Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts

LGBTQ+ Online Reads

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JYHS Library has a great selection of LGBTQ+ titles - keep an eye out for a rainbow flag on the spine as you browse the library shelves to help you spot them.

Some of JYHS pupils favourite LGBTQ+ Books:


Mrs. Wilson's Favourite LGBTQ+ Reads:

Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Ash by Malinda Lo
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Boy Queen by George Lester
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson


For More LGBTQ+ Books have a look at the Stonewall Booklist or the Scottish Book Trust LGBTQ+ Book lists


Webcomics


Heartstopper - LGBTQ+ teens in high school

The Flying Ship - LGBTQ+ fantasy quest

Phoebe and her Unicorn - one girl and her unicorn

Check, Please! - LGBTQ+ Baking and Ice Hockey 


Poetry

Poetry in your pocket

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It's Poem in your Pocket Day and since we pretty much all carry a phone I thought some online links to poems might help you achieve the task of having a poem in your pocket.

First up is Sarah Kay and her spoken word poem 'If I should have a daughter' which I just adore. Or if you fancy someone British try Harry Baker, a champion slam poet performing the 'Scientist and the Bumblebee'. (he is one half of the musical duo Harry and Chris).

If you fancy something older the BBC have created an amazing collection of Robert Burns poems being read aloud. There is a wealth of talent reading but I really love Alan Cumming. Or if you fancy something Scottish that isn't Burns try the Scottish Poetry Library with their collection of more than 3,000 poems on their website you are bound to find one that speaks to you. Don't know where to start? Try the annual best of Scottish poetry collections.

There are also number of great teen authors who are writing in free verse (poems that don't rhyme) - they are longer poems, tackle complex themes and are published as books.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
When his brother gets shot, it's time to follow the code and take out who pulled the trigger.


The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
A teenage girl is discovering boys but her strict parents have banned all contact until marriage. 


The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
A teenage refugee and her mum move to England and life seems very lonely. Though perhaps it's not as bleak as it first seemed.



Things to keep you busy

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There is a wealth of stuff being made available online try keep us busy during the lockdown. So here are some of the things I have found this week that I think might be useful, or at least interesting.

Educational

I just found the best library/Gaming crossover by Western Sydney University - it's a guide to referencing that they've turned into a computer game dungeon crawl!  perfect for anyone thinking about Advanced Highers next year or heading off to Uni and wanting to get a head start on these vital skills.

Babble.com are offering 3 months free to students to learn a new language. 

Audible are offering free audio books during this time - for free and no login or bank details required. It includes stuff for all ages and includes books in French, German, Spanish and Chinese.

Open Library have removed waiting times on their ebooks until June. So multiple people can now read the same titles. It's a US based project sharing out of print titles so there is some amazing stuff in the collection and well worth a browse.

 For more digital book ideas try the ebook tab on this blog.

Best of Social Media - book edition
  • Patrick Stewart is reading a Shakespeare sonnet a day on twitter @SirPatStew 
  • Alex T. Smith is sharing a 3 story starters a day on his twitter@Alex_T_Smith
  • While Kelly Yang is doing teen writing classes for free on her instagram.
  • If you fancy more of a meet the author then A Case for Books is launching 'Book Wanderers Club' thrice weekly starting Friday with a chat with Robin Stevens 

  • Illustrators are in on the act as well my personal favourite is Rob Biddulph 

  • You can find loads more by looking for the #UnitedByBooks on twitter.

Try Something Fun
If you fancy from STEM fun Makerspaces.com has some ideas that might be possible with stuff you have at home. Or Kiwi Crates have a daily project and have released some of their STEM projects for free - there is stuff suitable for all ages.

Podcasts are plentiful but I'm really enjoying Shedunnit a podcast about Golden Age Detective books.

If you'd like to try Dungeons and Dragons you only need one other person and you can play The Hermit’s Sanctuary a free, full-length, introductory adventure. 

Or you could download a copy of If you are looking for a game to play with your household - might I suggest Mr Lister. Big Potato games are giving it away for Free! 

Mental Health 
Author Matt Haig said on twitter:

  "Limit news intake when you need to. Talk to loved ones more than ever. Eat well. Focus on the day, not the year, in front of you. Appreciate the future is as unknowable as always. Be as safe as you can. Let yourself feel what you feel. Find a routine baggy enough to live in. Be."

Remember the Library blog has a Mental Health tab that might offer some help. I'm adding to as I find more resources (so any ideas gratefully received).

National Poetry Day

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It's National Poetry Day and to celebrate you can download (or read online) this year's free poetry anthology  on the theme of Freedom.

Happy National Poetry Day

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This year the theme is 'stars' so here is my favourite star related poem.

 She walks in Beauty
 by George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. (1788–1824)

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
 Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
 How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Want to read some more star poems check out the official National Poetry Day site and the Scottish Poetry Library site

You can also treat yourself to the iF Poetry App An interactive anthology it features 270 poems with readings by Helena Bonham Carter, Bill Nighy, Harry Enfield and Tom Hiddleston, and illustrations by Natasha Law

Speed Read Fox in Socks

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Properly impressive Xin Yan (a US High School pupil) reading Fox in Socks.

Happy Burns Night Folks!

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If you fancy more on the great Scottish Bard then there are not only a number of books in the library (821.6) but also a range of great online resources.

There are two different Apps available -

The Saraband Burns Nigh App
This includes a read along version of Tam O'Shanter as well as performaces of some of his songs and poems. Plus the Klingon translation of Auld Lang Syne! (as well as some more common languages).

Experience Scotland's Burns App
Is a more comprehensive collection of Burns' work with more than 550 poems and love songs and a useful glossary of Scots words.

Plus if you like your Burns with more star power then head over to BBC Scotland's Robert Burns pages where you'll find a 716 of his works recored by a range of artisits incluidng First Minister Alex Salmond, HRH the Prince of Wales and my favourite Richard Wilson reading Holy Wullie's Prayer!

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

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'The Cat in the Hat' is written by Dr.Seuss who has expierence writing this kind of book. It is about a cat with a hat goes into this house and the little boy and girl play games with him and there house ends up getting trashed. I think you should read it because it is short and easy to read and is a bit funny.

By Dr.Seuss


When the cat in the hat steps in on the mat one cold,wet day, Sally and her brother are in for a roller coaster ride of havoc and mayhem. With it's riotous rhyme.It is good and can make you happy.

by code name1

Downton Abbey Poetry

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If you like Downton Abbey then try out some of the poetry of the time. You can find the books in the library at 821.912 or download them for free from www.gutenberg.org.
The Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke
Poems by Wilfred Owen
Poems by Edward Thomas
The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter..

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Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... | Video on TED.com

It's National Poetry Day!

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 Pop into the library and pick up some poetry by Scottish poets

Mrs. Wilson recommends...

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Greenmantle by John Buchan
 

Poetry of Wilfred Owen

Regeneration by Pat Barker

Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon

Red Nose Day

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Celebrate Red Nose Day by enjoying a nose poem!

YOUR NOSE

The blowing of your nose was a trumpet
thrilling the house, rocking from cellar to attic,
shaking the stairs and banisters. It was a strict
aquiline beak that you called ‘Roman’ – at least
it would have been if you hadn’t broken it
and crooked it sideways in the mending. You ate
Club biscuits in majestic bites, then hooked
the wrapper over your royal snout and snorted
until we giggled. Quick to condemn, you sniffed
with curling lip at fads and fatuous fools.
Even in later years your grand-dad trunk
inhaled the world as fiercely, quivering over
cut glass filled with amber. Presence flared
from your nostrils; little children warmed themselves
by dragon flames that lasted and lasted. Yes.

by Helena Nelson
from her latest poetry collection Plot & Counter-Plot, Shoestring Press, 2010.

You could also have a read of Edward Lear's The Dong with a Luminous Nose

Want some tips on reading poems? Then try this helpful guide form the Scottish Poetry Library

Robert Burns

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Today (the 25th) is Burns Night and it is traditional to read ‘Address to a Haggis’ before cutting open the haggis at your meal. Mr. Horne's favourite Burns poem is A Man's a Man for A' That' while Mrs Wilson loves ‘My Love is Like a Red Red Rose’ and ‘To a Louse‘.

BBC have a wonderful archive of his poems and songs which includes them being performed by a wide range of people. Alternatively find Eddi Reader’s CDs where she’s singing Burns songs – they are wonderful to listen to.

Or you could download the iPhone App of his poems and songs for free! It’s been created by Scotland.org and you can also get more information on Burns Night on their site.

If you fancy a book then try “A Night Out With Robert Burns; The Greatest Poems’‘ by Andrew O’Hagan who’s done context and a nice editorial around classic Burns poems.

For more on the man himself try SCRAN’s Burns site as a starting point.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

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Two kids [Dick and Sally] were bored then the Cat in the Hat comes in and does amazing tricks and he trashes the house but the mum is due back any second!

I think Cat in the Hat is funny, creative and very thoughtful.

By Johny English

Entertaining kids since 1957 Dr. Seuss has done a selection of wonderful poetry. If you fancy something a bit more thought provoking try 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' 
For more Cat in the Hat fun try the official site

Roger McGough

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Roger McGough is a poet who's work is funny and clever.

Read more at his webiste or check out one of the books of his poetry fromt he library.

Poetry Display

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This display is of photocopied poetry postcards but you can pick up the postcards from the desk now!

Around the School in Poetry

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Hopefully your teachers will have shared a poem with you today (to celebrate National Poetry Day) but here are some of ones we suggested:


You can read lots of the others we suggetsed in 'The Very Best of Anon' (you'll find it at 821)

Favourite Poet - Michael Rosen

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Michael Rosen is a fantastic poet, enthusiastic and funny!

Listen and watch him reading more of his poems here

Find out more about himand read more of his poems at his webiste here

Personally I love his poem:

Where Broccoil Comes From
Not many people know
that broccoli grows in the armpits
of very big green men
who live in the forest
and brave broccoli cutters
go deep into the forests
and they creep up on the
very big green men.
They wait for the
very big green men
to fall asleep
and the broccoli cutters
get out their
great big broccoli razors
and they shave the
armpits
of the very big green men.
And that’s where broccoli
comes from.
Not many people know that.

Just thought I’d let you know.

Newspaper Blackout Poetry

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