Colour Young Puffin No Breathing In Class

by Michael Rosen

A collection of poems about school and friends.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Michael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Saffron · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all-time classic. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who couldn't relate to these poems about school life as they document familiar scenes like failing to take the register, horribly strict teachers, being made to enter a handwriting competition and diving off the top board. They expose lots of the daft rules schools sometimes have and the idiosyncrasies of power-crazed or incompetent teachers from a pupil's-eye view.

Most of the poems don't rhyme, but they do have a really good rhythm, especially when read aloud. None of the poems have particularly difficult language and because of this, I think that they make a good model for children to try and emulate. I don't mean to detract from Michael Rosen's incredible skill here, but to make the point that even to a fairly under-confident writer, they don't seem too intimidating. I think they would work really well with Years 2 & 3 and be suitable for reading aloud in class, as well as for guided reading or as a jumping off point for children writing their own poems.

My favourites are 'Strict', which is where the title comes from and 'The Register'. The first is an hilarious account of a ludicrously strict teacher who insists on 'no breathing in class!', much to the bewilderment of her pupils who try desperately not to incur her wrath. I definitely remember teachers at school who were insanely strict and spent a lot of time bellowing for no reason.

The second poem is written as a present tense monologue from the teacher who is trying in vain to take the register amid countless interruptions. It is brilliantly witty and entirely reminiscent of Joyce Grenfell's wonderful school teacher sketch. It uses the same device of the teacher replying to the comments of the other characters without the reader (or listener) being privy to them. It is all inferred by the monologue of the teacher. This is an example of a poem that really has to be read aloud (and in character), unless like me, you can conjure Joyce Grenfell's voice in your head! (For those readers who you don't know who Joyce Grenfell is, she was a comedian in the 40's and 50's and starred in the original St Trinian's films.)

All in all, this book is highly recommended. Even if you don't usually like poetry, you'll probably enjoy this.

[Hannah Liddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by a teacher on a school placement. I love the collection of short poems and think it would be great to read one poem a day to a class. What I love about the poems is that they can be read and enjoyed by children of a whole range of ages.

There is a range of poetry in the book, from UNFAIR, which shows that poetry doesn't have to follow a rigid structure, to THE REGISTER, which is a humorous poem highlighting the challenges of being a teacher!

Short but thought-provoking poems which I believe both adults and children would enjoy,

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Breathing in Class is a collection of eleven short poems by Michael Rosen. They depict typical situations which occur in day to day school life which children can relate to such as strict teachers, spelling tests and taking the register.

This is a funny book which could be used to assist creative writing tasks.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of eleven school-themed poems written by Rosen and illustrated by Paul. Seven of these are reprinted from previous collections but the new ones added are just as fun. Paul's madcap watercolour washes and ink illustrations heighten the humour and I will always love Rosen's free verse narratives.

[Manuel Messina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny collections of poems and short stories that shows that grown ups could be so cruel and inconsistent with kids sometimes. You will find teachers that doesn't want students to breath in class not even to reply to her questions or the one that forces everyone to join the handwriting competition even the student that has big problem with pen and writing... There are very scary dive from the top board, punishment, test of courage and football games. Everything is beautify by the funky and lovable illustrations by Korky Paul. A short book that entertains and makes reflect about kids, grown ups and school life.

[Kay Lea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poem book - not al rhyme. A few good but wouldn't use.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO B R 3 T I N G

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and easy reading book combining poetry with mad anecdotes and comical illustrations. The content includes poems such as ‘Unfair’, ‘Strict’, ‘I think’, ‘Cool School’ etc. These titles should capture a child’s curiosity as it is a poetry book written from a child’s perspective. The poems are an introduction to the fun side of rhyme and would be a good introduction to creative poetry and writing. There is a rhythmic feel but the poems do not conform to a strict formula. All have funny anecdotes regarding topics from sport, strict teachers, and escaped class pets to gymnastic traumas.
It is a book that not only young learners would enjoy but also some poems would be amusing for adults. It is an opportunity to view school life from a child’s perspective and have a laugh at ourselves as adults.
There is one particular poem that I enjoyed called ‘The Register’, Mrs. Riley is trying to get the Class 6 register underway but is also trying to deal with constant interruptions including some easily distracted students, a missing class snail, school dinner issues, funny questions about the class trip which all combine in making Mrs. Riley a very disheveled and crazed looking teacher.
This book can be used across the curriculum especially in English creative writing, in art and also in looking at different perspectives in PSHE. The illustrations really capture the poems and enhance the storylines so could be used as an independent or as guided reading in KYS2.

Emma

[Samantha Mendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Breathing in Class is an eclectic mix of short verses written by Michael Rosen whose eccentric writing style is seen to excite young readers. He writes about school and friendships through an accessible collection of poems and aims to give an insight into the lives of children using humorous connotations.

This book could be read by a child in KS2 during independent reading sessions or to a whole class during an English lesson as an introduction to poetry. As the poems do not follow a specific rhyming scheme, this book can be used to illustrate and address the misconception had by children that all poems must be constrained by patterns of rhyme/rhythm.

[Katy W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title poem is often mentioned in our house - every child has met at least one teacher like this.