Sport – winning, losing, taking part – is celebrated in this typically skilful collection from two of our most popular poets for young people. There are funny poems, story poems, contemplative ones to make you see things clearer or differently, and the poets even have a contest themselves, each one describing archery (too quiet for Moses, pure gold for Stevens). In a poem in four parts jointly written and placed strategically throughout the book they wittily compare the process of writing poetry itself to a marathon, from the early stages when confidence is high, to the last few miles when poems can ‘get puffed… sit down at the side of the page’. These are poems to be enjoyed and remembered long after the final medal has been awarded in Rio. ~ Andrea Reece
There are poems about winning, and about taking part; poems about having all the right kit, but no talent; poems that show that it if you are at school being the best egg and spoon racer really is as important to your mum and dad as being an Olympic athlete; poems about being a team player and poems about being an individual hero. In fact, this book is packed with sporting gems of all kinds.
Brian Moses (pictured) spends much of his time visiting schools where he runs workshop sessions and performs his poetry. He has compiled numerous collections for Macmillan including The Secret Lives of Teachers and Aliens Stole My Underpants. He lives in Sussex with his wife and two daughters.
Click here for Brian's website, where you can listen to some of his poems. You can find his blog and tweets on the right hand side of this page.
Roger Stevens is a children's author and poet who visits schools performing and running workshops. Recent books are The Jumble Book, compiled for Dyslexia Action, and Why Otters Don't Wear Socks. Roger also runs the Poetry Zone, a website for children and teachers - www.poetryzone.co.uk
