Reviewed and selected by our poetry expert, Liam Parkin:
Hey, Little Bug! is a charming and tender collection written for the ‘little bugs’ that constantly absorb sights and sounds around them. As a performer of poetry, James Carter writes with the exuberance he would give when delivering poems in person, and each one contains this lively enthusiasm both on and off the page. It is clear the poems mean a lot to Carter, and this is easily transferred to the reader. Many of the poems are highly engaging; asking ‘What am I?’ and ‘Where did we go?’ – and young readers can shout out loud with imaginative responses. The collection takes us from the smallest of bugs, to the biggest of animals, and concludes with peaceful bedtime. Children will find it absorbing and entertaining and adults will be reading with smiles written on their faces.
Hey Little Bug Poems for Little Creatures Synopsis
Hey little bug - how do you hug - or cuddle or kiss your mum or sis - with all those arms and legs and things - and wiggly bits and wobbly wings? Spotty ladybirds, crawly caterpillars, show-offy butterflies; cats, dinosaurs, bears; first day at school, the naughty step, show and tell...There are poems about all of these and more in this delightful collection of verse for young children. Perfect for Early Years and Infant classrooms, and for older children too, these poems are fresh, funny and brilliant for reading aloud.
James Carter is an award-winning children's poet. He travels all over the cosmos (well, Britain), with his guitar (that's Keith) to give lively poetry performances and workshops. James once had hair, extremely long hair (honestly), and he played in a really nasty ultra-loud heavy rock band. And, as a lifelong space cadet, James has discovered that poems are the best place to gather all his daydreamy thoughts. What's more, he believes that daydreaming for ten minutes every day should be compulsory in all schools. His poetry titles include Cars StarsElectric Guitars and Orange Silver Sausage (Walker Books) and Time-Travelling Underpants and Greetings, Earthlings! (Macmillan). James was the major contributor to the recent Cbeebies TV series Poetry Pie. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
