are covered. I could see myself using this book throughout my classroom to teach poetry, and just as a fun book for students to have around.
May 12, 2009
A well-chosen collection of narrative poems, though not all are favorites of mine. I've never cared for Hilaire Belloc's poems, and I didn't like "Brave Boy Rap". However the rest were wonderful, especially the eerie "The Highwayman," "Paul Revere's Ride" (stirring if not historically accurate), "The Man from Snowy River" (love the descriptions), and the gruesome "The Cremation of Sam McGee." I didn't care for Chris McEwan's illustrations, but the others were very nice. I particularly liked Peter Bailey's illustrations for "The Highwayman"-- very atmospheric and reminiscent of Edward Ardizzone. All in all, a nice introduction to the narrative poem for children.
October 28, 2010
This is a good collection of poems that included some of my personal favorites (like "The Highwayman"by Alfred Noyes, and "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear)
There were four illustrators who worked on this project, each with a very different style, so every reader should find illustrations that fit their own tastes. My favorite of the illustrators is Carol Lawson, because of the precise attention to detail, rich colors, and fanciful design.
There were four illustrators who worked on this project, each with a very different style, so every reader should find illustrations that fit their own tastes. My favorite of the illustrators is Carol Lawson, because of the precise attention to detail, rich colors, and fanciful design.
October 18, 2019
Poems included in Once Upon a Poem are narrative poems which tell a story. Unique to this collection is that each poem is introduced by a published author or poet such as J.K. Rowling, Avi, Mary Pope Osborne, Eoin Colfer, and Michael Morpurgo. The narrative poems run from "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear,” Goldilocks and the Three Bears” by Roald Dahl, to “The Man From Snowy River” by A.B. “Banjo” Paterson, and “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes.
In addition, each poem is illustrated by one of four artists: Peter Bailey, Siân Bailey, Carol Lawson, and Chris McEwan. The artwork is tailored to each poem, so some pieces are very vibrant in color, and others are quite dark looking. Some are whimsical with a playful fairy tale feeling and others very lifelike.
I like most of the poems, but a few stood out as quite thought-provoking and enjoyable. One poem that intrigued me was The Last Passenger”. This poem is completely new to me, and it is fascinating. C.S. Lewis, of “Narnia” fame, is the poet and like his other works, this poem doesn’t fail to make one dig deeper than just the surface. What immediately grabbed my attention was that in every telling of Noah and the ark that I’ve read and heard is told in a bit of a somber feeling. This version of the ark is the opposite, being more comical. The ark has closed its doors, and Noah is grabbing a short nap. Noah’s sons are waiting for the ark to set sail when Japhet sees one more creature come to the door, a single creature with no mate. Ham, isn’t concerned and says “We’re overcrowded as it is; we’ve got no room for him.” Shem is the one that is concerned about leaving him behind. Ham hushes Shem not wanting to wake Noah who will have more work for them once he knows there’s another creature wanting in. Japhet continues not to care, being indifferent to the creature. Noah wakes up because of the noise the creature makes and says that it sounds “like a horse’s hoof.” Ham lies to Noah two times and when Noah looks out from the deck and realizes what they’ve left behind his face goes grey, knowing what terrible deed has taken place. What was left behind was the unicorn. At first read, it’s an exciting twist to Noah and the ark, but when you realize who the poet is and how he is a master at allegorical writing, then you have to stop and dig deeper into the poem and all that it means.
In medieval times, the unicorn was often a symbol of Christ and Ham’s comment that the ark is overcrowded with no room reminds me of the innkeeper telling Joseph that they were full and there was no room for him and Mary. In my opinion, the reason Noah’s face turns grey, and he tears at his beard, is that he recognizes that he and his sons have turned Christ away. This is a poem that I will have to return to for further study and more enjoyment.
Of the other poems in this collection one that I’ve always liked and it’s inclusion didn’t fail to entertain me is “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. With lovely light-hearted Christmas illustrations the poem that most know as “The Night Before Christmas” comes alive illustrated by Carol Lawson. A word I would choose to describe the illustrations for this poem is charming. Each page is framed, at the bottom or top, with small paintings encircled in decorated garland. Each section of garland has artwork directly relating to the text on the page. For example, the poem begins letting the reader know that everyone in the house, including little creatures, are asleep and dreaming. The illustrations on that page are of children tucked into bed, darling mice all curled up and fast asleep, and a mantle clock is showing us it’s just minutes away until Christmas Day. The garland on the next two-page spread matches the text of Santa and his flying reindeer. There’s other artwork on each page which joyfully elevates the text.
The poem itself is vivid in detail. Moore’s use of imagery runs throughout the entire poem such as “His eyes...how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!” This is a rhyming poem, and the rhythms are almost musical, The stanza’s capture the reader drawing them in and captures you until the very last line, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
Included at the beginning of this book is a “Table of Contents” and a “Forward” written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. The end of this book includes an “Afterword” by Kevin Crossley-Holland, sections titled “About the Artists”, “About the Writers” and “Sources & Acknowledgements”.
In addition, each poem is illustrated by one of four artists: Peter Bailey, Siân Bailey, Carol Lawson, and Chris McEwan. The artwork is tailored to each poem, so some pieces are very vibrant in color, and others are quite dark looking. Some are whimsical with a playful fairy tale feeling and others very lifelike.
I like most of the poems, but a few stood out as quite thought-provoking and enjoyable. One poem that intrigued me was The Last Passenger”. This poem is completely new to me, and it is fascinating. C.S. Lewis, of “Narnia” fame, is the poet and like his other works, this poem doesn’t fail to make one dig deeper than just the surface. What immediately grabbed my attention was that in every telling of Noah and the ark that I’ve read and heard is told in a bit of a somber feeling. This version of the ark is the opposite, being more comical. The ark has closed its doors, and Noah is grabbing a short nap. Noah’s sons are waiting for the ark to set sail when Japhet sees one more creature come to the door, a single creature with no mate. Ham, isn’t concerned and says “We’re overcrowded as it is; we’ve got no room for him.” Shem is the one that is concerned about leaving him behind. Ham hushes Shem not wanting to wake Noah who will have more work for them once he knows there’s another creature wanting in. Japhet continues not to care, being indifferent to the creature. Noah wakes up because of the noise the creature makes and says that it sounds “like a horse’s hoof.” Ham lies to Noah two times and when Noah looks out from the deck and realizes what they’ve left behind his face goes grey, knowing what terrible deed has taken place. What was left behind was the unicorn. At first read, it’s an exciting twist to Noah and the ark, but when you realize who the poet is and how he is a master at allegorical writing, then you have to stop and dig deeper into the poem and all that it means.
In medieval times, the unicorn was often a symbol of Christ and Ham’s comment that the ark is overcrowded with no room reminds me of the innkeeper telling Joseph that they were full and there was no room for him and Mary. In my opinion, the reason Noah’s face turns grey, and he tears at his beard, is that he recognizes that he and his sons have turned Christ away. This is a poem that I will have to return to for further study and more enjoyment.
Of the other poems in this collection one that I’ve always liked and it’s inclusion didn’t fail to entertain me is “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. With lovely light-hearted Christmas illustrations the poem that most know as “The Night Before Christmas” comes alive illustrated by Carol Lawson. A word I would choose to describe the illustrations for this poem is charming. Each page is framed, at the bottom or top, with small paintings encircled in decorated garland. Each section of garland has artwork directly relating to the text on the page. For example, the poem begins letting the reader know that everyone in the house, including little creatures, are asleep and dreaming. The illustrations on that page are of children tucked into bed, darling mice all curled up and fast asleep, and a mantle clock is showing us it’s just minutes away until Christmas Day. The garland on the next two-page spread matches the text of Santa and his flying reindeer. There’s other artwork on each page which joyfully elevates the text.
The poem itself is vivid in detail. Moore’s use of imagery runs throughout the entire poem such as “His eyes...how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!” This is a rhyming poem, and the rhythms are almost musical, The stanza’s capture the reader drawing them in and captures you until the very last line, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
Included at the beginning of this book is a “Table of Contents” and a “Forward” written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. The end of this book includes an “Afterword” by Kevin Crossley-Holland, sections titled “About the Artists”, “About the Writers” and “Sources & Acknowledgements”.
June 10, 2024
Once Upon a Poem by Kevin Crossley-Holland gathers 15 narrative poems together, inviting readers and listeners to experience both lyrical storytelling and traditional means for passing cultural inspiration from one generation to those that follow. The anthology is a sharing, and a gift.
While in grade school during the empowering and myth-busting years following WWII, I read most of these poems. The Cremation of Sam McGee, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, A Visit From Santa Claus, jabberwocky, The Owl and the PussyCat, and especially The Highwayman remind me in their re-reading, or in my case, the re-listening, of the sense of wonder and impulses inspiring creativity in my earlier, my young heart and mind.
The Man From Snowy River was new to me in its original verse. I have wad a novelized version and a sequel, and, of course, seen the award-winning film. Snowy River evokes later memories and deeply felt affinities. In the 1980s,I lived for short periods in Australia, with particular memories of the high escarpment southwest of Canberra. The poem, nevertheless rekindled similar inspirations to those of more distant acquaintance :) !
It might have been useful for the editor to include longer observations by the writers who contributed thoughts about these lyrical favorites. Perhaps the editor might have added some orientation to the art of narrative verse designed to recommend young readers to take a stab at writing some narrative verse of their own. Such small additions would have ensured, from me at least, an additional star. Still, here is a collection that readers and listeners in particular will find intriguing.
A well recommended four Stars **** for once Upon a Poem
While in grade school during the empowering and myth-busting years following WWII, I read most of these poems. The Cremation of Sam McGee, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, A Visit From Santa Claus, jabberwocky, The Owl and the PussyCat, and especially The Highwayman remind me in their re-reading, or in my case, the re-listening, of the sense of wonder and impulses inspiring creativity in my earlier, my young heart and mind.
The Man From Snowy River was new to me in its original verse. I have wad a novelized version and a sequel, and, of course, seen the award-winning film. Snowy River evokes later memories and deeply felt affinities. In the 1980s,I lived for short periods in Australia, with particular memories of the high escarpment southwest of Canberra. The poem, nevertheless rekindled similar inspirations to those of more distant acquaintance :) !
It might have been useful for the editor to include longer observations by the writers who contributed thoughts about these lyrical favorites. Perhaps the editor might have added some orientation to the art of narrative verse designed to recommend young readers to take a stab at writing some narrative verse of their own. Such small additions would have ensured, from me at least, an additional star. Still, here is a collection that readers and listeners in particular will find intriguing.
A well recommended four Stars **** for once Upon a Poem
August 27, 2024
As with most anthologies, this was a mixed bag. I greatly enjoyed some of the poems, while others were just okay (I'm not a poetry lover at the best of times). The same can be said of the illustrations. I think my favorite overall was "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. Not only is this poem one of my favorites for children, the accompanying illustrations were lovely, vibrant, and nostalgic. However, in one case in particular, I thought the illustrations far too gruesome for a children's book. Maybe I'm just a wimp, but a poem about a Minotaur that eats men, women, and children is one thing, but to have illustrations with blood dripping off his clawed hands, severed body parts and bones strewn about his chamber, and kids in sacks being marched up to a blood-stained table turned even my stomach, regardless of the cartoonish artwork. Just a note for parents to beware.
September 23, 2018
This is an excellent collection of storytelling poems, many classics and some new or lesser-known. Several different artists contributed illustrations, and all of the art was matched and fitted to each poem remarkably well. I was really very impressed. Only one poem I didn't care for—Auden's "O What Is That Sound?" But out of the whole book, that's not a bad rate at all. Overall, it's an excellent collection that obviously had a clear vision in mind and executed it perfectly.
May 8, 2018
Fun, fully illustrated book of well known poems. Including: Paul Revere's Ride by Longfellow,
Jabberwocky by Carroll, The Cremation of Sam McGee by Service, A Visit from St. Nicholas by Moore
and many more!
#50/50Book Quest categories=book of poems and a book you can finish in a day
Jabberwocky by Carroll, The Cremation of Sam McGee by Service, A Visit from St. Nicholas by Moore
and many more!
#50/50Book Quest categories=book of poems and a book you can finish in a day
May 14, 2017
loved it!
a wonderful collection with brilliant illustrations.
a wonderful collection with brilliant illustrations.
August 14, 2017
Favorite poems with lively illustrations that only sometimes obscure the words. I am looking forward to reading to my godson.
November 28, 2017
Four different artists illustrate these 15 stories told in the poem.
January 15, 2019
3.5 stars- Some of my favorite poems are in here, plus some fun surprises.
June 11, 2022
favourite childhood book had to give it another read its absolutely gourgeous
June 13, 2024
A wonderful book!
Want to read
July 23, 2025Team owns Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Dahl, Roald digitally.
Read
March 6, 2014Kevin Crossley-Holland brings together fifteen poems from different famous poets and authors to create a fun and engaging anthology. All the poems are similar in that they are based on fairy tales, legends and myths, all from different origins. He includes well-known poems such as "The Night Before Christmas" alongside lesser-known but equally entertaining poems like "The Brave Boy Rap". Famous poets featured are: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, and Roald Dahl. What I enjoyed most about this book was that the poems closely resembled stories- they were long enough to have a plot and characters. Unlike short poems of only a few lines, these poems span pages and are rich in detail. This makes "Once Upon A Poem" more suitable for older children. The content of some of the poems is also more mature- like the tale of Paul Revere's ride and "The Highwayman", both about soldiers and wartime. I would recommend this book to be used in a 4th or 5th grade class, and definitely for a read-aloud situation. These poems are meant to be read aloud and shared with the class because they are so lyrical and engaging. The illustrations that accompany each poem add to the silliness of some, and help depict the action of others.
One extra feature of this book that I found interesting was that Crossley-Holland includes a brief introduction by a different author for the poem. For example, a short introduction by Philip Pullman preceeds Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky". I think it is interesting to see what famous authors think and feel about children's poems and to find out what inspired them to write. Overall I think this book is a great collection of fantasy and folk-lore related poems that would engage and entertain lots of kids.
One extra feature of this book that I found interesting was that Crossley-Holland includes a brief introduction by a different author for the poem. For example, a short introduction by Philip Pullman preceeds Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky". I think it is interesting to see what famous authors think and feel about children's poems and to find out what inspired them to write. Overall I think this book is a great collection of fantasy and folk-lore related poems that would engage and entertain lots of kids.
September 20, 2011
"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll
Summary: This poem is a wonderfully imaginative piece of work. The poem is about a boy who does not heed the advice of his father about the creature known as the Jabberwock. The young boy decides to kill it and returns with the beasts head, much to his father’s excitement.
Age Range: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Artistic Elements: The poem is filled with nonsense words, and the reader must use his imagination to decide what the words may mean. The poem has lots of illustrations to help decipher what some of the nonsense words may mean.
Recommendations: This poem should be read for entertainment as well as humorous reasons. This poem shows the artistic freedoms that artists can use to create their artwork, specifically the use of the nonsense words. I also think this poem can be used for older readers who may have trouble determining parts of speech. Although some of the vocabulary used may not be found in the dictionary, they do take the place of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and interjections, and knowing that the nonsense words take the place of the different parts of speech may help to identify them.
Summary: This poem is a wonderfully imaginative piece of work. The poem is about a boy who does not heed the advice of his father about the creature known as the Jabberwock. The young boy decides to kill it and returns with the beasts head, much to his father’s excitement.
Age Range: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Artistic Elements: The poem is filled with nonsense words, and the reader must use his imagination to decide what the words may mean. The poem has lots of illustrations to help decipher what some of the nonsense words may mean.
Recommendations: This poem should be read for entertainment as well as humorous reasons. This poem shows the artistic freedoms that artists can use to create their artwork, specifically the use of the nonsense words. I also think this poem can be used for older readers who may have trouble determining parts of speech. Although some of the vocabulary used may not be found in the dictionary, they do take the place of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and interjections, and knowing that the nonsense words take the place of the different parts of speech may help to identify them.
June 26, 2016
This delightful collection introduces readers to fifteen poems that each tells a story. From Clement C Moore’s A Visit From St. Nicholas (a/k/a ’Twas the Night Before Christmas) to a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Roald Dahl the reader will find a wide variety of subjects. I found a few old favorites
Listen my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere …
And more that I’d never read before (Merlin and the Snake’s Egg for example).
Each story poem is introduced by a current-day popular children’s author (Michael Murpurgo and J K Rowling among them). The volume is gloriously illustrated by Peter Bailey, Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson and Chris McEwan. All told, this is a lovely way to introduce children to the joys of poetry.
Listen my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere …
And more that I’d never read before (Merlin and the Snake’s Egg for example).
Each story poem is introduced by a current-day popular children’s author (Michael Murpurgo and J K Rowling among them). The volume is gloriously illustrated by Peter Bailey, Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson and Chris McEwan. All told, this is a lovely way to introduce children to the joys of poetry.
February 19, 2014
Once Upon a Poem is a beautiful collection of poems that tell stories. The illustrations are a joint effort by Peter Bailey, Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson and Chris McEwan. They are detailed, vibrant and add to each poem that is depicted. Although there are only 15 poems within the book, they are poems that have remained favorites over the years. A wide variety of poems are included from “Jabberwocky,” to “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod,” which was one of my favorites as a child. The book includes a foreword and afterword that are definitely worth reading. Each presents an interpretation of the poems and is very entertaining. An added bonus are two sections, About the Writers and About the Artists, that offer a bio for each person connected to the poems. A “must have” for a classroom library!
March 23, 2015
I loved this book of poems. There were many classics in this book as well as new poems that I've never heard of before. Some of funny and some are serious; there is a great variety. I would preview all of them before handing this book to a young child. Some of the poems include murder, suicide, and other heavy content. Another poem contains a monster that eats children as well as a lion that eats a child at the zoo. In my classroom, I would probably keep this book out of the classroom library and use specific poems for read alouds in class. (It really depends on the kids and what they are comfortable with.)
I think that many of these poems would be great if used for inference practice or to identify a theme or main idea. They could be used for rich classroom discussion or as an intro to a poetry lesson.
I think that many of these poems would be great if used for inference practice or to identify a theme or main idea. They could be used for rich classroom discussion or as an intro to a poetry lesson.
October 23, 2012
This is a wonderful book of poems that tell a story. Each poem in this collection is nominated by another author and the background for both are included at the end of the book. The poems are fun to read aloud and the illustrations are terrific, too. We discovered that The Owl And The Pussycat by Edward Lear has a sequel to it concerning their children and we thought it was very funny.
We revisited several poems through this book and discovered a few new ones, too. Overall, we thought the poems were great and we really enjoyed reading this book together.
We revisited several poems through this book and discovered a few new ones, too. Overall, we thought the poems were great and we really enjoyed reading this book together.
June 15, 2015
This book is great for students in grades 3 and up to use for pleasure reading or during a poetry study. This is a collection of 15 poems each of which is beautifully illustrated/ The poems range from magical fables to heroic tales to tongue twisters. Some of the poems included are "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod", "A Visit From St. Nicholas", and a nontraditional retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" by Roald Dahl. The illustrations vary from ink drawings to watercolor! All students would absolutely love reading through this collection of poems! The students can take the nontraditional telling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and compare it to the original.
June 20, 2015
This is a fun and engaging anthology of poems. I loved its fairy tale based poems, poems that were legends, and myths. The poems are in story form and can be pages long. Because of the content of the poems, it can be for young and older readers. I love the illustrations for each poem, it adds greatly to the poem, especially with the silly poems. Because of the content of some of the poems, teachers and parents should review the poems before reading aloud. I think older children will love these poems. My favorite was The Owl and Pussycat by Edward Lear and its sequel The Further Adventures of the Owl and Pussycat written by Julia Donaldson
June 4, 2015
I have a hard time reading poems but Kevin Crossley-Holland brings together fifteen poems from different famous poets and authors to create a fun and engaging anthology. All the poems are similar in that they are based on fairy tales, legends and myths. This is great for all ages. Great way to bring many stories together in one.
April 12, 2011
Genre: Poetry, anthology, young reader
I enjoyed this anthology. I think the illustrations are the best part of this book. They are beautifully done and express the poems so well. There is a variety of poems and I think a young reader will enjoy reading them.
I enjoyed this anthology. I think the illustrations are the best part of this book. They are beautifully done and express the poems so well. There is a variety of poems and I think a young reader will enjoy reading them.
January 1, 2015
This is a great collection with beautiful illustrations. Would be a great addition to a family's collection and a nice introduction to poetry for children. The short commentaries before each poem by contemporary writers, like J.K. Rowling are also a nice addition.
November 3, 2011
A bunch of poems in this book. I got to say that this is my favorite poem book. My favorite one is the owl and the pussycat.
November 18, 2011
Outstanding poetry....The kids sat spell-bound listening to these long poems/stories (i.e. The Ride of Paul Revere and Jabberwocky). I would highly recommend this book.
March 26, 2014
Excellent selection! The kids begged for me to read a new poem each night.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews