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Troy Thompson's Excellent Poetry Book
Troy Thompson is in Ms Kranke's Grade 5-6 class and this is his poetry exercise book. Troy struggles with his poetry, but when he enters the Bull Breeder's Association Poetry Prize, he surprises Ms Kranke and makes some remarkable discoveries of his own... Paperback ISBN 0734400608 $12.95.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Gary Crew
98 books66 followersDr Gary Crew, author of novels, short stories and picture books for older children and young adults, began his writing career in 1985, when he was a high school teacher. His books are challenging and intriguing, often based on non-fiction. As well as writing fiction, Gary is a Associate Professor in Creative Writing, Children's and Adult Literature, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and editor of the After Dark series.
He lives with his wife Christine on several acres in the cool, high mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia in a house called 'Green Mansions' which is shaded by over 200 Australian rainforest palms he has cultivated. He enjoys gardening, reading, and playing with his dogs Ferris, Beulah, and Miss Wendy. In his spare time he has created an Australian Rainforest Garden around his home, filled with Australian palms. Gary loves to visit antique shops looking for curios and beautiful objects.
Gary Crew has been awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year four times: twice for Book of the Year for Young Adult Older Readers (Strange Objects in 1991 and Angel’s Gate in 1993) and twice for Picture Book of the Year with First Light in 1993 (illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe) and The Watertower (illustrated by Steven Woolman) in 1994. Gary’s illustrated book, Memorial (with Shaun Tan) was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book in 2000 and short listed for the Queensland Premier’s Awards. He has also won the Wilderness Society Award, the Whitley Award and the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction.
In the USA he has been twice short listed for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Fiction Award for Youth and the Hungry Minds Review American Children’s Book of distinction. In Europe he has twice been and twice the prestigious White Raven Award for his illustrated books. Among his many Australian awards is the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction, the New South Wales Premier’s Award and the Victorian Premier’s Award. He has been short listed for both the Queensland Premier’s and the Western Australian Premier’s awards for Fiction.
He lives with his wife Christine on several acres in the cool, high mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia in a house called 'Green Mansions' which is shaded by over 200 Australian rainforest palms he has cultivated. He enjoys gardening, reading, and playing with his dogs Ferris, Beulah, and Miss Wendy. In his spare time he has created an Australian Rainforest Garden around his home, filled with Australian palms. Gary loves to visit antique shops looking for curios and beautiful objects.
Gary Crew has been awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year four times: twice for Book of the Year for Young Adult Older Readers (Strange Objects in 1991 and Angel’s Gate in 1993) and twice for Picture Book of the Year with First Light in 1993 (illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe) and The Watertower (illustrated by Steven Woolman) in 1994. Gary’s illustrated book, Memorial (with Shaun Tan) was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book in 2000 and short listed for the Queensland Premier’s Awards. He has also won the Wilderness Society Award, the Whitley Award and the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction.
In the USA he has been twice short listed for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Fiction Award for Youth and the Hungry Minds Review American Children’s Book of distinction. In Europe he has twice been and twice the prestigious White Raven Award for his illustrated books. Among his many Australian awards is the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction, the New South Wales Premier’s Award and the Victorian Premier’s Award. He has been short listed for both the Queensland Premier’s and the Western Australian Premier’s awards for Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 8, 2020
Genre: Poetry
Grade Level: Middle Grades: 4-7
I loved this book! First, it is a great book for teaching the different categories of Poems. When students begin to write poetry or peotry (as in the title) It will be a fantastic resource! Secondly, I love the illustrations! I love scrapbooking so the use of different types of artwork (ie. magazine pictures, drawings, collages with torn construction paper, the list goes on...) It wasn't just pencil drawings! It shows that students can use just about anything and be creative with their writing! The poems were very touching, as well. He put his whole heart into them. The best part was that he didn't want to write poetry when the assignment was given. However, when the prize of a computer was mentioned, he changed his mind. Sometimes children need a reason that is important to them to write, not just the assignment!
Grade Level: Middle Grades: 4-7
I loved this book! First, it is a great book for teaching the different categories of Poems. When students begin to write poetry or peotry (as in the title) It will be a fantastic resource! Secondly, I love the illustrations! I love scrapbooking so the use of different types of artwork (ie. magazine pictures, drawings, collages with torn construction paper, the list goes on...) It wasn't just pencil drawings! It shows that students can use just about anything and be creative with their writing! The poems were very touching, as well. He put his whole heart into them. The best part was that he didn't want to write poetry when the assignment was given. However, when the prize of a computer was mentioned, he changed his mind. Sometimes children need a reason that is important to them to write, not just the assignment!
April 23, 2018
This was such a cleverly thought out book, which introduces different styles of poetry in an engaging manner. Styled in the form of a young person's school assignments, complete with teacher comments, it not only has some funny poetry moments, but also takes the narrative of this young person's life, and through the poems reveals some of what has happened to make him the way he is today. I wonder if it could be reworked, in more detail as a novel? Anyway stylistically to was great, and content wise it was great as well.
June 14, 2024
It is amazing to read and also the cover is also amazing.I can't read it so I will give it a 4 star.
September 18, 2011
I decided to read Troy Thompson's Excellent Poetry because we were in the green room, i had forgotten my own book and remembered that i had to read a book of poetry.
This book is about a 6th grade student named Troy Thompson and his efforts to understand poetry. He starts off with a lot struggle, but by the end of the year, his poetry is well and improved. It shows Troy writing one of every poetic type as an assignment so that you can also learn from it.
This book fits the category, 'a book of poetry' on the bingo board.
What i like about this book is that it shows one poem of each type and is well set out for easy following.
What i didn't like about this book is that, it is in some parts a little bit boring which was quite disappointing.
I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading poetry and for young readers that may need some help on writing poetry themselves. This book can be a great example if they are stuck.
This book is about a 6th grade student named Troy Thompson and his efforts to understand poetry. He starts off with a lot struggle, but by the end of the year, his poetry is well and improved. It shows Troy writing one of every poetic type as an assignment so that you can also learn from it.
This book fits the category, 'a book of poetry' on the bingo board.
What i like about this book is that it shows one poem of each type and is well set out for easy following.
What i didn't like about this book is that, it is in some parts a little bit boring which was quite disappointing.
I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading poetry and for young readers that may need some help on writing poetry themselves. This book can be a great example if they are stuck.
June 25, 2011
Why I decided to read this book:
Because it was a book that contained poetry.
Which category on the bingo board this completes:
The 'A book of poetry' category.
What I liked about this book and why:
I liked how all the poems in the book had an explanation about the type of poem that was following (e.g. acrostic,limerick, etc.) and how the poems were so creative.
What I didn't like about this book and why:
I didn't like how there was only a few poems.
Who would I recommend this book to, and why:
I would recommend this book to everyone, especially poetic people so that they can study the different techniques that are used in this book. I would also recommend this book to a teacher that is teaching students about poems, because it contains very good examples.
Because it was a book that contained poetry.
Which category on the bingo board this completes:
The 'A book of poetry' category.
What I liked about this book and why:
I liked how all the poems in the book had an explanation about the type of poem that was following (e.g. acrostic,limerick, etc.) and how the poems were so creative.
What I didn't like about this book and why:
I didn't like how there was only a few poems.
Who would I recommend this book to, and why:
I would recommend this book to everyone, especially poetic people so that they can study the different techniques that are used in this book. I would also recommend this book to a teacher that is teaching students about poems, because it contains very good examples.
October 5, 2015
A really excellent peotry book indeed. Along with "Love that Dog' by Sharon Creech (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53...), this book contains enough inspiration to get any good school teacher leaping enthusiastically into poetry sessions with his or her class! I love it!
July 24, 2013
I would like this book if I were a teacher. Or wanting to write poetry on my own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews