A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell, Walker Books
What's it about?
This is a collection of amusing poems, perfect for reading aloud to children, and for beginner readers to explore themselves.
What can we learn?
Poetry doesn't have to be serious, it can be playful and humorous, and it doesn't have to make sense either!
What makes this stand out? The poems are incredibly lively, sometimes silly, and always lots of fun. They bounce along beautifully, with lots of sound-words and alliteration, and are brilliantly brought to life by the illustrations.
About those illustrations...
They're fabulous! Extremely colourful, animated, cute and child-friendly, and just as funny as the text.
Why we love it...
Its whimsical content and tone are perfect for entertaining young people. Its irreverence teaches children not to be intimidated by poetry, and may even inspire them to write their own verses. It's wonderful to see so much diversity with children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds featured too.
Why you need it...
It's a fantastic introduction to poetry, creative writing and the limitless possibilities of language.
About the author:
Micheal Rosen is a children's author and poet who has written over 140 books. He served as Children's Laureate in the UK from June 2007 to June 2009. He has also been a TV presenter and a political columnist. Michael runs workshops for children and teachers, and loves visiting and performing in schools. Many Different Kinds of Love: A Story of Life, Death and the NHS was published in March and is Michael's account of his experience with COVID-19.
About the illustrator:
Chris Riddell is an author, illustrator and the political cartoonist for the Observer. He was Children’s Laureate in the UK from 2015 - 2017. He has collaborated with many acclaimed authors and also writes and illustrates the Ottoline series and the Costa Award-winning Goth Girl series. Chris has won many awards for his work, including the Nestlé Gold Award, the UNESCO Award for Something Else and two Kate Greenaway Medals.
