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Why Did My Brain Make Me Say It?

"A vibrant poetry collection that’s bound to please."

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LoveReading4Kids Says

LoveReading4Kids Says

November 2024 Debut of the Month

Amid the current concerns around the decline in children’s reading for pleasure, poetry is a bright spot and young readers will be surprised, engaged, made to laugh and above all entertained by this collection, which is every bit as vibrant as its pink cover.

It starts with a hi-ku and ends with a bye-ku, with a lie-ku halfway through for good measure. The poems are loosely themed around the school year and subjects – all keenly observed – include school lunches, friendships, rivalries between friends, new school shoes and the huge emotion of the leavers’ assembly. Others detail family life and they’re all inventive, perceptive and often quite moving.

The fun the poet has with words is likely to inspire readers to try writing poems themselves too.

Andrea Reece
Reviewed by Andrea Reece
Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic.
More reviews by Andrea Reece
Debuts of the Month

About Why Did My Brain Make Me Say It?

In this debut collection for children Sarah takes the reader on a vibrant journey based on her acute observations of everyday life and language. Loosely arranged across a school year - September through Halloween, Christmas, Spring, Summer holidays, a new school year/just before secondary - Sarah's witty observations, juxtapositions, and playful use of language pervade every poem and bring a vivid charm and freshness to every page.

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Reader Reviews

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Brain-tickling cleverness and not a letter out of place.

From the initial poem, ‘Hi-ku’, to the closing ‘Bye-ku’, this collection is cram packed with smart word play, attention to crafting, and keen observation. Those two poems stand like apt bookends either side of others that will intrigue and often move the reader. The intervening Lie-ku, introduces a more serious purpose for the form, but is no less playful, despite the sullen tone and sad implications. These poems, alone, indicate the mind of a poet who enjoys experimenting with verse form. ‘Poet Who Doesn’t Know It’ is a gift to every teacher introducing basic verse form and language categories. However, it isn’t heavy with forced learning, instead it’s an enjoyable mischief. Ziman also employs the power of white space and text variation to great effect.... Read Full Review

Coral Rumble

A must-have poetry collection for children, to be read time and time again.

Masterfully written and aesthetically presented!

If your child is looking for something humorous, uplifting, and entertaining, then this book is definitely for them. It’s perfect for switching off and unwinding with after a long day at school.

I’ve always enjoyed poetry, and this book is filled with some of the cutest, funniest, and most charming poems I’ve ever come across. But it’s not just the words themselves that light up the pages. The poems are presented in such a visually stimulating way that they come to life and dance in front of your eyes, adding a whole new dimension to the words.

Sarah Ziman is a master of poetry and a magician when it comes to getting words down on paper! I hope she’ll be writing many more collections like this one.... Read Full Review

B. Ware

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