6.2.1 Suggested poems, anthologies and resource books

(All these books are available in the Strathfield campus Library)

A first Australian poetry book
Compiled by June Factor (1983)
Melbourne: Oxford University Press

Recommended for children up to the age of 10, the poems in this collection vary from traditional bush ballads, nonsense verse to poems written by children themselves.

Acting Rhymes (2nd edition)
Chosen by Sansom, Clive (1975)
London: A. & C. Black

The rhymes and poems in this book are all designed to be presented in class, and there is a section at the end which gives suggestions on how to treat them.

All Australian funny and frightful verse
Selected by Glenys Smith (1987)
Sydney: Ashton Scholastic

Old favourites like C.J. Dennis' The Triantiwontigongolope as well as works by Robin Klein, Colin Thiele and Max Fatchen are included in this brightly illustrated book.

Fun with poetry
Monahan, Sean (1982)
Melbourne: Longman Cheshire

Monahan intends this as a resource book for junior and middle secondary school (Stages 4 and 5). However many of the activities for work in the classroom discussed in Section 5.3 are explained in this very useful book.

Honey Sandwich
Honey, Elizabeth (1993)
St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin

Elizabeth Honey has written a range of mainly funny and irreverent poems, but also some more thoughtful ones. They have broad appeal and relate closely to the experience of primary aged children. One particularly delightful example of concrete poetry is Swimming (p.55).

100 Australian poems for children
Scott-Mitchell, Clare & Griffith, Kathlyn (Eds.) (2002)
Sydney: Random House Australia

The poems in this collection include works by Mary Gilmore, A.B. (Banjo) Paterson and C.J Dennis, as well as more modern writers such as Max Fatchen, Oodgeroo and Elizabeth Honey.

I like this poem
Webb, Kaye (Ed.) (1979)
Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin.

Produced for the International Year of the Child, the poems in this anthology were chosen by children themselves. The classics are well represented, as well as some more modern poems, and each one has a commentary from a child. Although they are grouped according age from 6 to 15, the teacher may find some of those chosen by the older children, such as Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman are suitable for the younger ones. Similarly, T.S. Eliot's Macavity: the Mystery Cat which is in the 9 year olds' section of the book can be enjoyed by older students.

Poetry to the rescue
Herrick, Stephen. (1998)
St.Lucia, QLD: University of Queensland Press

The funny, surprising and even sad events of the everyday life of 9 and 10-year olds are the subjects of these poems, many of which will appeal to sports-loving boys who may be reluctant to read poetry. Some such as The Ten Commandments and Towns I'd like to live in are very suitable for multivoice reading.

Raps and rhymes
Selected by Hill, Susan (1990)
South Yarra, VIC: Eleanor Curtain

In this selection, Susan Hill has provided background information for some of the raps and chants, as well as ideas for classroom activities. Children of all ages will enjoy these.

Rattling in the wind. Australian poems for children.
Selected by Jill Heylen and Celia Jellett. Illustrated by Marie Smith (1987)
Adelaide: Omnibus Books

The poems in this collection are grouped in themes such as the sea, animals and the individual in relation to the outside world which makes it a very appropriate book for teachers interested in integrating poetry into the curriculum as a whole.

Read me a poem
Chosen by Caroline Royds. Illustrated by Inga Moore (1986)
London: Kingfisher Books

For those looking for more traditional poems and verse, this imaginatively illustrated collection includes works by Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Songs for my dog and other wry rhymes (Revised edition)
Fatchen, Max (1999)
Kent Town, SA: Wakefield Press

Max Fatchen's wit and humour have a broad appeal, and his work can be enjoyed by both adults and children. The Ruinous Rhymes section with its parodies of well-known nursery rhymes, the puns in Briny Bits, and the riddles and limericks will all allow for enjoyable sessions in the classroom.
(NOTE: This book is not in the Strathfield campus library. However there are several others by Max Fatchen, including an earlier version published in 1983 called Wry rhymes for troublesome times.)

The dog's just been sick in the Honda, and other poems
Thompson, Colin (1999)
Illustrated by Peter Viska
Sydney: Hodder Australia

These poems are "the funny, the crude and the short", recommended by Stibbs (as cited in Tunica, 1995) to form part of the range of poems presented in the classroom. The illustrations add to the fun of this collection which is certain to be enjoyed by primary aged children.

English K-6. Teaching Kits (Stages 1, 2 & 3)
Sydney: Board of Studies, NSW 1996

These handbooks have sections on poetry with selected poems suitable for the different stages, as well as ideas for learning activities in the classroom. Some of the ideas, however, appear to focus on assessment of learning rather than fostering enjoyment and appreciation of poetry which would not be suitable for all students. The Stage 3 Ballads kit provides ideas for a whole unit of work.

More suggestions for individual poems and anthologies can be found in the annotated bibliographies in Tunica's, McVitty's, and Stoodt, Amspaugh & Hunt's books. These books are also invaluable for primary teachers who wish to broaden their own understanding of poetry. Details are as follows:

Children's Literature (Chapter 6. Poetry)
Stoodt, Barbara, Amspaugh, Linda & Hunt, Jane (1996)
South Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia

For the love of poetry
Tunica, Mandy (1995)
Newtown, NSW: Primary English Teaching Association

Word Magic: Poetry as a shared adventure
McVitty, Walter (1985)
Rozelle, NSW: Primary English Teaching Association