TheBig Amazing Poetry Book

One to watch.With this huge book you won't run out of poems to read aloud or by torchlight under the duvetThe Big Amazing Poetry Book is a warm, funny and imaginative celebration of verse, and the ideal introduction to a mix of diverse poets, from famous names of the past Lewis Carroll and Charles Causley, to well-loved poets of today including Nikita Gill and the new Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho.Every page is decorated with Riddell's prolific penthis is a book to lose yourself in, whether or not that is your intention when you open it. (...) Chris Riddell’s intricate black and white illustrations placed over, under, through and around the poems are quite simply, brilliant.The Big Amazing Poetry Book is an utter triumph. Not only do I think every child should have one, I think every home should have a copy too. I thought it was fantastic and recommend it completely. I could not have loved it more.The ultimate poetry collection that should be part of any classroom or library.. Chris Riddell’s illustrations beautifully complements the writing.A warm and funny celebration of poets and poetry. Illustrated by Chris Riddell, author of the Goth Girl, Ottoline and Cloud Horse Chronicles series.

From John Agard and Julia Donaldson to Nikita Gill, Brian Bilston and Carol Ann Duffy, The Big Amazing Poetry Book is a brilliant, accessible introduction to poetry and to fifty-two fantastic poets.

Introduced by Roger McGough, the book features the illustrations of former Children's Laureate and beloved author of the Goth Girl and Ottoline series, Chris Riddell.

A warm, funny collection, this book is packed with many different styles of poetry – ballads, riddles, tongue-twisters, shape poems, haikus, sonnets and raps – about seasons, festivals, animals, birds, love, war, food, fish and football and much more.

Each poet is showcased with seven of their poems alongside a biography to give exciting, engaging context to their work – plus a stunning line artwork on every page.

A must have for any young readers, The Big Amazing Poetry Book primarily features work from twentieth and twenty-first century poets. Included are John Agard, Brian Bilston, Lewis Carroll, Joseph Coelho, Julia Donaldson, Carol Ann Duffy, Nikita Gill, Jackie Kay, Roger McGough – and many more.

'[A] warm, funny and imaginative celebration of verse, and the ideal introduction to a mix of diverse poets' – Lancashire Post

Gaby Morgan is an Associate Publisher at Macmillan Children's Books and has run the children's poetry list for thirty years. She has compiled many bestselling anthologies including Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, Poems from the First World War, Fairy Poems – which was short-listed for the CLPE Award – and the Macmillan Collector's Library poetry series featuring anthologies on Happiness, Nature, Childhood, Travelling and Christmas.


Chris Riddell, the 2015–2017 UK Children's Laureate, is an accomplished artist and the political cartoonist for the Observer. He has enjoyed great acclaim for his books for children. His books have won a number of major prizes, including the 2001, 2004 and 2016 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse won the Costa Children's Book Award 2013. His work for Macmillan also includes the bestselling Ottoline books, The Emperor of Absurdia, and, with Paul Stewart, the Muddle Earth books, the Scavenger series and the Blobheads series. Chris has been honoured with an OBE in recognition of his illustration and charity work. He lives in Brighton with his family.