The Star Whale

If you are looking for a current, up-to-date book of poems to share with Primary pupils, look no further. The Star Whale is one of the best collections of poems that I have read in a long time that focuses on the issues that are important to our pupils.

Nicola Davies has used all of her previous experience and knowledge from running children's workshops to create this show-stopping collection. Petr Horacek has waved his artistic magic on the pages with colour, texture and glowing pages. Discover a pangolin at dusk, fly on the bat's back, visit a lion and hear about his plight; try the moth alphabet tongue-twister, meet fighting Tazzies on a night out in Tasmania or dream about the five-legged dog and three-legged cat! Then find out about real, huge Titanosaurus and amazing Coelacanths. You might spot a kingfisher, that 'small glint of wonder', and see how 'wild reclaims the world' in the urban night-time.

Each poem could be used as a section of work to study its subject, word choice and rhythm. I would use it with KS2 pupils with a focus on the environment, habitats or global warming. It is a poem book that you will struggle to put down. A delightful read from cover to cover which will spark discussions, questions and further research.

96 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+