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Children's reading lists

13 of the best poetry books for children

A Collection of Poems

Gargling with Jelly

A series of poetry titles for children by many of Britain's greatest poets.

Gargling with Jelly by Brian Patten, one of our best-loved poets. Hilarious, lyrical, outrageous and serious poems all rub shoulders in this collection. Naughty children with nasty habits, cartoon heroes that come to life, lonely caretakers, unhappy ghosts, fantastical creatures with crazy names, giants, goblins, vampires, mermaids ... there's never a dull moment in this marvellously quirky and refreshing jelly pot!

Brian Patten (Author) Brian Patten was born in Liverpool. His poetry for adults has been translated into many languages, and his collections include Collected Love Poems, Armada, and, from Penguin, 
Selected Poems. His verse for children includes Gargling with Jelly, Juggling with Gerbils, and Thawing Frozen Frogs. Brian Patten is a popular performer of his work, and he has also written children's plays as well as editing The Puffin Book of Modern Children's Verse and The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry. Chris Riddell (Illustrator) Chris Riddell, the 2015-2017 Uk Children's Laureate, is an acclaimed artist of children's books and a political cartoonist for the Observer. Amongst other titles, Chris illustrates the Ottoline young fiction series and the Goth Girl series, as well as working closely with Paul Stewart on the Edge Chronicles and Wyrmeweald. He has won many awards for his work, including the Nestlé Gold Award, the Costa Children's Book Award 2013, the UNESCO Award for Something Else and the rare honour of two Kate Greenaway Medals.

Hilarious, lyrical, outrageous and serious poems all rub shoulders in this collection. Naughty children with nasty habits, cartoon heroes that come to life, lonely caretakers, unhappy ghosts, fantastical creatures with crazy names, giants, goblins, vampires, mermaids ... there's never a dull moment in this marvellously quirky and refreshing brew!

Selected Poems

Brian Patten is published as part of the acclaimed Penguin Selected series. In 2006, this included Sophie Hannah, Tony Harrison and Linton Kwesi Johnson amongst others.

Brian Patten was born in Liverpool in 1946. His work first appeared in the bestselling Penguin collection The Mersey Sound in 1967, since when he has published many books for adults and children, and won the Cholmondeley Award for Poetry. He lives in Devon.

A selection of Brian Patten's best work over the last forty-five years, chosen by the poet himself. The earliest of these poems, 'Sleep Now', was written when Patten was fifteen, the latest when he was sixty. Presented in rough chronological order, the selection includes a dozen new poems.

The Monsters' Guide to Choosing a Pet

Fantastic poetry collaboration between two of the UK's best-loved poets now out in paperback.

Roger McGough has been captivating children and adults alike with his unique blend of compassion and wit from more than three decades and with more than thirty books. He is an international ambassador for poetry and was awarded an CBE for his work in 2004. In 2001 he was honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool. Brian Patten is also from Liverpool and one of Britain's most popular poets for children and adults alike. His poetry for adults has been translated into many languages. Brian is a popular performer of his work, and he has also written chiildren's plays as well as editing poetry collections.

Roger McGough and Brian Patten have selected the very best of their animal poems in order to help two loveable monsters from outer space who visit Earth in search of a pet and need a bit of guidance...Split into sections, the monsters are introduced to animals that fly, swim, crawl and purr by two of our greatest childrens poets. Illustrated in Guy Parker-Rees' lively and intimitable style.

Juggling with Gerbils

Brian Patten was born in Liverpool. His poetry for adults has been translated into many languages, and his collections include Collected Love Poems, Armada, and, from Penguin, 
Selected Poems. His verse for children includes Gargling with Jelly, Juggling with Gerbils, and Thawing Frozen Frogs. Brian Patten is a popular performer of his work, and he has also written children's plays as well as editing The Puffin Book of Modern Children's Verse and The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry.

A great new collection of poetry, wide-ranging in both form and subject matter. Full of Brian Patten's wonderful wit and moments of beauty as in GERANIUMS IN THE SNOW: Like children snuggling down under a white duvet Slowly the red geraniums Vanish under the snow. Brilliantly complemented by Chris Riddell's illustrations.

The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry

An utterly brilliant collection of the very best poems, from Puffin Books, 
 
A celebratory anthology of the best of Puffin poetry publishing, including poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jackie Kay, Spike Milligan, John Agard, Brian Patten, Allan Ahlberg and Kit Wright. Each poet's work is illustrated by a different artist such as Emma Chichester Clark, Fritz Wegner and Korky Paul. 
 
Brian Patten came to public attention with the publication of THE MERSEY SOUND in 1967. He is a very popular performance poet, always in demand for conferences and school visits. Collections of his own poetry are published in Puffin and he is the editor of the PUFFIN BOOK OF TWENTIETH CENTURY VERSE. Brian lives in London. 
 
This collection features poems and illustrations from: 
 
Spike Milligan; Kit Wright; Michael Rosen; Charles Causley; Roger McGough; Benjamin Zephaniah; Brian Patten; Jackie Kay; John Agard; Allan Ahlberg; Emma Chichester Clark; Korky Paul; Alison Jay; Lydia Monks; Ali Chatterton; David Mostyn; Sue Williams; Sheila Moxley; Fritz Wegner

A celebratory anthology of the best of Puffin poetry publishing, including poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jackie Kay, Spike Milligan, John Agard, Brian Patten, Allan Ahlberg and Kit Wright. Each poet's work is illustrated by a different artist such as Emma Chichester Clark, Fritz Wegner and Korky Paul.

Roger McGough

Brian Patten

Adrian Henri

Restored 50th Anniversary Edition

Since its first publication in 1967 as Penguin Modern Poets no. 10, The Mersey Sound has become an icon of British poetry. Gathering the early, enormously influential work of Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri (The Liverpool Poets), it went on to sell over half a million copies and to become the bestselling poetry anthology of all time. In the course of subsequent editions, old poems were removed and new poems introduced; but now, in time for its 50th anniversary, this volume introduces the restored original selection into Penguin Modern Classics. With its tales of Northern romance, petrol-pump attendants and bus conductors, these are the poems that first spoke so strongly to the real lives behind Beatlemania and the Mersey Beat.

Brian Patten

Books by Brian Patten

Articles featuring Brian Patten

13 of the best poetry books for children

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