Razzmatazz

Roger Stevens has been writing poetry for children for many years and performing it at schools, libraries and festivals, and on TV and radio. This is a collection of previously published poems from his very productive career, accompanied by cheerful illustrations from Mike Smith. Most of these poems are meant to be performed and the poet sometimes provides encouraging tips to readers who would like to step into his shoes, not only in performing his poems but in writing their own. As you would expect, there is plenty of humour here; familiar subjects like school life, family and pets; enthusiastic word play; and some carefully worked punchlines. There are sad and thoughtful poems too, empathetic poems on the deaths of parents and pets, and children are encouraged to see poetry as a way of expressing emotions that are otherwise hard to bear. Roger Stevens’ own notes, which are attached to many of the poems, go a little way to substituting for having the poet in person in front of your class and some way to encouraging you to go ahead and book him.