The editor and publishers gratefully acknowledge permission to reproduce copyright material in this book. Every effort has been made to trace and contact copyright holders, but in a few cases this has proved impossible. The editor and publishers apologize for these unwilling cases of copyright transgression and would like to hear from any copyright holders not acknowledged.
‘Chick Pea Pie’ and ‘Spellbound’ by Adisa, copyright © Adisa, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Laughter Rap in Plastic Town’ and ‘The Soldiers Came’ by John Agard, copyright © John Agard, 1990, reproduced by kind permission of John Agard c/o Caroline Sheldon Agency Ltd; ‘The Mighty Slide’ by Allan Ahlberg from The Mighty Slide, published by Puffin Books 1989, copyright © Allan Ahlberg, 1988, reprinted by permission of Penguin Books Ltd; ‘Grrrr’ by Francesca Beard from The Poetry Store, published by Hodder Children’s Books 2005, copyright © Francesca Beard, 2005, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘I Speak the Language’ by Francesca Beard, copyright © Francesca Beard, 2008, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Air Raids 1942’ by Gerard Benson from To Catch an Elephant, published by Smith/Doorstop 2002, copyright © Gerard Benson, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Lost Gloves’ by Gerard Benson, copyright © Gerard Benson, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Jamaican Song’ and ‘Okay, Brown Girl, Okay’ by James Berry from Only One of Me, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2004, copyright © James Berry, 2004, is reproduced by permission of PFD (www.pfd.co.uk) on behalf of James Berry; ‘Elephant’ by Alan Brownjohn from Brownjohn’s Beasts, published by Macmillan 1970, copyright © Alan Brownjohn, 1970, reproduced by permission of Rosica Colin Ltd; ‘In Daylight Strange’ by Alan Brownjohn, copyright © Alan Brownjohn, 2009, re produced by permission of Rosica Colin Ltd; ‘Tree’ by James Carter from Time-travelling Underpants, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2007, reprinted by permission of Macmillan Children’s Books; ‘What Can You Do With a Football?’ by James Carter, first published as ‘Ball’ in Hey, Little Bug!, published by Hands Up Books 2007, copyright © James Carter, 2007, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Cancan’ by Mandy Coe from Hot Heads, Warm Hearts, published by Stanley Thornes 2004, copyright © Mandy Coe, 2004, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Soft as the Blanket’ by Mandy Coe, copyright © Mandy Coe, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Brothers’ by Peter Cole, copyright © Peter Cole 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Waht?’ by Peter Cole from The Fish Anthology 2008: Harlem River Blues, published by Fish Publishing 2008, copyright © Peter Cole, 2008, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Let No one Steal Your Dreams’ and ‘Our Teacher is a Tongue-Twister’ by Paul Cookson, copyright © Paul Cookson, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Evening Shifts’ by Graham Denton from A Bag of Stars, published by Hands Up Books 2002, copyright © Graham Denton, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘M’ by Graham Denton from Orange Silver Sausage, published by Walker Books 2009, copyright © Graham Denton, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Day the Marks Made Sense’ by Imtiaz Dharker, copyright © Imtiaz Dharker, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘First Gift’ by Imtiaz Dharker from Leaving Finger prints, published by Bloodaxe Books 2009, reprinted by permission of Bloodaxe Books; ‘Rooty Tooty’ and ‘Your Dresses’ by Carol Ann Duffy from The Hat, published by Faber and Faber 2007, copyright © Carol Ann Duffy, 2007, reprinted by permission of Faber and Faber; ‘Finding Out About the Family’ and ‘Nathaniel’ by Richard Edwards from Teaching the Parrot, published by Faber and Faber 1996, reprinted by permission of Faber and Faber; ‘Dino’s Café’ by Matthew Fitt from Blethertoun Braes, published by Itchy Coo 2004, copyright © Matthew Fitt, 2004, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Twins’ by Matthew Fitt from King o the Midden, published by Itchy Coo 2003, copyright © Matthew Fitt, 2003, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Aunty Joan’ and ‘Immigration Trap’ by John Foster from The Poetry Chest, published by Oxford University Press 2007, copyright © John Foster, 2007, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Insect Day’ and ‘On Port Meadow’ by John Fuller, copyright © John Fuller, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Attack of the Mutant Mangos: A Fruit Salad Ballad of Baddies’ by Andrew Fusek Peters from The Evil Dr Mucus Spleen and Other Superbad Villains, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2001, copyright © Andrew Fusek Peters, 2001, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Pool’ by Andrew Fusek Peters from 101 Favourite Poems, edited by John Foster, published by Collins Children’s Books 2002, copyright © Andrew Fusek Peters, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Limpet’ by Chrissie Gittins from I Don’t Want an Avocado for an Uncle, published by Rabbit Hole 2006, copyright © Chrissie Gittins, 2006, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Powder Monkey’ by Chrissie Gittins from Now You See Me, Now You…, published by Rabbit Hole 2002, copyright © Chrissie Gittins, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Living Room’ by Philip Gross, copyright © Philip Gross, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘White Ones’ by Philip Gross from Wicked Poems, edited by Roger McGough, published by Bloomsbury 2004, copyright © Philip Gross, 2004, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Early Bird Blues’ by Sophie Hannah from Hero and the Girl Next Door, published by Carcanet Press 1995, copyright © Carcanet, 1995, reprinted by permission of Carcanet Press; ‘The World Is a Box’ by Sophie Hannah, copyright © Sophie Hannah, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘My Dad’s Book’ by David Harmer from The Truth About Parents, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2009, copyright © David Harmer, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘South to North’ by David Harmer from The Works 3: A Poet a Week, edited by Paul Cookson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2004, copyright © David Harmer, 2004, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Favouritism’ by Trevor Harvey from Poetry for Projects, compiled by Brain Moses and Pie Corbett, published by Scholastic 1989, copyright © Trevor Harvey, 1989, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Painting Lesson’ by Trevor Harvey from The Usborne Book of Funny Poems, published by Usborne 1990, copyright © Trevor Harvey, 1990, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Did I, Dad?’ and ‘Listen’ by John Hegley from My Dog Is a Carrot, copyright © John Hegley, 2002, is reproduced by permission of PFD (www.pfd.co.uk) on behalf of John Hegley; ‘The Spare Room’ by Diana Hendry from Strange Goings-on, published by Viking Children’s Books 1995, copyright © Diana Hendry, 1995, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘What Is the Pond Doing?’ by Diana Hendry, copyright © Diana Hendry, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Cow in the Cornflakes’ and ‘Rain Falls Down’ by Margot Henderson, copyright © Margot Henderson, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Arundel Swimming Pool’ and ‘Sound Count Down’ by Robert Hull from Everest and Chips, published by Oxford University Press 2002, copyright © Robert Hull, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Poem for a Town Child’ by Jenny Joseph from All the Things I See, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2001, copyright © Jenny Joseph, 2001, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘A Silly Song’ by Jenny Joseph, copyright © Jenny Joseph, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Marbles’ and ‘Potions’ by Michael Kavanagh, copyright © Michael Kavanagh, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Angler’s Song’ and ‘Valentine’ by Jackie Kay from Red, Cherry Red, published by Bloomsbury 2007, copyright © Jackie Kay, 2007, reprinted by permission of Bloomsbury Publishing; ‘Colour Outside the Lines’ and ‘First Fire’ by Jared Louche, copyright © Jared Louche, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Flashback in Winter Light’ and ‘My Mate Darren’ by Paul Lyalls, copyright © Paul Lyalls, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘How Was School?’ and ‘The Wicked Stepmother’ by Lindsay MacRae from How to Avoid Kissing Your Parents in Public, published by Puffin Books 2000, copyright © Lindsay MacRae, 2000, reprinted by permission of Penguin Books Ltd; ‘The Doll’s House’ and ‘Me’ by Roger McGough from Slapstick, published by Puffin Books 2008, copyright © Roger McGough, 2008, reprinted by permission of Penguin Books Ltd; ‘Cutting My Fingernails’ by Ian McMillan from The Invisible Villain, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2002, copyright © Ian McMillan, 2002, reprinted by permission of UK Touring on behalf of Ian McMillan; ‘An Interesting Fact About One of My Relatives’ by Ian McMillan from The Very Best of Ian McMillan, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2001, copyright © Ian McMillan, 2001, reprinted by permission of UK Touring on behalf of Ian McMillan; ‘The Boneyard Rap’ by Wes Magee from The Very Best of Wes Magee, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2001, copyright © Wes Magee, 2001, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Christmas Shed’ by Wes Magee, copy right © Wes Magee, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Woman of Water’ from Nothingmas Day by Adrian Mitchell, copyright © Adrian Mitchell, 1984, is reproduced by permission of PFD (www.pfd.co.uk) on behalf of the Estate of Adrian Mitchell; ‘Yes’ from Blue Coff ee by Adrian Mitchell, copyright © Adrian Mitchell, 1996, is reproduced by permission of PFD (www.pfd.co.uk) on behalf of the Estate of Adrian Mitchell; ‘I Wanna Be a Star’ and ‘My Hat!’ by Tony Mitton from Plum, published by Scholastic 1998, copyright © Tony Mitton, 1998, reprinted by permission of David Higham Associates on behalf of Tony Mitton; ‘The Shoes’ by John Mole from This Is the Blackbird, published by Peterloo 2007, copyright © John Mole, 2007, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Blackout’ by John Mole, copyright © John Mole, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Spider-swallowing’ by Brian Moses, copyright © Brian Moses, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Shopping Trolley’ by Brian Moses from Behind the Staff room Door: The Very Best of Brian Moses, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2007, copyright © Brian Moses, 2007, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘My Gran Visits England’ and ‘Sea-Rock’ by Grace Nichols from Give Yourself a Hug, published by Puffin Books 1996, copyright © Grace Nichols, 1996, reprinted by permission of Curtis Brown on behalf of Grace Nichols; ‘Goodwin Sands’ by Judith Nicholls from Storm’s Eye, published by Oxford University Press 1994, copyright © Judith Nicholls, 1994, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Winter’ by Judith Nicholls from Midnight Forest, published by Faber and Faber 1993, copyright © Judith Nicholls, 1993, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Boy Who Broke Things’ and ‘Geography Lesson’ by Brian Patten from Juggling with Gerbils, published by Puffin Books 2000, copyright © Brian Patten, 2000, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Late Home’ by Gervase Phinn from Don’t Tell the Teacher, published by Puffin Books 2006, copyright © Gervase Phinn, 2006; ‘School Trip’ by Gervase Phinn from It Takes One to Know One, published by Puffin Books 2001, copyright © Gervase Phinn, 2001; ‘Magpie’ and ‘Where’s Nellie?’ by Tom Pow, copyright © Tom Pow, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Dazzledance’ by John Rice from Rice, Pie and Moses, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 1995, copyright © John Rice, 1995, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Invaders’ by John Rice, copyright © John Rice, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Day-old Stubble’ and ‘Noises in the Night’ by Dilys Rose from From When I Wear My Own Leopard Hat, published by Scottish Children’s Press 1997, copyright © Dilys Rose, 1997, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘The Difference’ and ‘The Noise’ by Michael Rosen, copyright © Michael Rosen, 2009; ‘Detention Tension’ and ‘Jelly fish Fuss’ from Breaking the Rules by Coral Rumble, published by Lion Hudson plc 2004, copyright © Coral Rumble, 2004, used with permission of Lion Hudson plc; ‘How a Poem Arrives’ and ‘The Jealous Ones’ by Jacob Sam-La Rose, copyright © Jacob Sam-La Rose, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author (‘The Jealous Ones’ was written on commission from The Barbican, London); ‘The Girls in My Class’ by Fred Sedgwick from The Works 6: Every Kind of Poem You Will Ever Need for Assembly, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2007, copyright © Fred Sedgwick, 2007, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘There’ll Be a Jazz Band’ by Fred Sedgwick, copyright © Fred Sedgwick, 2009; ‘Fifteen Ways of Looking at a Ladybird’ by Matt Simpson, copyright © Matt Simpson, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Reincarnation’ by Matt Simpson from Rhyme Riot, published by Macmillan Children’s Books 2002, copyright © Matt Simpson, 2002, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Don’t You Like Me?’ by Pauline Stewart, copy right © Pauline Stewart, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Sometimish Sea’ by Pauline Stewart from Velocity: The Best of Apples and Snakes, edited by Maja Prausnitz, published by Black Spring Press 2003, copyright © Pauline Stewart, 2003, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Sea Monsters’ by Tim Turnbull from Stranded in Sub-Atomica, published by Donut Press 2005, copyright © Tim Turnbull, 2005, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Yorkshire Day’ by Tim Turnbull, copyright © Tim Turnbull, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Bobby’s Bubble Gum’ by Dave Ward from You Have Been Warned, edited by Roger McGough, published by Oxford University Press 2008, copyright © Dave Ward, 2008, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘One Boy Stood in the Field’ by Dave Ward from On the Edge of Rain, published by Headline 2009, copyright © Dave Ward, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Death of a Bully’ and ‘My Cat Just Saw a Ghost’ by Curtis Watt, copyright © Curtis Watt, 2009, reprinted by permission of the author; ‘Dave Dirt Was on the 259’ and ‘The Magic Box’ by Kit Wright from Cat Among the Pigeons, published by Puffin Books 1989, copyright © Kit Wright, 1989; ‘I De Rap Guy’ by Benjamin Zephaniah from Funky Chickens, published by Puffin Books 1997, copyright © Benjamin Zephaniah, 1996; ‘People Need People’ by Benjamin Zephaniah from Wicked World, published by Puffin Books 2000, copyright © Benjamin Zephaniah, 2000.