Poems Aloud
This very attractive poetry book with a difference from best-selling poet Joseph Coelho opens with his assertion that ‘Poems are made to be performed’. On each of the beautiful double-page spreads is a poem that Coelho has written especially to illustrate a particular way that poems can be read aloud, each with engaging child-centred notes on how to bring it to life. For example, he starts with tongue-twisters, saying it’s ‘a wonderful way to improve your diction (how clearly you can say words)’.
I really like the way he respects his readers by finding ways to use words like ‘diction’, ‘diminuendo’, ‘homophones’ and ‘personification’ throughout the book, in this case with the definition following immediately and entirely naturally in his chatty, conversational tone.
There are poems that cover the joys of rhyme and prediction, speaking quickly, speaking slowly, using surprise, involving the audience, getting in character and much more. As with any collection of poems, some appeal more than others, and as a performance poet who works in schools a lot, Coelho really knows his audience. A poem on slime (subject du jour?!) and one called ‘Turn the Radio Up’ really made me smile! Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett, the images are vibrant and lively, the design clear and in the large picturebook format this is a very attractive book. It is full of great ideas that children can take on to other poems and other situations where they need to be able to make themselves heard. A book for every classroom and school library bookshelf – and for fun at home too!
