My Heart is a Poem

By Author / Illustrator

Various authors, Various Illustrators

Genre

Poetry

Age range(s)

Publisher

Little Tiger Press Group

ISBN

9781838914400

Format

Hardback

Published

02-02-2023

Synopsis

This is a book of poetry for everyone. This beautiful collection of poetry celebrates the brilliant thing that is feelings. It explores all the different emotions we experience and how different situations bring these emotions to the surface. From feelings of uncontainable excitement and inexplicable sadness to the electricity which surges from anger and pride, the poems in this anthology perfectly put into words all the different things we feel in our hearts. Vivid and stirring artwork from an array of talented artists brings breathtaking poetry from a range of voices to life.

Featuring powerful poetry from: Mandy Coe; Laura Mucha; Nikki Grimes; Naomi Shihab Nye; Debjani Chatterjee; Coral Rumble; Kate Wakeling; John Agard; Karl Nova; James Carter; Valerie Bloom; Janet Wong; Joseph Coelho; Ken Nesbitt; Jack Prelutsky; Nikita Gill; Jay Hulme; Rachel Plummer; Ruth Awolola; and Elaine Laron. With awe-inspiring artwork from: Annalise Barber; Mariana Roldan; Masha Manapov and Nabila Adani.

Also available: Courage in a Poem

Reviews

My Heart is a Poem is a wonderful collection of poems, carefully selected to explore feelings and emotions. From happiness to misery, from excitement to anger, the poems here give voice to a wealth of emotions, sharing the experiences of others to help the reader make sense of their own. There are so many poems here to enjoy, each beautifully illustrated.

Whilst the collection is perfect of an individual to browse and enjoy, this collection also offers so much potential for use in school or for adults to share with children struggling to express their own feelings. Coral Rumble’s poignant poem, 'Ache', explores being left out of playground games, offering a perfect starting point for reflection and discussion during a circle time or assembly. 'Stomp' by Nikki Grimes is an explosion of emotion, empowering the reader with a way to 'unload my hurt, my rage' and discover, through using the written word, the 'power to decide which words matter, which words don't, and whose'. 'Sadness' by Nikita Gill is a breathtakingly beautiful moment of a poem, offering reassurance and hope, reminding us of the importance of acknowledging this emotion and embracing it so it is possible to move on. Personification is also used by Ruth Awolola whose poem 'Talking to Tomorrow' captures the giddy joy of anticipation for things to come. In 'Blackbird' by Rachel Plummer, the reader discovers 'the secret of flying'.

This is a treasure trove of words which capture our emotions, encouraging empathy and compassion, giving a voice to a wealth of feelings. It really is a collection for everyone - a very special addition to any bookshelf.

48 pages / Reviewed by Sue, teacher