Hi Perry. Thankyou. I found that extremely interesting. Although I must have come across anthologies specifically for children I have no recollection of such - with the exception of an illustrated Nursery Rhyme book which I adored as a child; I can still recall many of the pictures and, of course, the texts.
Oh! Now I think of it, my Grandoarents had an old (maybe original) edition of Eliot’s Practical Cats - which I also loved - and although I didn’t read “When We Were Six” I devoured Winnie The Pooh and I found WTP’s wonderful. As a resident of Australia snow is rare for me - but every time I find myself in an actual snow storm I sing “The more it snows, tiddly Pom, the more it goes, tiddly Pom, the more it goes, tiddly Pom on snowing.”
This brings strange looks from climbing companions on Alpine peaks!
My parents were avid readers, including of poetry, and some of that rubbed off onto me. I certainly never had a Teacher capable of inspiring a love of poetry.
My own poetry - I definitely write it by “speaking it aloud in my head.” I can feel it in my mouth even if I’m not actually articulating it.
So the common emphasis on “reading aloud “ across a century or more of children’s poetry anthologies interested me.
Some years ago I was asked for permission for my oddest (and shortest) poem to be used in a children’s anthology. “Process Flow Chart” - now on my Substack - could be read aloud, I suppose - but perhaps with gestures to give the sense of the printed flowchart form. (So far as I know, the anthology was never actually published). - but it was nice to be asked!
I look forward to reading more of your writing on this, and will explore your site further.
Hi Perry. Thankyou. I found that extremely interesting. Although I must have come across anthologies specifically for children I have no recollection of such - with the exception of an illustrated Nursery Rhyme book which I adored as a child; I can still recall many of the pictures and, of course, the texts.
Oh! Now I think of it, my Grandoarents had an old (maybe original) edition of Eliot’s Practical Cats - which I also loved - and although I didn’t read “When We Were Six” I devoured Winnie The Pooh and I found WTP’s wonderful. As a resident of Australia snow is rare for me - but every time I find myself in an actual snow storm I sing “The more it snows, tiddly Pom, the more it goes, tiddly Pom, the more it goes, tiddly Pom on snowing.”
This brings strange looks from climbing companions on Alpine peaks!
My parents were avid readers, including of poetry, and some of that rubbed off onto me. I certainly never had a Teacher capable of inspiring a love of poetry.
My own poetry - I definitely write it by “speaking it aloud in my head.” I can feel it in my mouth even if I’m not actually articulating it.
So the common emphasis on “reading aloud “ across a century or more of children’s poetry anthologies interested me.
Some years ago I was asked for permission for my oddest (and shortest) poem to be used in a children’s anthology. “Process Flow Chart” - now on my Substack - could be read aloud, I suppose - but perhaps with gestures to give the sense of the printed flowchart form. (So far as I know, the anthology was never actually published). - but it was nice to be asked!
I look forward to reading more of your writing on this, and will explore your site further.
Best wishes
Dave :)