I had some money left in the pot from the Boys Into Books project and was able to book Craig Bradley, performance poet, for two days. 
To call Craig a performance poet is like calling a diamond a piece of coal. You really do need to see him in performance to catch what it’s all about; he’s a PERFORMANCE poet.
I booked him for Alkrington and Heywood libraries for Monday 11th May and The Wheatsheaf Library for Wednesday 13th May before I realised that was SATS week! Anyway, we had St. Thomas More, St. Michael’s, Deeplish, Greenbank and Heybrook schools coming along and they all had a great time: “POETRY IS NOT PANTS!”
Try this tongue twister:“One smart fellow, he felt smart;
As for the big bag of leeks... One of Craig’s poems is called “56 ways of looking at a leek.” In rhyming couplets and with a couple of helpers wielding leeks to join in with the actions, Craig shows us how to look at everyday objects with a poet’s eye.
Two smart fellows, they felt smart;
Three smart fellows, they felt smart;
They all felt smart together!”
I was left with a big bag of slightly dog-eared leeks. Or, with my poet’s eye, I had a pile of poet-tenderised fresh vegetables for a gourmet delight. I made a huge pan of leek and potato soup and there were still enough leeks for a cheese and leek loaf to accompany it. The verdict? Delicious!
I love poetry – especially poetry you can eat!
Thursday 14 May 2009
Boys Into Books, Craig Bradley and a BIG BAG of Leeks
Thursday 7 May 2009
Featured Fiction - Riveting Reads
We had a very difficult time judging the "Riveting Reads" competition, part of Rochdale Libraries’ celebrations for World Book Day 2009. Young people across the borough were invited to tell us all about a favourite book and many of the resulting reviews were absolutely excellent.
Congratulations to Georgina Hulston who won the up to 11 age group and Tazmina Khatun who won the 12 to 16 age group. They each receive a £10 book token.
Highly commended were our runners-up, Beth Duxbury, Samuel Vain, Bridget Sutton, Jasmine Stott, Kurtis Tweedale and Danny Cheetham, who each receive a £5 book token.
Here are their reviews.
Bob and the House Elves by Emily Rodda
"Bob and the House Elves" is about a messy man who lives alone in a very messy house in the countryside. When he gets a house full of house elves he is not very happy at all. When his friends come round on Thursdays they all laugh at his clean and tidy house which the elves had made neat. Then Bob tries everything to get rid of them but nothing works apart from the girl of his dreams. And they finally get married.
I like this book because it is funny and interesting. "Bob and the House Elves" also has a lot of build up. I think the author has put in a lot of hard work. I found this so enjoyable.
I think 7 and 8 year olds would really enjoy it because you can understand and read easily. "Bob and the House Elves" is a thin book but still as good as a thick one. I enjoyed this book and I am 9 so if I liked it they most probably would too. Why don’t you have a read of "Bob and the House Elves"? If you have a read you never know you might give a book review like mine.
Georgina Hulston, aged 9 St Thomas More RC Primary School
The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
My all time favourite books have to be the "Twilight Series" by Stephenie Meyer.
It is about a girl named Bella Swan who moved to Forks. There she meets gorgeous vampire Edward Cullen. He is both irresistible and impenetrable.
I enjoyed it because when Bella moves to Forks she tries to fit in but she can’t. Especially when she finds out there’s secrets like vampires and werewolves. In other words, with a vampire for a boyfriend and a werewolf for a best mate, this is a story you’ll get lost in.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls as it is a thrilling tale of a vampire romance in high school and I’m sure they’ll enjoy it just as much as I did. If you’re out there looking for some good books to read, the "Twilight Series" is the book for you!
Tazmina Khatun, aged 12 Falinge Park High School
Ruby the Red Fairy by Daisy Meadows
This book is about when Jack Frost tries to make fairyland lose its colour. The fairies fight back and finally win. On their way they have to avoid lots of obstacles. I like this book because it feels so magical and sometimes I think I am actually in fairyland. I think girls who are the age of 7 or 8 and definitely people who have got lots of imagination will like this book. Oh, I have got six fairy books. Do you want to know why I have got six? It is because it is part of a series.
Beth Duxbury, aged 8 St Thomas More RC Primary School
The Twits by Roald Dahl
Mr and Mrs Twit are two ugly, stupid, smelly people who are always playing tricks on each other. They are also cruel to animals. In one of the tricks, Mrs Twit gave Mr Twit some worms instead of spaghetti for his tea, so Mr Twit put a frog in Mrs Twit’s bed. I really liked this book. It was very funny in parts and I found it easy to read. I think most of my friends would like to read "The Twits", especially people who are a fan of Roald Dahl.
Samuel Vain, aged 8 St Thomas More RC Primary School
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
"Little Women" is about four girls and what happens in their life. I like this book because it is full of fun and excitement. I think people who like books about extraordinary lives would like this book. The main characters are Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March. They live in the time 1861-1865. This book is important to me because my great grandma read it when she was little.
Bridget Sutton, aged 10 Caldershaw Primary School
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
I found Malorie Blackman’s "Noughts and Crosses" a compelling novel. The story is based upon a segregated society where the black people are superior to the white people. It raises the issues and conflict as two people go against all norms in the society as they fall in love with each other, one being the superior Cross and the other being a lower class Nought. The novel interested me because of the twist on society making it more understandable for anyone who imagines themselves in the situation. I think that the book appeals mostly to teenagers as the main characters’ love story is based around that age. Although I feel that adults would be enticed by such an original story.
Jasmine Stott, aged 16 Wardle High School
Beast Quest by Adam Blade
"What’s your favourite book?" asked Elenna. "Well," said Tom, "Beast Quest, of course."
Hi my name is Kurtis and I’m 12. I am writing to say that my favourite book is "Beast Quest", not the first, not the second, but the whole series from "Ferno the Fire Dragon" up to "Sephir the Storm Monster". I can’t wait for the Ghost Beast books as I am unaware what face Tom and Elenna. The one thing I wonder is how Adam Blade comes up with all the ideas for names for the beasts like Sephir, Nanook, Arcta and the rest. Every single quest thrills me and I always look forward to the next one. My favourite book of the series would have to be "Ferno the Fire Dragon" as you are unaware of who he will meet, what he will battle and who will become his enemy.
All the beasts Tom has encountered I have had a go at drawing. I am now even beginning to design my own beast safari park. Each beast lives in a different location like the sea, volcano and mountains. I believe the "Beast Quest" books would make a great game. All I can say is what a great series of books with cool characters, cool monsters and cool storylines.
Kurtis Tweedale, aged 12 Falinge Park High School
Billy the Kid by Michael Morpurgo
My favourite book is "Billy the Kid". It is about a man and he is 80 today. He is sat on a bench thinking about memories. At the beginning of the book he joins the Chelsea football team. However, his life will change forever when the Second World War begins.
It is rather depressing when Billy’s brother dies and when his family dies. The happiest bit is when Billy arrives on the pitch and leads Chelsea out on his 80th birthday.
If you like football and war books you will love "Billy the Kid". It has lots of action throughout the novel – ideal for boys who love a quick read!
There is more than one character. There is: Billy, Sam, Billy’s dad, Billy’s mum, his brother, Maddy and Jamie. My favourite character is Sam because he is the only child, he’s funny and he ends up playing for Chelsea.
In the middle of the book he goes in the army. He goes as a medic and he drives an ambulance. At one point he is captured and he stays in a POW camp (prisoner of war).
This is why I like this book because it has adventure, scary bits, happy bits, funny bits and football bits. This is why I like this book.
Danny Cheetham, aged 12 Falinge Park High School
