A Kid in My Class

They're all here...every kid in the class has their own poem. The pushy one, the shy one. The whizz kid and the daydreamer. The best-friender and the kid who runs in his wheelchair. The tough kid, the poet. And not forgetting the class hamster.

This collection from an outstanding poet, Rachel Rooney, winner of the CLiPPA Award, is perfectly matched by the amazing witty and inventive illustrations by Chris Riddell, the former UK Children’s Laureate.

Winner of North Somerset Teachers' Book Awards - Poetry category 2019 (UK)
Short-listed for CLiPPA Award 2019 2019 (UK)
Long-listed for Steel City Bookclub Awards 2020 (UK)

“"Charming, fun to read, and thought-provoking."”

"Vivid an imaginative illustrations...bring Rooney's poetry to life on the page...funny, heartwarming and sometimes sad. We...love how this book gives every child an opportunity to see themselves in poetry."

"This briliant litte book is the perfect addition to any classroom library...Rachel Rooney's poems are easy to read with bouncy rhymes and clever forms...As well as witty words, this book is crammed with imaginative illustrations...The pictures will start as many conversations as the poems."

"The poetry is clever, mischievous and allows us to take a humorous look at ourselves through the diverse range of voices and characters that surround us. The language is rich and varied and gives many opportunities to enjoy a fantastic range of vocabulary, rhyme and rhythm….this little gem of a book is perfect for an assembly, dipping into with five minutes to spare or for reading a page a day just to enjoy meeting whoever appears next."

"This thoughtful new collection by award-winning children’s poet Rachel Rooney is special in its personal touch. … Each child/poem is given a carefully  crafted selection of illustrations to support their story, skilfully drawn by Chris Riddell."

"As a measure of the way the words and pictures work together so beautifully in this excellent collaboration, the class hamster that goes missing in an early poem in the collection due to an accident prone kid, appears silently in many of the subsequent illustrations and eventually gets to display the knowledge he has acquired."

"This unique, daring selection features a poem on each different child within a class – … The genius lies in the fact that the poems will resonate for the teacher of the class, but each child will see some of their own character in some of the poems…Full of both emotion, and knowledge of the classroom, this is a superb collection, brilliantly illustrated by Riddell, who has also managed to pick out the unique look of each child. If nothing else, it will certainly make you wince in recognition, and laugh at the wit. Poetry has never seemed more alive and more relevant."

"This brilliant little book is the perfect addition to any classroom library; a book of clever poems picking out some of the many personalities that pupils will find sitting next to them in assemblies, lunch queues and in the playgrounds."

"Thought-provoking and fun."

"This eagerly awaited new collection from an outstanding poet, winner of the CLiPPA Award, is perfectly matched by the amazing wit and inventiveness of the former UK Children’s Laureate."

"There is not one weak point in this wonderful collection. The verses are accurate, thought-provoking, honest and beautifully illustrated by Chris Riddell. It has already found a place on my 'to be read again and again' book shelf."

"Complemented by Chris Riddell's amazing illustrations, each well-crafted poem is a glimpse of school life that can be sad, funny or thought-provoking. Children and adults will identify with the 'kids' in the poems or know someone who fits the bill." 

“I absolutely love this new children’s poetry book”

"This is a great collection and will be much enjoyed by children around ages 8-11. It speaks about how you feel as an individual in a class of others. And how others feel the same, even though they don't say anything."

"This moreish collection of poems about a class full of characters is beautifully written and illustrated and will ring bells with all children about their own behaviour and that of their schoolmates."

"What a lovely collaboration...this is! Rachel Rooney brings a whole school classroom to life...beautifully complemented by Chris Riddell's witty and sympathetic illustrations."

"Rooney evokes children's perspectives with empathy. The poignancy and humour of these character sketches are heightened by their illustrations."

"A winning combination of poems and portraits."

"An absolutely smashing collaboration...Share a couple of these poems with a class or group and I'll guarantee they'll be clamouring to get their hands on a copy. Totally brilliant!"

"If there's one thing that's guaranteed to get kids into poetry, it's having a sense of being able to identify with the subject matter, and with school being such a huge part of their lives, every single child that picks up this book will definitely be nodding along, agreeing with the sentiments expressed in those devilishly clever rhymes. Really rather special this!"

"The tough kid, the dreamer, the shy one, the whizz kid and even the class hamster, every child will find themselves in the pages of the CLIPPA winning poet’s new collection featuring striking two colour art work from Riddell."

"Making the ordinary seem extraordinary is a gift – one which characterises the poetry of Rachel Rooney"

Rachel Rooney worked as a teacher of special needs children while also bringing up her three sons. She is much in demand for school workshops, and for performances of her work at festivals. Her first poetry collection, The Language of Cat, was published in 2011 and won the CLPE prize, followed by My Life as a Goldfish in 2014 and Hey, Girl! in 2021. She lives in Brighton.

Chris Riddell, Children's Laureate 2015-17, is internationally renowned both as artist and author. His awards include the Kate Greenaway Medal (2002, 2004), the Costa Children's Book Award (2013), and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration (2015). He is currently president of the School Library Association. His bestselling books include the Goth Girl series, the Coraline series, The Sleeper and the Spindle with Neil Gaiman and A Great Big Cuddle with Michael Rosen. He lives in Brighton, UK.

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