Paul Cookson (text/poetry), Steve Wells (illus) Crazy Classrooms, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books/Walker Books, 1 July 2015, 95pp., $14.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9781847805058
This book of poetry from celebrated English poet Paul Cookson, is all about the school environment. At times funny, at times gross, and at other times poignant, Cookson turns the spotlight on students, teachers, the playground, school photos and even the classroom furniture in this collection of poems.
Some of the characters, sentiments and events in this collection are universal and readily identifiable within the Australian context, however this is stretched with poems addressing British lunch-time canteen scenarios. Cookson’s poems are sometimes in rhyme and sometimes not, and are accompanied by Wells’ quirky sketched and mixed media illustrations which draw out the humour and appeal to the child reader. The poems are easily accessible vignettes of all things school related, for a readership of 8-12 year olds.
Cookson is a performance poet, and many of these poems beg to be performed – in a classroom setting with an energetic teacher, many of these poems could come to life and inspire in children – especially boys – a love of poetry.
Reviewed by Debra Tidball