Kennings, Kennings and More Kennings

Kennings are alive and well and living in Rochdale. I quickly put together a Canny Kennings competition to celebrate the launch of the new Rochdale Central Library at Number One Riverside. here are some of the entries. Hollie won with this incredibly imaginative Kenning play together nasty never growing stronger something sweeter never better friends forever what am I? friendship I've never seen a Kenning that has used emotion for its theme. Usually we have objects, people or animals. What a brilliant twist. Libby contibuted one about my favourite amphibian big jumper loud croaker green hopper pond swimmer fly eater non drinker what am I? a frog! Anum gave us eye sighter blue tweeter game keeper name signer large facer time holder what am I? a computer Zak's Kenning goes like this green monster fire breather tail swisher loud roarer scaly eater terrible man muncher sharp scratcher what am I? a dragon Rochdale has very talented young people who enjoy playing with words

Welcome to your new Rochdale Central Library

Saturday 27th April will stick in my memory for a long, long time. For all the right reasons.I hope you all enjoyed meeting Tommy Donbavand and Craig Bradley, what a performance! Tommy is the author of Scream Street - and more, a notable more being Doctor Who. I'd recommend any school to book him. Craig Bradley is pants - and he won't mind me telling you that either as he does a special job with "Poetry is not pants" as his marching call. Norman Warwick acted as Master of Ceremonies for us and did his usual brilliant job. There were many opportunities for families to get involved in creative writing on the day, prizes were offered for the best Book Spine Poem and the best Kenning. The Where's Wally Treasure Hunt proved very popular with over 70 entries. Younger children were not forgotten with a colouring competition to try out their skills and Irene Peachey was on hand to sign them up for Bookstart Bear Club. The Reverend Margaret Smith was a star, volunteering to help make sure the children knew exactly what was going on and her routine for "Is poetry cool or does it leave you in a spin?" has to be seen to be believed. Vickke did us proud with her face painting, a riot of colour and character in every face. Jason Grimshaw aka Ryan Thomas opened Bean coffee shop, much to the delight of many teenage girls. The whole place was really buzzing, I look forward to keeping the feel good factor going for a long time yet.