"I Like this Poem" Edited by Kaye Webb

This was my first introduction to poetry - my brother received it for his birthday, I would have been around 7 at the time - a late starter but my parents don't like poetry...infidels!
I remember being totally enamoured with the collection and twenty-some years and two disintergrated copies later I feel the same.

Editor Kaye Webb says that the problem with many anthologies aimed at children is that they are compiled by adults with a tendency to leave out what is over familiar to them. This book was compiled by recommendations by children. 9/10 of the book is composed of those poems/poets most nominated and the remaining tenth seemed to give a spice and roundedness to the collection.

The book's real appeal to me today as an adult (well masquerading as one anyway) is one I totally overlooked as a child. Each poem is accompanied by a short piece by the child who nominated it saying why "I like this poem..." hence the title. Nominations and poems are split by age catergory of the nominator(?) and they are just so fresh and insightful even from the 5/6 year olds.

"...because it gives me pictures in my head" is one reason given!
"...because it it so sincere and pathetic..." EXACTLY WHY "Romance" by WJ Turner works despite being unashamedly romantic and unremarkable in prosody
"...because when I think of summer it gives me a nice warm feeling"

many of the comments by children are so sharp and insightful. Perhaps they are not being frightened of not sounding clever and academic.

A wonderful collection... a massive recommendation from me and a must if you have children!

j