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Under the Moon & Over the Sea: A Collection of Caribbean Poems
Collects more than fifty stunningly illustrated poems about the wind, the sea, the people, and the animals of the Caribbean by more than thirty poets.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2002
6 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
John Agard
115 books37 followersJohn Agard was born in Guyana and emigrated to Britain in 1977. He has worked as an actor and a performer with a jazz group and spent several years as a lecturer for the Commonwealth Institute, travelling all over Britain giving talks, performances and workshops. He has visited literally thousands of schools and enjoys the live contact and the joy of children responding although it can be hard work.
John Agard started writing poems when he was about 16 - some of these early efforts were published in his school magazine. Many of his poems now are composed while looking out of train windows.
"Try the best with what you have right now
If you don't have horse, then ride cow."
It is in his poetry that John Agard makes his greatest contribution to children's literature. Like the best authors, he brings something unique to children's experience - a view of the world tempered by his own childhood, a feeling for the rhythms and cadences of its language, and a sophisticated understanding of the advantages and limitations of several forms of English. That he can make the "standard" forms work superbly is evident from many of his poems for adults. For children, with whom he communicates more directly, the lyrical Guyanese forms serve his purposes to perfection.
Agard is not a literary poet but also a performing poet and has a strong sense of his audience. When he writes for children, he seems to see them sitting at his feet. He is more interested in the ideas and words he is delivering to them than in the creation of complex fictional characters with whom his readers might engage. He lives in Sussex and is married to Grace Nichols, a respected Caribbean poet and co-author of a collection of Caribbean nursery rhymes, NO HICKORY, NO DICKORY, NO DOCK.
John Agard started writing poems when he was about 16 - some of these early efforts were published in his school magazine. Many of his poems now are composed while looking out of train windows.
"Try the best with what you have right now
If you don't have horse, then ride cow."
It is in his poetry that John Agard makes his greatest contribution to children's literature. Like the best authors, he brings something unique to children's experience - a view of the world tempered by his own childhood, a feeling for the rhythms and cadences of its language, and a sophisticated understanding of the advantages and limitations of several forms of English. That he can make the "standard" forms work superbly is evident from many of his poems for adults. For children, with whom he communicates more directly, the lyrical Guyanese forms serve his purposes to perfection.
Agard is not a literary poet but also a performing poet and has a strong sense of his audience. When he writes for children, he seems to see them sitting at his feet. He is more interested in the ideas and words he is delivering to them than in the creation of complex fictional characters with whom his readers might engage. He lives in Sussex and is married to Grace Nichols, a respected Caribbean poet and co-author of a collection of Caribbean nursery rhymes, NO HICKORY, NO DICKORY, NO DOCK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 6, 2019
The rhythm, movement, sunshine and warmth of the Caribbean just jumps out of these poems. A vibrant and enjoyable collect to use time and time again with children.
October 21, 2019
A beautiful collection of poems which immerses the reader in the culture of the Caribbean. Each poem comes alive and jumps of the page. Many poems could be used with phonics, if exploring poetry in this area.
January 6, 2021
Some of the poems in this collection are stunning. Together, they really build up a picture of the vibrancy and the natural wonders of the Caribbean nations. There are some interesting conversations to be had about the dialects used, the use of personification in the poems, and the characterisation techniques that are deployed.
It would have been good, however, if the island that each poem comes from was given as well as who wrote it. Obviously, "the Caribbean" does not just refer to one country, and it would be better to give due recognition to the diversity of cultures within it rather than conflate them.
It would have been good, however, if the island that each poem comes from was given as well as who wrote it. Obviously, "the Caribbean" does not just refer to one country, and it would be better to give due recognition to the diversity of cultures within it rather than conflate them.
April 11, 2019
A beautifully illustrated collection of poems. Within the selection of poems, there is a wide variety of poetry styles; narrative, couplet, free verse etc.
Each of the poems represents various themes within this collection, including weather, nature, the sea, family and food. Many of the poems are written in the Caribbean dialect- which could prove challenging for pupils. But, without doubt some of the poems in this collection are fun and enjoyable so choosing a poem carefully is important!
‘Coconut Grove’ This fun and lively wordplay is really enjoyable to read. Children are reading poems less and less and, I feel that fun and exciting verses like this one would really capture pupils back into poetry. The wordplay nature opens up the poem to a word of learning opportunity. This poem could be used as model writing for varying writing styles and pupils could even re-write the lest phrase. Another learning opportunity is through movement and dance, the rich description provided by this poem could really stimulate reflective movement from pupils.
‘El Dorado’ The narrative and emotive nature of this poem really sends home the impact of storms across the world. Pupils eyes will be opened to the elements others have to face and the destruction caused by no fault of their own. Obviously, the physical and human geography learning from the stimulus of the poem is vast- it might be useful to ask pupils what they want to learn about after reading this poem and allocate them some time to research before moving on to more formal teaching of the processes and impacts.
SMSC- This collection of poems would be a really valuable addition to a class reading corner, with its vibrant displays of a vivid culture pupils will be intrigued to read and find out about a new culture besides their own. Additionally, those children in the school who come from a different culture will feel more relaxed to see more representations of multicultural ethos.
Each of the poems represents various themes within this collection, including weather, nature, the sea, family and food. Many of the poems are written in the Caribbean dialect- which could prove challenging for pupils. But, without doubt some of the poems in this collection are fun and enjoyable so choosing a poem carefully is important!
‘Coconut Grove’ This fun and lively wordplay is really enjoyable to read. Children are reading poems less and less and, I feel that fun and exciting verses like this one would really capture pupils back into poetry. The wordplay nature opens up the poem to a word of learning opportunity. This poem could be used as model writing for varying writing styles and pupils could even re-write the lest phrase. Another learning opportunity is through movement and dance, the rich description provided by this poem could really stimulate reflective movement from pupils.
‘El Dorado’ The narrative and emotive nature of this poem really sends home the impact of storms across the world. Pupils eyes will be opened to the elements others have to face and the destruction caused by no fault of their own. Obviously, the physical and human geography learning from the stimulus of the poem is vast- it might be useful to ask pupils what they want to learn about after reading this poem and allocate them some time to research before moving on to more formal teaching of the processes and impacts.
SMSC- This collection of poems would be a really valuable addition to a class reading corner, with its vibrant displays of a vivid culture pupils will be intrigued to read and find out about a new culture besides their own. Additionally, those children in the school who come from a different culture will feel more relaxed to see more representations of multicultural ethos.
August 18, 2019
A stunningly illustrated collection of Caribbean poetry, fantastic source for inspiration for any projects based on the sea or on islands. The culture that inspires these poets is so different of that from western society that we are used to, raising many cultural and geographic queries. This interest in other cultures and customs is very important for children to help them become tolerant and benevolent adults.
February 27, 2018
This is an excellent collection of Caribbean Poetry, edited by the renowned authors John Agard and Grace Nichols. There are various themes, including weather, nature, the sea, family and food. Many of the poems are written in the Caribbean dialect. At times I did find this difficult to read and pupils may also struggle. Yet, this can be easily overcome by watching videos of performances or even inviting poets into school to perform their poetry to pupils.
June 15, 2019
A great collection of poems.
October 30, 2020
The rhythm and movement bring this book to life! I love the illustrations in the book and the cultural usual, different and enjoyable stories the poems portray.
November 14, 2020
Under the Moon and Over the Sea is a collection of work from Caribbean poets, collated and edited by John Agard and Grace Nichols. John Agard is a playwright, poet and children’s author who grew up in British Guiana, a former British colony of the West Indies, and moved to England with his partner (Grace Nichols) in 1977. He has won various awards in recognition of his work including the Paul Hamlyon Award for Poetry, the Cholmondeley Award for Poetry, and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. Some of his poems relating to colonisation and race have been included in GCSE English exams and so many young adults are familiar with his work. Much of his poetical work is focused on discussing and reflecting on the impact of British colonialism, and the experience of black British immigrants. Grace Nichols was also born in British Guiana and moved to England with Agard. Nichols has worked as a journalist, teacher, and poet; writing poems inspired by traditional Caribbean rhythms, culture, and Guianese folklore. Nichols too has won several notable literary awards including the Commonwealth poetry prize, the Guyana Poetry Prize, and the Cholmondeley Award.
Agard and Nichols worked together to compile and edit Under the Moon and Over the Sea. The book is a poetry anthology to celebrate and highlight Caribbean poets and traditional proverbs, and includes the work of more than 30 poets, 50 poems, and five illustraters (Cathie Felstead, Jane Ray, Christpoher Corr, Satoshi Kitamura, and Sara Fanelli). The book contains a huge variety of styles and formats, from more traditional rhyming structures, to traditional proverbs, to songs and nursry rhymes, to lyricks and humorous works. The book is divided into five sections of different themes, each one illustrated by a different artist. Each section is introduced by a different poem written by the editors. The sections are thematic in nature, beginning with writing about the Caribbean as home, considering the water and the sea, traditional storytelling, flora and fauna, traditional food, and ending in poems about moving away from the Caribbean. The collection has been widely praised for its vibrant illustration, celebration of Caribbean culture and rich literary traditions, consideration of colonisation, and inclusion of a broad range of literature styles, culminating in the awarding of the 2003 CLiPPA poetry award.
The book feeds into many areas of the national curriculum that children will need to explore across the primary school key stages. The various poetry styles would develop children’s understanding of the structuring and construction of different varieties of poem, different language choices, the stories they tell and the impact they have on the reader. Due to the variety of the work included in the collection, this book could be taught and read with all primary ages. For early years and KS1, some of the simpler poems and stories could be read and examined as an introduction to poetry as a form of storytelling. Children could look at some of the poems describing the islands, the sea and the foods of the Caribbean and consider how they might write their own poems to describe their own country and culture. Younger children might also work with some of the traditional stories and songs, learning and performing their own adaptations. Early years and KS1 children would need to have prior knowledge of poetry and a few different types of poem to appreciate how the poems are being told from a different cultural perspective. They would also need to have some knowledge of traditional English fairy tales and fables as a frame of reference to understand the traditional tales of a different culture. This would therefore be an excellent way to develop and deepen all children’s understandings of literary traditions within differing cultures. In KS2, some of the more complex poems could be explored, with children bringing and expanding upon their prior understanding of poetry and language devices to compare and contrast the different poems throughout the anthology.
Due to the rich selection of poetry in the book there is a huge amount to be explored. There are extended poems in more traditional rhyming couplets, and there are more abstractly structured poems in formats children will never have come across before. This allows huge opportunity to explore a rich variety of structuring and rhyming styles and consider the impact structure has on the reader and the rhythm of the poem as it is read aloud. Children could also explore the unique purpose and theme of each poem (this will be nicely aided by the thematic organisation of the book). Some of the poems are descriptive, some are stories, some fairy tales, songs, proverbs, humorous limericks, and there are many more genres to be explored. Children’s understanding of the purpose of each poem will be hugely prompted and assisted by the illustrations and the sections they are divided into; each illustration style is unique and distinctive enough to clearly divide the book.
There is also a fantastic opportunity for considering culture and cultural differences within this book. Some poems are written in various forms of Caribbean Patois, which many children will never have heard or been exposed to. This dialect comes in many forms, it may confuse younger children somewhat as it will subvert the language and grammar rules they are only just becoming familiar with, but for older KS2 children it would be excellent to explore it as a unique, culturally significant language. The themes of the poems are refreshingly diverse and vibrant in their celebration of the various Caribbean cultures and would make for a lovely class scheme of work looking at a new culture. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the anthology is the discussion of the theme of colonisation and empire. This runs throughout the book but is particularly significant in the final section of the book which includes poems about moving away from England, travelling on the Windrush, and the culture shock experienced by many as they arrive. This would tie in beautifully to historical discussion of the impact of colonisation, immigration, and the experiences of the Windrush generation to this very day, and how the Windrush generation have been significant in shaping modern Britain.
This book is beautiful, thoughtfully collected and constructed. The poems present a celebration of Caribbean culture, and the illustrations bring it vibrantly to life. This would make for a fantastic topic study or class book, with plenty to discuss in terms of language use, structure, purpose, and impact. There is huge potential to draw cross-curricular links beyond English. The songs could be worked into music lessons, the stories and limericks into drama, the description of the islands and the sea would work beautifully for geography, and as discussed there is a clear link to history and PSHE with the poems relating to colonisation and immigration.
Agard and Nichols worked together to compile and edit Under the Moon and Over the Sea. The book is a poetry anthology to celebrate and highlight Caribbean poets and traditional proverbs, and includes the work of more than 30 poets, 50 poems, and five illustraters (Cathie Felstead, Jane Ray, Christpoher Corr, Satoshi Kitamura, and Sara Fanelli). The book contains a huge variety of styles and formats, from more traditional rhyming structures, to traditional proverbs, to songs and nursry rhymes, to lyricks and humorous works. The book is divided into five sections of different themes, each one illustrated by a different artist. Each section is introduced by a different poem written by the editors. The sections are thematic in nature, beginning with writing about the Caribbean as home, considering the water and the sea, traditional storytelling, flora and fauna, traditional food, and ending in poems about moving away from the Caribbean. The collection has been widely praised for its vibrant illustration, celebration of Caribbean culture and rich literary traditions, consideration of colonisation, and inclusion of a broad range of literature styles, culminating in the awarding of the 2003 CLiPPA poetry award.
The book feeds into many areas of the national curriculum that children will need to explore across the primary school key stages. The various poetry styles would develop children’s understanding of the structuring and construction of different varieties of poem, different language choices, the stories they tell and the impact they have on the reader. Due to the variety of the work included in the collection, this book could be taught and read with all primary ages. For early years and KS1, some of the simpler poems and stories could be read and examined as an introduction to poetry as a form of storytelling. Children could look at some of the poems describing the islands, the sea and the foods of the Caribbean and consider how they might write their own poems to describe their own country and culture. Younger children might also work with some of the traditional stories and songs, learning and performing their own adaptations. Early years and KS1 children would need to have prior knowledge of poetry and a few different types of poem to appreciate how the poems are being told from a different cultural perspective. They would also need to have some knowledge of traditional English fairy tales and fables as a frame of reference to understand the traditional tales of a different culture. This would therefore be an excellent way to develop and deepen all children’s understandings of literary traditions within differing cultures. In KS2, some of the more complex poems could be explored, with children bringing and expanding upon their prior understanding of poetry and language devices to compare and contrast the different poems throughout the anthology.
Due to the rich selection of poetry in the book there is a huge amount to be explored. There are extended poems in more traditional rhyming couplets, and there are more abstractly structured poems in formats children will never have come across before. This allows huge opportunity to explore a rich variety of structuring and rhyming styles and consider the impact structure has on the reader and the rhythm of the poem as it is read aloud. Children could also explore the unique purpose and theme of each poem (this will be nicely aided by the thematic organisation of the book). Some of the poems are descriptive, some are stories, some fairy tales, songs, proverbs, humorous limericks, and there are many more genres to be explored. Children’s understanding of the purpose of each poem will be hugely prompted and assisted by the illustrations and the sections they are divided into; each illustration style is unique and distinctive enough to clearly divide the book.
There is also a fantastic opportunity for considering culture and cultural differences within this book. Some poems are written in various forms of Caribbean Patois, which many children will never have heard or been exposed to. This dialect comes in many forms, it may confuse younger children somewhat as it will subvert the language and grammar rules they are only just becoming familiar with, but for older KS2 children it would be excellent to explore it as a unique, culturally significant language. The themes of the poems are refreshingly diverse and vibrant in their celebration of the various Caribbean cultures and would make for a lovely class scheme of work looking at a new culture. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the anthology is the discussion of the theme of colonisation and empire. This runs throughout the book but is particularly significant in the final section of the book which includes poems about moving away from England, travelling on the Windrush, and the culture shock experienced by many as they arrive. This would tie in beautifully to historical discussion of the impact of colonisation, immigration, and the experiences of the Windrush generation to this very day, and how the Windrush generation have been significant in shaping modern Britain.
This book is beautiful, thoughtfully collected and constructed. The poems present a celebration of Caribbean culture, and the illustrations bring it vibrantly to life. This would make for a fantastic topic study or class book, with plenty to discuss in terms of language use, structure, purpose, and impact. There is huge potential to draw cross-curricular links beyond English. The songs could be worked into music lessons, the stories and limericks into drama, the description of the islands and the sea would work beautifully for geography, and as discussed there is a clear link to history and PSHE with the poems relating to colonisation and immigration.
August 31, 2011
Having studied John Agard's 'Half-caste' poem for GCSE English I was suprised and intrigued to see his name on the suggested authors list for the literature pre-course reading for PGCE. With this in mind I borrowed 'Under the Moon and Over the Sea' from the library. 'Under the Moon' is a wonderful collection of Carribean poems from a number of poets. I enjoyed Agard's 'Flying Fish' and also Benjamin Zephaniah's 'I Love Me Mudder...' (probablly more suited to secondary school pupils due to the reference to 'weed')
This collection of poetry would make for a great talking point when discussing the topic of other cultures. It is interesting to read some of the poems how the poet would have spoken them - with a Carribean 'twang'. Use of language such as 'De' to replace 'The' and missing out the 'g' on words like shoppin' and sinkin' really bring these poems to life. I imagine these would be great fun to read to a class or group putting on the heavy accent!
This collection of poetry would make for a great talking point when discussing the topic of other cultures. It is interesting to read some of the poems how the poet would have spoken them - with a Carribean 'twang'. Use of language such as 'De' to replace 'The' and missing out the 'g' on words like shoppin' and sinkin' really bring these poems to life. I imagine these would be great fun to read to a class or group putting on the heavy accent!
June 16, 2019
There are a variety of the different poems being told during this anthology. Some of the poems are about the sea, some of them are about the moon, some of them are about land, some of them are about food and some are about life as a child. I like that the poems are split up into different sections depending what they are based on. There are lovely illustrations to assist each poem and each illustration is different. The majority of the poems are short and therefore makes them easier to read for children. The majority of the poems are written in a Caribbean dialect so it can provide children with an insight into differently cultures through the use of the language in the poems. What I dislike is that some poems I don’t understand so I feel that some children might find it difficult to understand them as well. The majority of the poems are written in a Caribbean dialect which can be incredibly difficult for children to understand. Some of the poems can have different interpretations so it would be interesting to use this in a classroom environment and see the children’s different interpretations of it. The anthology allows children to gain an insight into the Caribbean Culture. This book can be used in schools and each week they could focus on a different poem and they could link that poem into science and English. For example there is a poem about humming birds so in science the children can look into the life cycle of humming birds and in English the children can write descriptive paragraphs about paragraphs and create stories about the life of a hummingbird using the information that they have learnt during science lessons. There is a repetition of Caribbean dialect throughout this anthology so children can gain an understanding of the dialect at the beginning of the book so they won’t have too much difficultly towards the end of the anthology. This anthology of poems allows the reader to imagine what life is like living in the Caribbean through the descriptive language that is used in some of the poems.
January 4, 2021
The first thing I noticed whilst flicking through the pages of this poem book is the beautiful illustrations, there is a diverse variety of styles, as it is illustrated by five different artists, full of colour and creativity and in some cases sinister abstract designs. This shows brilliant examples of how pictures link with words and provide lots of ideas for lesson planning, English, art, drama, history etc. The themes throughout the poetry include food, family and island life. It is interesting to read poems from a unique culture and teaches us what a contrasting lifestyle is like from different peoples points of view such as children or workers. For me, I learnt more about the Windrush generation that has been spoken about a lot recently during the black lives matter movement and look forward to using this poem book in my teaching. I believe that the selection of poems offer inspiration for all age groups, some more simplistic, for example, ‘Jamaica market’, listing a variety of fruits on the island or ‘Listening to answers’, written from a child's point of view about what is going on around them would be great for the lower years. Some more complex, with a Caribbean dialect such as ‘I love me mudder’ or ‘The Pawpaw’ which includes many descriptive similes for the older years. I would say that some of the content could provoke questions that are for secondary school children with the mention of ‘smoking weed’ therefore I would be selective when choosing poems from the book. Overall, a collection of powerful, educational poems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
This book full of intriguing poems targeted towards younger children, has included many different tales that range across different characters and different sceneries which children will explore and use creative imaginations for. Alan Smith's poem uses figurative skills such as personification which can enable the children to analyse further depths of the poem and learn new skills. Further skills such as rhetorical questions are used to amplify how interesting the poem feels towards the children. The phrase that intrigued me the most was "Wouldn't you like to swim in the sky?", as it has contrasted between the ground's atmosphere and the sky, contrasting 'high' and 'low' areas which I believe to be effective as children will start to ponder the techniques used within this subconsciously. Each page includes more and more styles for the reader to adapt and understand, each pages breathes in a new life and atmosphere for readers to appreciate. The structure of the poem is very elegant, similar to how the words of the poem sounds. In summary, I enjoyed reading this book.
September 17, 2020
Colourful poetry, with wonderful descriptions of sea, sun, sand, wind, trees, animals and people, bringing us in touch with nature and the world around us in a fun and surprising way, and painting a picture of the context in which they were written; the Caribbean. I liked the use of dialect in some of these poems, where they are written as they are spoken. Includes unfamiliar words and sounds too, which make it entertaining and accessible to younger children, who will just enjoy the novelty of hearing something new. I read one of the poems to my eight year old, about a girl trying to get to sleep after hearing something scary, and she found it hilarious! A twist towards the end of the collection is an interesting group of poems showing the feelings and viewpoint of people from the Caribbean when visiting other countries and cooler climates i.e. the UK. Overall, a quirky and fun introduction to poetry, which I thoroughly recommend.
July 23, 2018
A collection of Caribbean poems. Lovely bright and colourful illustrations to assist each poem. Each illustration is very different with some filling the whole page and incorporating the poem within it and others above, below or around the poem.
The book is separated into 5 categories: Once the Wind Said to the Sea; See Full Moon, Hear Jumbie Story; Listening to the Land; Come Taste and Buy and Windrush Child. Within these categories the poems are based on different topics such as nature, weather, food and culture. Some of the poems are written using Caribbean style language. This use of language can give children who are not Caribbean a sense of different culture and traditions through the use of poetry.
The book is separated into 5 categories: Once the Wind Said to the Sea; See Full Moon, Hear Jumbie Story; Listening to the Land; Come Taste and Buy and Windrush Child. Within these categories the poems are based on different topics such as nature, weather, food and culture. Some of the poems are written using Caribbean style language. This use of language can give children who are not Caribbean a sense of different culture and traditions through the use of poetry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2020
This book consists of a beautiful collection of vibrant and energetic poems. It also provides a great insight into the Caribbean culture and the colourful illustrations help to represent this. There are many different styles and themes within the book. I think this would be really good for children learning about rhythm and different poetic styles.I did find it challenging to grasp the Caribbean dialect at first so I recommend if you are reading this book in front of children, I would read the poems a couple of times before so you can really get to grips with how to express the poem. This book would be great to have under the desk to read the children a poem at the end of a lesson as they are short and fun!
September 21, 2019
Some of the poems may be suited to secondary school children, especially the poem 'I Love Me Mudder' as there is a reference of 'weed'. There were different layouts of poems, but some shared the common themes of repetition (the word starting the line was the same) and rhyming. This collection would make a great talking point when discussing the topic of other cultures, especially as some words are different, such as 'De' to replace 'the'. This collection creates some great imagery especially with children learning about personification, for example, the wind and the sea are about to talk to one another.
Poetry
Poetry
October 14, 2020
These poems ignite the imagination and transport you to the Caribbean! The food, environment, people and legends are expressed beautifully in this collection of over 30 poems. Though for me, the illustrations make it- vivid, abstract and so fun. The only downside was the occasional sinister nature of some of the poems, specifically the stories of the land where dead people are illustrated. I'm not sure children's imagination needs to be stirred in this way. Overall, a great collection of unique poems with varying rhyming sequences and rhythm!
August 28, 2017
One of the things I liked about this collection of poems was that each section was illustrated by a different person, which helped to separate the different themes - the illustrations throughout were full of vibrancy and colour, and accompanied the poems well. Not only did the poems take me to another place, and even make my mouth water when I read about the tropical fruit, but I also felt that I learnt a bit about Caribbean culture, and found the poems interesting as well as entertaining.
July 16, 2019
Wonderfully illustrated collection of poems for children focusing on the Caribbean and points of interest to children’s senses such as the weather, the food, the night, the music etc.
Very useful for activities in schools such as music, creative writing activities and cultural or historical tasks involving description or imagination.
A mix of poems I personally enjoyed and some I felt indifferent towards.
Very useful for activities in schools such as music, creative writing activities and cultural or historical tasks involving description or imagination.
A mix of poems I personally enjoyed and some I felt indifferent towards.
September 19, 2021
A delightful collection of poems, that transport you to the Caribbean. Whilst the book is edited by Agard and Nichols, there are over 30 authors and 5 illustrators, giving a diversity of styles and drawings. The poems are grouped in various themes including food, sand and sea, music and song. The poems use Caribbean rhythm and dialect to create a vibrant image of warmth and love, laughter and colour.
September 16, 2020
A lovely collection of poems, with lovely illustrations and all giving a vivid and inspiring view of the Caribbean. There is a huge variety in poetry styles: free verse, narrative, couplets, rhyming and non-rhyming. Could be linked not only into poetry lessons but also social, cultural and geography curriculum areas.
October 22, 2017
- - True reflection on culture
- Illustrations reflect poems: children could decipher plot of poems through illustrations
- Repetitive
- Some poems were in the dialect of the country, so could be hard for children= challenging read
- Illustrations reflect poems: children could decipher plot of poems through illustrations
- Repetitive
- Some poems were in the dialect of the country, so could be hard for children= challenging read
August 21, 2018
This collection of poetry, brings together lots of different styles of poems and they all have slightly different topics making each one unique. They are all quite short so would work well as a quick gap filler.
August 16, 2018
Super entertaining collection, with traditional poems included too. Great way to explore island life (both in the Caribbean and from distant lands) - food, flora, fauna, and community!
September 17, 2018
Very pretty and nice illustrations, however poems not very enticing
April 21, 2020
The exotic and vibrant life of the Caribbean is brought to life in this anthology. Full of colour and many different poetic styles, it definitely made me want to go and visit soon!
June 6, 2020
A really lovely collection of poems to teach children about other cultures.
December 6, 2020
A lovely selection of rhythmic Caribbean poetry suitable every year group. The poems could provide a great stimulus and language for some creative writing or the children's own poetry.
December 7, 2020
Wonderful colours and illustrations alongside beautiful poems. A great book for all children, and definitely one to revisit!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews