The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry


Book Description

A celebratory anthology of the best of Puffin poetry publishing, including poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jackie Kay, Spike Milligan, John Agard, Brian Patten, Allan Ahlberg and Kit Wright. Each poet's work is illustrated by a different artist such as Emma Chichester Clark, Fritz Wegner and Korky Paul.




Brian Patten


Book Description

In 1967 Penguin Books published the work of Brian Patten, along with co-poets Roger McGough and Adrian Henri, in the collection The Mersey Sound, frequently credited as the single most significant anthology of this century in bringing poetry to new audiences. Some half a million copies have been sold, and thousands of poetry fans have flocked to theatres, arts centres and schools to watch Patten in performance. This is the first full-length critical evaluation of Patten's work - as a poet, as a performer and as a hugely popular children's writer. It seeks to explore his position in relation to his fellow Liverpool Poets and to contemporary poetry more widely. Consideration of Armada, Patten's most recent poetry collection for adults, is central to this study. The author explores the ways in which themes and pre-occupations from earlier works have now sharpened and developed, and argues that Armada signals the maturation of his talent.




The Puffin Book of Modern Children's Verse


Book Description

Collection of modern English children's poetry. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.




Collected Love Poems


Book Description

Of all the poets writing today, Brian Patten is perhaps the most accessible and popular. Now his love poems, old and new, are collected together in his single volume.




Monster Slayer


Book Description

A stunning prose retelling of the Beowulf legend from award-winning Brian Patten with fabulous artwork by new Children's Laureate Chris Riddell. Jacket foiling and neon pantone print interiors combine for a really fabulous Little Gem. The monster Grendel has awoken and the townspeople are terrified. Even the King has abandoned his great Hall. Hero after hero comes to slay the monster, but no one can outwit Grendel. Only Beowulf has a chance. But when Beowulf finally triumphs, an even greater horror awakens. Grendel's mother, the Hag, wants revenge on the slayer of her son.




The Story Giant


Book Description

A large-format, colour edition of this magical novel which weaves together over fifty world tales -- of immense appeal to both adults and children. One day a story fell from heaven and landed on a giant's tongue... ' The Story Giant is a master illusionist and the ur-storyteller. In his memory exists every tale ever told in the world -- except for one, which has eluded him for millennia. In a last desperate attempt to track down this lost tale, he draws four children from the different corners of the globe into his castle while they sleep, there to exchange the tales they know from their own cultures, to see if between them they can piece together the elusive missing story. For if he cannot track it down and install it in his memory, the whole facade of the castle will crumble and fall, and the Story Giant himself will die. And if he does, so will all the stories, and the world will be a poorer, duller, grimmer place. Fifty tales are told within this magical framework in Brian Patten's inimitable style -- from Bruh Rabbit to the tale of how St George killed the Dragon (except it wasn't St George -- it was his mother, with a pudding... ) but none of them are the missing tale. The ca




Can I Come Too?


Book Description

A very small mouse sets out to find something special―the biggest creature in the world. Along her journey, she meets a menagerie of animals who want to join her in her quest, including a frog, a badger, and a tiger. She visits lakes, rivers, woods, and even climbs a mountain and stops by a zoo. Finally, she arrives at the ocean. Will she finally find the biggest animal of all? From the world-renowned team of author Brian Patten and illustrator Nicola Bayley, this gentle story is a celebration of the world's wide variety of living creatures. While the poetic text and cumulative tale treatment pull readers along, the gorgeous colored pencil art will have little ones lost in the wonders of the natural world.




Little Hotchpotch


Book Description

Age-range: 3+ 'One day a shy little creature looked at its reflection in a frozen pond. All it could see were its eyes. They were as big and bright as the moon…' But the little creature doesn't know who it is! And so starts an odyssey of a quest, from snowy icebergs to the dry savannah, from the polar bear to the little harvest mouse, as the little creature asks, 'Who am I?' But nobody knows - until the wise old owl is asked; he knows the answer, and the clue is in the title! A beautifully lyrical text from acclaimed poet Brian Patten is combined here with illustrations from best-loved animal artist Michael Terry.




Impossible Parents


Book Description

Ben Norm and his sister, Mary, take care over their appearance. They like to look good, while fitting in with the rest of the kids at school. But their parents are impossible Dad has a scruffy ponytail and an earring through his nose. Mum is a belly dancer and wears a fishnet body stocking. Why can't they be respectable like other kids' parents? And how can they be stopped from totally mortifying Ben and Mary at Parent's Day? But, when the big day arrives, there are surprises in store for everyone