Let’s Celebrate! Festival poems from around the world

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

illustrated by Shirin Adl
Edited by Debjani Chatterjee and Brian D'Arcy

Published by Frances Lincoln, 2011

Around the world
Poetry and rhyme

About this book

Everyone loves a celebration and with this lively, multicultural, poetry anthology there is an excuse to celebrate almost all year round.

Some festivals will be very familiar to all young readers, others are more specific to particular ethnic groups and some may be a revelation to many of us. While not professing to covers all festivals, a wide range of cultural and religious events are included such as Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Pancake Day, the Tomato Festival, Thanksgiving and Kwanzaa.

A comprehensive glossary contextualises and explains the festivals and stunning, celebratory illustrations complement the text throughout.

About the illustrator

Shirin Adl is an Iranian illustrator with a passion for bright colours and interesting textures. When she was little and could only read Farsi, pictures made books in other languages accessible, as she looked at them to work out the story. After she learned English, she sometimes came across a picture book she'd decoded as a child and realised the tale was very different to the one she'd thought of!

For Shirin, book illustrations complement the text, but can also tell their own story. She especially enjoys creating busy scenes where she depicts different characters, giving each one an imaginary life; so it makes her very happy when children or parents tell her that they've enjoyed coming up with their own ideas about her pictures. Shirin studied illustration at Loughborough University and lives in Oxford.

More books like this

Ramadan Moon

by Na’ima B Robert

5 to 9 years
Michael Rosen's A to Z

by Michael Rosen

9 to 14 years
This is Not a Small Voice

by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Jade Orlando

5 to 14 years
Under the Moon and Over the Sea

by John Agard and Grace Nichols, illustrated by Cathie Felstead, Jane Ray, Christopher Corr, Sara Fanelli and Satoshi Kitamura

5 to 14 years

Explore our Bookfinder

Lists of recommended reads

Poetry books for the Poetry Friendly Classroom

Take a look at some of our favourite children's poetry books - perfect for use in the poetry-friendly classroom. From Roald Dahl's classic Revolting Rhymes to fantastic novels in verse, these books are guaranteed to promote a love of poetry.
Books about Ramadan and Eid

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan all over the world, while Eid al-Adha follows later in the year. They are times for family, for community and for joyful festivities. Here’s our pick of the best children’s books about Ramadan and Eid.
Books that celebrate Diwali

Diwali, or the festival of lights, is celebrated all around the world each October - and there are lots of ways to join in the fun! Here's our pick of the best children's books about Diwali.
Our favourite poetry books (older children)

Poetry can be great to broaden reading horizons, as well as truly engaging for reluctant readers. Here are some poetry books your child is sure to love and want to read out loud.

Discover more booklists