
Red Sky in the Morning, Poet's Warning
by Alex Wharton, illustrated by Ian Morris
Interest age: 9 to 11
Published by Firefly, 2025
About this book
This slim book of verse contains a selection of imaginative poems about the world around us, some of which lean towards the darker side of life. It is the companion volume to Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight, which contains an equally inspiring collection of poems about the delights of the world.
Some poems evoke a strong sense of place, such as 'From the Folly', which beautifully describes the panoramic views from a solitary tower high on a hill.
Others feel more foreboding; 'Wild Boys' tells of lost children running, hunting and hiding in the dark, shadowy woods, always watching. A variety of creatures make an appearance, including a duck enjoying its final day, a suspiciously large spider who lives in the shed, and a rockstar dragon with a passion for music.
Written by Alex Wharton, the Children's Laureate Wales, many of the works are set in and around his hometown of Pontypool. Additional notes at the foot of several of the poems provide context and background information, including the inspiration behind them.
The black-and-white illustrations which feature throughout are full of energy, style and humour, helping to bring the text to life.
More books like this
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Wise Up! Wise Down!
by John Agard and JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura
9 to 12 years
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Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight
by Alex Wharton, illustrated by Ian Morris
9 to 12 years
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Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees
by Alex Wharton, illustrated by Rhi Smith
6 to 9 years
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Daydreams and Jellybeans
by Alex Wharton, illustrated by Katy Riddell
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