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The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry
An anthology of the best of Puffin poetry, that includes poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Spike Milligan, John Agard, and Kit Wright. Each poet's work is illustrated by a different artist.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 2, 2012
This book is a combination of poems written by 10 very different poets who all have their own style and humour. There are ten sections within the book with a variety of illustrations that are vibrant and set the scenes for the stories. The illustrations of each section are also very different which I think enlivens the poets� perspectives.
The poems have distinct differences of style and include a range of topics from day to day activities to complete nonsensical rhymes. What I really liked about this book is the fact that the poets have been interviewed by a young person and so gives an insight into the poets� ideas and inspirations. Many of these interviews are humorous and really make it clear that anyone can be a poet as we all have often unique ideas about ourselves, our lives and the things that matter to us. It’s an excellent way to personalise poetry and give the idea that poetry is just as simple as writing a story. Some of the poems such as My Cat Plumduff and The Squrdle are ridiculous but have a lovely rhythm and are silly enough for children to enjoy. I think this book would be a great introduction for KSY2 to write their own poetry and get the feel for what poetry is about.
The poems have distinct differences of style and include a range of topics from day to day activities to complete nonsensical rhymes. What I really liked about this book is the fact that the poets have been interviewed by a young person and so gives an insight into the poets� ideas and inspirations. Many of these interviews are humorous and really make it clear that anyone can be a poet as we all have often unique ideas about ourselves, our lives and the things that matter to us. It’s an excellent way to personalise poetry and give the idea that poetry is just as simple as writing a story. Some of the poems such as My Cat Plumduff and The Squrdle are ridiculous but have a lovely rhythm and are silly enough for children to enjoy. I think this book would be a great introduction for KSY2 to write their own poetry and get the feel for what poetry is about.
September 10, 2020
I remember absolutely loving this book when I was growing up. I was given to it secondhand from a family friend when I was around 6 and I loved reading it up until I was leaving primary school. I used to love making up my own nonsense poems, taking inspiration from Spike Milligan and Benjamin Zepheniah. Therefore, I think this book is accessible from all ages; an early years setting could read and laugh at these silly poems, and older years can begin picking apart the poetry, reading between the lines and creating their own. All the poems are unique and the illustrations are so simple but really compliment the poem as it leaves your imagination to decipher the rest. Will definitely be a book in my classroom regardless of which year I teach.
April 24, 2019
Diary Entry
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry including poems from: Roger McGough, Brian Pattern, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Agard, Michael Rosen, Spike Mulligan, Charles Causley, Allan Ahlberg, Jackie Kay, and Kit Wright.
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry has a range of poems from a range of poets. The poems are suitable for a range of age groups as the poems are of various lengths and complexities. Each poem has relevant illustrations which makes them more appealing and can give an idea about the topic of the poem before reading; this would intrigue children and encourage them to look at a range of poems.
The Sound Collector by Roger McGough
What do I like about the poem?
The poem has rhyming couplets so when the poem is read, it has a rhythm to it and flows well.
The topic of the poem is a bit random but a lot of everyday things are talked about so lots of things are relatable.
Are there any memorable words or phrases?
The first stanza:
“A stranger called this morning
Dressed all in black and grey
Put every sound into a bag
And carried them away�
It is quite easy to imagine what this would look like, and an image is instantly built.
“Life will never be the same�. It’s a very sad last line.
What do these phrases make me think of?
It makes me think of a bad dream, something scary. Yet, it is actually quite thought provoking, what would it feel like if all the sounds were taken away? This links to inclusion and about consideration for those who are hearing impaired or deaf. It is difficult to image not being able to hear anything, especially the little things, like “The squeaking of the chair�. The situation was obviously very impacting and upsetting.
Is there anything significant about the shape of the poem?
The poem is set out in 6 stanzas which consist of 4 lines. The stanzas are just laid out in a vertical line.
When I look at the shape, does it help me to think about the poem in a different way?
The shape of the poem makes me thinks about how many things we actually hear on a day to day basis, there is such a long list! But we don’t even acknowledge the large majority of them.
Does the poem have a particular form?
Each stanza is made up of four lines. There are six stanzas. The last word of the second line, rhymes with the last word of the fourth line in each stanza. The number of syllables in each line varies between 5 and 8 with the first and third line having between 6 and 8 syllables, and lines two and four have between 5 and 7 syllables.
Do you have any questions about the poem?
Why does the man only steal the sounds that happen inside and not sounds from outside?
Why does the man steal the sounds?
How does the man steal the sounds?
Who is the man?
Who is telling the story?
Does the poem use any techniques?
The poem does not use alliteration or similes. But there are rhyming couplets within each stanza. The only piece of punctuation is at the end of the poem, making the entire poem seem like a long sentence, with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. However, every new line within the poem starts with a capital letter.
What is most memorable about the poem? How does it make you feel?
I think it is all quite memorable as it makes you think. The poet may be writing of own experience, maybe they have gone deaf or someone they know has done deaf. The poem just makes me think of people, adults and children, who may have hearing impairments or may be totally deaf and trying to put myself into their place. The last line of the poem is quite hard hitting, showing how someone’s life was totally altered when the sounds went away and its quite sad, especially as it is hard to imagine NOT being able to hear anything. But this would be a good talking point, as I would be interested to know if anyone else understands the poem in the same way as I do. It would also be a good opportunity to introduce using British Sign Language or MAKATON. This poem makes me what to improve my signing skills to make anyone who cannot hear, feel like they can still be heard.
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry including poems from: Roger McGough, Brian Pattern, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Agard, Michael Rosen, Spike Mulligan, Charles Causley, Allan Ahlberg, Jackie Kay, and Kit Wright.
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry has a range of poems from a range of poets. The poems are suitable for a range of age groups as the poems are of various lengths and complexities. Each poem has relevant illustrations which makes them more appealing and can give an idea about the topic of the poem before reading; this would intrigue children and encourage them to look at a range of poems.
The Sound Collector by Roger McGough
What do I like about the poem?
The poem has rhyming couplets so when the poem is read, it has a rhythm to it and flows well.
The topic of the poem is a bit random but a lot of everyday things are talked about so lots of things are relatable.
Are there any memorable words or phrases?
The first stanza:
“A stranger called this morning
Dressed all in black and grey
Put every sound into a bag
And carried them away�
It is quite easy to imagine what this would look like, and an image is instantly built.
“Life will never be the same�. It’s a very sad last line.
What do these phrases make me think of?
It makes me think of a bad dream, something scary. Yet, it is actually quite thought provoking, what would it feel like if all the sounds were taken away? This links to inclusion and about consideration for those who are hearing impaired or deaf. It is difficult to image not being able to hear anything, especially the little things, like “The squeaking of the chair�. The situation was obviously very impacting and upsetting.
Is there anything significant about the shape of the poem?
The poem is set out in 6 stanzas which consist of 4 lines. The stanzas are just laid out in a vertical line.
When I look at the shape, does it help me to think about the poem in a different way?
The shape of the poem makes me thinks about how many things we actually hear on a day to day basis, there is such a long list! But we don’t even acknowledge the large majority of them.
Does the poem have a particular form?
Each stanza is made up of four lines. There are six stanzas. The last word of the second line, rhymes with the last word of the fourth line in each stanza. The number of syllables in each line varies between 5 and 8 with the first and third line having between 6 and 8 syllables, and lines two and four have between 5 and 7 syllables.
Do you have any questions about the poem?
Why does the man only steal the sounds that happen inside and not sounds from outside?
Why does the man steal the sounds?
How does the man steal the sounds?
Who is the man?
Who is telling the story?
Does the poem use any techniques?
The poem does not use alliteration or similes. But there are rhyming couplets within each stanza. The only piece of punctuation is at the end of the poem, making the entire poem seem like a long sentence, with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. However, every new line within the poem starts with a capital letter.
What is most memorable about the poem? How does it make you feel?
I think it is all quite memorable as it makes you think. The poet may be writing of own experience, maybe they have gone deaf or someone they know has done deaf. The poem just makes me think of people, adults and children, who may have hearing impairments or may be totally deaf and trying to put myself into their place. The last line of the poem is quite hard hitting, showing how someone’s life was totally altered when the sounds went away and its quite sad, especially as it is hard to imagine NOT being able to hear anything. But this would be a good talking point, as I would be interested to know if anyone else understands the poem in the same way as I do. It would also be a good opportunity to introduce using British Sign Language or MAKATON. This poem makes me what to improve my signing skills to make anyone who cannot hear, feel like they can still be heard.
September 3, 2021
This book is made up of list of different poems from poets with very different styles. The images throughout the ten sections are vibrant and engaging and each poet uses humour in their own style in their poems. No illustration is the same which emphasises the differences between all the poets
The poems themselves range from day to day poems to completely nonsensical poetry. They each have a distinct style but most of the Poems use humour to express their ideas.
This book is an excellent way to personalise poetry and to inspire children to write their own.
This book could be used as an introduction to poetry for KS1 and KS2. You could get the children to write their own poems, and they could also be used as a way of exploring rhythm, beats and other poetic structures.
The poems themselves range from day to day poems to completely nonsensical poetry. They each have a distinct style but most of the Poems use humour to express their ideas.
This book is an excellent way to personalise poetry and to inspire children to write their own.
This book could be used as an introduction to poetry for KS1 and KS2. You could get the children to write their own poems, and they could also be used as a way of exploring rhythm, beats and other poetic structures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2020
A delightful mixture of poems from the seventies, eighties and nineties. The book is edited by Brian Patten, and features the work of Kit Wright, Spike Milligan and John Agard among several others. A spectacular array of colours in the illustrations, which differ in style throughout each poem. There are poems for every taste and interest, ranging from sport, to animals, to holidays. Some are truly powerful, highlighting some important life lessons to the reader. An anytime read, but particularly relaxing before bedtime.
November 13, 2021
My year 3 class liked this. I am pretty fed up of Ning nang nong and , “faster miss!� Though lol.
July 7, 2023
Litt gammel, og en del henvisninger til gitte steder. Men gøye rim og fine rytmer. Noen triste, noen politiske og noen tvers gjennom morsomme. God blanding fra fine menn og ei dame.
September 29, 2014
This book is a children's poetry book involving classic poems such as 'The chocolate cake,' which tells the story of a young boys obsession with a chocolate cake his mother made for him to take to school. It shows the journey he has of pleasing his mother by not eating the cake, but also fulfilling his hunger by satisfying his cravings. He tries to strike a balance between both but is left on the receiving end of his mother Other poems include 'Fair Play,' where a boy is asking for his ball back from the mirror after having cracked it. This book includes many short and long poems. Poems for different occasions and has different fun characters which children will find enjoyable and humorous.
This book will be ideal for a key stage two class, who are fond of poetry and to look at the range of techniques poetry requires. This can be read at story time or used as a literacy lesson as an example, template which the children could use to then make their own poem.
This book will be ideal for a key stage two class, who are fond of poetry and to look at the range of techniques poetry requires. This can be read at story time or used as a literacy lesson as an example, template which the children could use to then make their own poem.
April 3, 2013
This book is a great collection of humorous poems written by 10 well known poets with differing writing styles. There is great use of fun and colourful illustrations in the book which adds to the humour of the poems. What is nice about this book is that each poet is interviewed by a child in each of the sections in the book which helps the reader feel a more personal touch and background to each of the poets.
A great book to use throughout primary but I would suggest this more for KS2 year 4/5 when introducing poems, their styles, rhythm and rhymes. By looking at the poems in this book children can see that not all poems need to have a rhyme at the end of every sentence of laid out in a particular style. They can use this book to help them in exploring what style suits them best and to understand that poetry can be read by and written by anyone.
A great book to use throughout primary but I would suggest this more for KS2 year 4/5 when introducing poems, their styles, rhythm and rhymes. By looking at the poems in this book children can see that not all poems need to have a rhyme at the end of every sentence of laid out in a particular style. They can use this book to help them in exploring what style suits them best and to understand that poetry can be read by and written by anyone.
January 2, 2013
I purchased this book when I was eight years old at my primary school's annual book fayre and though it's an 'oldie' by my mother's standards, it is a book that I keep going back to even if it is 12 years later. It is the book that first got me interested in poetry and I think that is perhaps why I love it so much.
December 1, 2021
I love this book, I've reread it several times and I enjoy it always. I quote or reference several of the poems in my everyday life. Everything from the interviews to the poems and the illustrations are brilliant.
April 30, 2013
Marvellous! If only all poetry was this much fun.
October 2, 2014
This was the book that introduced me to poetry and made me fall in love with rhyme. A great collection and a poem for everything and everyone.
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