A is Amazing! ed. by Wendy Cooling

Frances Lincoln, 2012. ISBN: 9781847802552.
Recommended for children of all ages. Subtitled Poems about Feelings, this is a collection of poems to fit various alphabetical categories of feelings, ranging from Amazing, Argumentative, Bored and Careful to eXtraordinary, Young, Zestful and fiZzy! The poets are equally as diverse, coming from Japan, India, Africa, Australia, the UK and USA. Their styles and language vary from the traditional verse and riddle to rhyming and non-rhyming poetry and from formal language to that spoken with a Jamaican lilt. From arguments to death, saris to sport and contrasts in stepmothers this book has the lot. With illustrations by Piet Grobler to match the style or origin of the poem or poet, this book is one I am keen to take to school and introduce to the classes that are studying poetry. In the classroom setting, I can imagine using this book to simply engage children in poetry, a genre which, as a child, I hated. Now, I see myself reading these works to children and having them celebrate the use of language, the imagery and the concepts included therein. With older children, there could be a discussion of the setting, both time and place and the content of the various works. A great collection of verse!
Jo Schenkel