Find Peace in a Poem

LoveReading4Kids Says

From the tactile front cover, through the varied and entrancing illustrations, to the calming, considered poems, this anthology is a restful deep breath in book form.

The 20 poets featured are a veritable who’s who of contemporary children’s poets – including past and current laureates, and Carnegie and CLIPPA award winners. All included are incredible ambassadors for children’s poetry, who provide original and interesting perspectives on the theme of mindfulness. This collection includes new poems alongside old favourites, offering something for every young reader looking for a moment of quiet contemplation.

Highlights are many and include Mandy Coe’s joyous “You Are Here” and Sophia Thakur’s “Pausing Phases”, which in different ways both extol the virtues of taking time to appreciate each small moment. Whilst Kate Wakeling’s “The Ink Curse” is a joyful celebration of the power of doodling.

Unsurprisingly, a number of the poems feature the natural world and the benefits that can have on personal serenity. Nikita Gill’s “A Lesson from the Trees” is a poignant reminder that all worries will pass, whilst Mary Ann Hoberman’s “The Tree That Time Built” is a short, gentle poem, that has a wonderful meditative quality to it. Georgia Heard’s “My Inner Weather Report” is a beautiful consideration of emotional intelligence and resilience, recognising that some days we feel stormy and on other days there are no clouds at all.

Alongside the poems, we enjoy illustrations in a variety of styles from a range of talented illustrators. From muted pastels to busy monochrome doodles, each illustration perfectly complements its accompanying poem.

This is a wonderful anthology to enjoy and revisit often. It would be a worthy addition to any poetry collection and is perfect for young readers who may find the world overwhelming at times.

Amy McKay

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