Monday 17 May 2021
Review: Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble
This volume of magical poems is just a beautiful little jewel, and though
clearly published with a view to the education market, would make a truly
delightful gift for any child who revels in verse.
Cookson has gathered together a wonderful selection:
short, not-so-short, humorous, more serious, purely magical or just with a hint
of whimsy, contemporary writers and older ones, including Shakespeare and Lewis
Carroll, but all of them absolutely enchanting and just begging to be read
aloud.
Without a doubt my favourite has to be, Somewhere in the Library by Stewart Henderson
– watch this poet reads his work to great effect here.
The presentation of this book is equally as engaging as its contents: from the bold orange and black cover, the use of the easy-to-read (UK) school font, stunning endpapers, and the bewitching illustrations by Eilidh Muldoon.
If your students still explore poetry in various forms as part of their units then you will be glad of the addition of this volume which includes often-used styles such as shape poem and parody. Whether your intention would be as an addition for curriculum support or purely as pleasure, I would heartily recommend this enticing collection.
Title: Fire Burn, Cauldron BubbleAuthor: [chosen by] Paul Cookson.
Illustrator: Eilidh Muldoon.
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $26.99
Publication Date: November 2020
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781472958150
For ages: 9 +
Type: Non-fiction
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781472958150
For ages: 9 +
Type: Non-fiction
