A Passing on of Shells
by Simon Lamb, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Scallywag Press, 2023
About this book
This collection of 50 funny, varied poems each written in 50 words is brilliant for reading aloud. There are haiku, couplets, acrostics, rhyming poems, poems that don’t rhyme… each with their own illustration by Chris Riddell. Themes include school, family, magic, animals, sharing a moment together and writing itself, and the tone is playful, occasionally moving, and always interesting. There are lots of different techniques to discuss, or simply appreciate: word play, metaphors, personification, and so on. The fact that each poem only has 50 words is impressive in itself!
Chris Riddell’s illustrations match the mood of each poem perfectly – sometimes ethereal, sometimes funny, often emotional – making this collection a beautiful item to pore over and treasure. Practical and attractive – the perfect poetry package!
This would be an excellent collection to use in class, as starting points for children writing their own poems, or simply to be read aloud for fun.
About the illustrator
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