Brain-tickling cleverness and not a letter out of place.
From the initial poem, ‘Hi-ku’, to the closing ‘Bye-ku’, this collection is cram packed with smart word play, attention to crafting, and keen observation. Those two poems stand like apt bookends either side of others that will intrigue and often move the reader. The intervening Lie-ku, introduces a more serious purpose for the form, but is no less playful, despite the sullen tone and sad implications. These poems, alone, indicate the mind of a poet who enjoys experimenting with verse form. ‘Poet Who Doesn’t Know It’ is a gift to every teacher introducing basic verse form and language categories. However, it isn’t heavy with forced learning, instead it’s an enjoyable mischief. Ziman also employs the power of white space and text variation to great effect. ‘Return Of the Swifts’ and ‘Nature Walk’ display this sensitivity well.
It takes real talent to convey something weighty in thought with a lightness of touch, as in ‘Opposites’, where 2 children are presented as different but are somehow still friends. Many poems are about everyday experiences that a huge number of children will identify with, particularly school concerns. She manages to stimulate the right questions in the reader without directing them by hinted conclusions. Some of the poems touch on deeper differences in a gentle way, and could lead to important classroom discussions. ‘Extra’ is a poem that has stayed with me, for its tender exploration of how an ‘extra chromosome’ can present joy, despite challenges.
Ziman’s collection is full of variety, yet the same voice unifies it all. Sometimes conversational, as in ‘Secret Weapon’, sometimes lyrical, as in the beautiful ‘Winter Solstice’, there’s a perfect mix of a little wildness with calm thinking. Alongside, there are puzzles and text pictures to delight in. Having enjoyed her individual poems in the past, I knew this collection would be of high quality, but I think more has been achieved here, I think Sarah Ziman has ensured that there will be more collections, and that they will stand tall with the collections of long-established poets.
A must-have poetry collection for children, to be read time and time again.
Masterfully written and aesthetically presented!
If your child is looking for something humorous, uplifting, and entertaining, then this book is definitely for them. It’s perfect for switching off and unwinding with after a long day at school.
I’ve always enjoyed poetry, and this book is filled with some of the cutest, funniest, and most charming poems I’ve ever come across. But it’s not just the words themselves that light up the pages. The poems are presented in such a visually stimulating way that they come to life and dance in front of your eyes, adding a whole new dimension to the words.
Sarah Ziman is a master of poetry and a magician when it comes to getting words down on paper! I hope she’ll be writing many more collections like this one. And my favourite poem? Well, that would have to be ‘Reasons my little sister cried this week’. Or maybe ‘Packed Lunch’… or ‘Faux Pas’ … ooh, or ‘One-upper’… although ‘Pet Peeve’ is brilliant, too. Okay, I can’t pick a favourite. They’re ALL simply delightful.