This new hardback from the magnificent partnership of Janeczko and Raschka has the subtitle: Poems to Speak, Sing and Shout. These include favourites like the 'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll, 'The Owl and The Pussycat' by Edward Lear and 'Us Two' by A. A. Milne. You will also find the Witches scene from Macbeth, and all manner of other pieces by lesser-known poets, all of them eminently 'speakable', because as the author says in his introductory words: "Poetry is sound."
Well, that's true but that's not all it is and there's also a wealth of description, emotion, storytelling and fun in the short verses we're given in this book.
As in their previous book, A Kick in the Head, the glory lies in how the words on the page combine with the illustration provided by the artist. It's hard to imagine anyone not responding to, for instance, a picture of a tomcat which curls right round the poem: A tomcat is.... enclosing it between its front paws and the tip of its tail... lovely!
The colours sing and speak and shout out as loudly as the words. Another triumph for Janeczko and Raschka with thanks owed to Walker for bringing it over here from their US arm, Candlewick Press. Do buy it for a school library or for a special birthday. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love to get this book as a present.