Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Song and Verse
Poetry
For ages 5 to 12
Random House UK, 2005 ISBN: 978-0224070386
Roald Dahl has been delighting children with his unique stories since his first books came out in the early sixties. Many of his tales include hilarious songs and sections of poetry which appeal to young readers enormously because of their outrageous content and clever use of language. Dahl also wrote three poetry collections in the 1980’s: Revolting Rhymes, Dirty Beasts, and Rhyme Stew.
In this superb collection many of those wonderful songs and snatches of verse from the story books, as well as excerpts from the poetry books have been brought together. Better still, renowned illustrators from all over the world have illustrated the poems and songs. Readers will get to see the art of Chris Wormell, Chris Riddell, Joel Stewart, Babette Cole, Axel Scheffler, Lauren Child, Alexis Deacon, and others. Quentin Blake, who illustrated so many of Roald Dahl’s books, has created some charming drawings for this book as well.
Divided into sections by subject matter - “Unlikely Creatures,” “Poisonous Possibilities,” and so on – this is a collection which Roald Dahl fans will love to dip into. Within its pages they will find the songs of the Oompa-Loompas, and the Centipede’s song from “James and the Giant Peach.” At the other end of the spectrum they will find the terrifying words from “Down With Children” from “The Witches.”
All in all this is a marvelous book which truly celebrates Roald Dahl’s gift for creating poetry which children enjoy and want to read.
