The Children's Bookshow: Poetry, Fun and Inspiration

Whether it was anticipation for the show, the thrill of being away from school or just the joy of the flip-down seats (there was some very energetic bouncing up and down), the children’s enthusiasm was evident – a Mexican wave even broke out in the balcony – and that translated into a huge cheer as Valerie came on stage. The ‘good morning’ in response to her greeting nearly blew the roof off.

Her first question ‘Do you like poems?’ got a generally positive response, though I did hear a few no’s mixed in there too! Perhaps this show would change their minds after seeing some poetry in action – fingers crossed.

She spoke about naming ceremonies, the trips she went on as a child and the lunches her mum would send her with (a poem where the kids shouted ‘sandwich’ with increasing enthusiasm as the poem went on was particularly popular), and video games too, which really caught their attention, though I’m not sure if any of them actually know what a Mega Drive is!

The audience participation straight from the start ensured Valerie captured the fizzing energy in the room and turned it into engagement, as we had to remember all our new words to join in with the poems in the right places. This interactive approach meant that even those who declared they didn’t like poetry were eagerly shouting out the words on cue and ensured no one’s attention wavered.

Before one last poem there was time for some audience questions, and the number of hands that went up was a testament to how engaged the children were. Alas far too many to answer all of them, but there were some really great questions like ‘What inspired you to start writing poetry?’, ‘How many poems have you written?’ and ‘How do you find creativity?’ which elicited some wonderful responses from Valerie.

She told the children, “You start to pay more attention – a tree is no longer just a tree, now I see the colours, the fissures in the bark, the textures.”

With her final poem ‘Pinda Cake’ she taught us the words to the chorus, a catchy and memorable tune that also had actions, and the whole auditorium enthusiastically sang in between each verse. It was a refrain that continued after the show had finished: I heard children singing it in the foyer as they left, and I’m sure that there would have been a few renditions on the coaches home!

Every child was given a copy of her latest book ‘They Sent a Cat to Saturn’, so hopefully their enthusiasm for her poems in the room will translate into reading and sharing them with their family when they get back home.

One child declared "I’m so happy to read your book," as Valerie handed her a copy, another wanted an autograph, and one boy said, "Yes!" as he got his copy. He was already gripping two books that he’d brought with him, so I think it’s safe to say he’s already an enthusiastic reader!