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Page to Stage
Developing writing, speaking and listening skills in primary schools
Routledge, December 2004
Book/CD that focusses upon a) a range of poetry writing workshops in free verse, rhythm & rhyme, imagery & metaphor and b) poetry performing skills.
“I’ve just used this excellent book and CD with a Year 5/6 class to do a unit of work on performance poetry. As a PGCE student, I found the suggestions and information invaluable. My class loved ‘Fuss Fuss Fuss - The Goldilocks Rap’ and were soon suggesting their own rap-speak and actions to develop their performance. Having the CD to play to the children was also really useful as they were able to hear what the rap could sound like and discuss what they liked and how they might do it differently before they started. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone teaching poetry, particularly with KS2 children.”
PGCE student
5 star review
Amazon website
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Just Imagine
Creative ideas for writing
Routledge, April 2002
Creative writing resource book/music CD - utilising text (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, interview clips), images and specially composed music/soundscapes to inspire a range of creative writing workshop activities for KS3/KS2
“This has the exciting richness which all the best books in this field have - it tantalises, inviting and exciting the reader.”
Pie Corbett
NLS Adviser/Poet
“This is an invaluable resource for those of you who, like me, value the impact the Arts can have on developing literacy. The Literacy Strategy has sucked the creativity out of teaching language and writing - this gem can help restore it. Highly recommended.”
5 star review
Amazon website
“This book really inspired me and my class to write stories for a wide range of purposes. It made the children use their imaginations...The many ideas are easy to understand...And very adaptable. Highly recommended.”
5 star review
Amazon website
“A very inspiring book for creative writing sessions. The CD is particulary useful to create mood/atmosphere for sessions which children really enjoy. The book has a wide range of ideas for different types of writing which can be used directly or adapted to suit your class.”
5 star review
Amazon website
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Creating Writers
A creative writing manual for schools
Routledge, October 2000
Companion text to Talking Books with writing tips and workshop activities (poetry, fiction and non-fiction) from a wide range of children’s authors - David Almond, John Foster, Malorie Blackman, Brian Moses, Roger McGough etc. A creative writing manual for teachers at KS3/upper KS2.
“I’m extremely impressed with Creating Writers and I refer to it and recommend it during school visits and talks. It really explores its subject, and offers an important, beautifully-researched and well-expressed alternative to shallow, quick-fix approaches to creative writing.”
David Almond
Novelist/Carnegie Medal-winning author of Skellig
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Talking Books
Children’s authors talk about the craft, creativity and process of writing
Routledge, May 1999
A collection of in-depth interviews with children’s authors - including Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Deary, Benjamin Zephaniah and Philip Pullman.
“Highly recommended, not only for primary and secondary teachers of children’s books (for whom it will provide fascinating and stimulating background material), but also for secondary teachers of literature, media studies, and creative writing, and also the general reader.”
Professor Peter Hunt
Cardiff University
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