Poems about a sumo wrestling grandmother, a grandfather who talks to the trees, a tidal wave in a trifle, etc. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

From John Bunyan's 'country rhimes' to rude chants about Manchester United, from Ted Hughes to Edward Lear, and from William Blake to the Taylor sisters, Morag Styles covers three hundred years of poetry with infectious enthusiasm and a keen critical eye. In this scholarly and fascinating book, she provides an informative account of the history of poetry written for children in Britain and America in the last three centuries. She analyses the major poets, genres and developments over this period, and traces the continuities between the past and the present. Styles asks fundamental questions which have often been left unanswered: What do we mean by children's poetry? Why did such a seemingly small number of women write poetry for children until recently? The author subscribes to the widest possible definition of poetry, and so the reader will find in this book hymns, songs, playground rhymes, raps and verse - whether trivial or profound. From the Garden to the Street will provoke, inform and entertain academics of children's literature, those who teach it in the classroom, and all of us who still take pleasure in the poetry of childhood.

This collection of eleven stories provides a voice for many different worlds and characters: from the naïve but beautiful Italian woman and her erotic obsession with religion and dentistry, to the Rock/Blues singer damaged by drugs and alcohol, whose moment in the sun has passed, and who falls under the spell of the honey-voiced Mississipi Southern Belle of his satnav. One evening, whilst suffering from writers’ block, Gareth Owen recalled an anecdote related by his Italian teacher and mentally transformed himself into an Italian woman, and the result was Zia Teresa: the tale of the rather dim small-town beauty and her erotic obsessions. There is a touching, dexterous humour about the tale.Fortunately the new-found confidence survived to enable him to pen ten further stories many with male protagonists and English settings: the chilling ghost story of the aborted child, the narcissistic actor and his breakdown on stage; the confessions of the serial philanderer. There is horror, comedy and an elegant insightfulness here that keeps the reader turning the pages and asking for more. These stories will both enthral and delight.

In recent years the issue of boys and literacy, namely that they are worse at it compared to girls, has become a key area of interest to all those concerned with the education of our children. This book highlights the key factors causing this divide and discusses the implementation of new strategies to overcome it, which have been the result of extensive qualitative research made by the author. Trisha Maynard reports case study findings of a primary school whose staff wanted to explore and improve boys' attitudes towards and attainment in literacy, and in particular their difficulties with writing. The book highlights issues concerning the reading and writing of stories, what teachers understand by 'good story writing' and the importance of teachers exploring boys' and girls' difficulties with literacy by themselves. It provides significant insight into boys' difficulties with writing as well as informing teachers how to find out about children's attainment.

More irresistible stories and sayings from the creator of YouTube’s Southern Women Channel. Ms. Julia Fowler is back, and this time she’s goin’ to talk her lipstick off about even more things Southern. If you’re not from the South, we hope to learn ya a thing or two that you can tote back into your own culture. If you are from the South, then you’re ’bout to be happier than a mule in a pickle patch: Julia’s laugh-out-loud essays cover the dadblame weather, your obsession with football, your Southern fried palate, comin’ and goin’, your health, and bein’ country, all complemented by a list of sayings you will only ever hear in the South. Julia says to embrace it all, as there is nothing purdier than authenticity: Embrace Your Southern, Sugar!

Presents a collection of poetry covering a wide range of subjects, themes, and emotions.

Series covers individuals ranging from established award winners to authors and illustrators who are just beginning their careers. Entries cover: personal life, career, writings and works in progress, adaptations, additional sources, and photographs.

Provides information about how the ornitholestes, a small, quick, carnivore that lived in North America in the Jurassic period, may have looked and behaved.