Overview

Find out who cast the P from a spell; read about the queen who dreams of eating burgers and chips; see what happened to the friend who swallowed a DVD; best of all, learn the language of Cat. With wordplay and riddles, and poems that make you laugh, tell you stories and make you think, this is a remarkable debut collection from an exciting new children’s poet.

Reviews:

“It is always good to come across a new name in children’s poetry and Rachel Rooney is one to note. Having had more than 60 of her poems accepted for anthologies, Rooney has served her apprenticeship and deserves to have her first collection published in Janetta Otter-Barry’s new poety list for Frances Lincoln… Rooney writes persuasively, and often amusingly, about the ‘P’ word. Other poems are thoughtful, quirky, sensitive, amusing, occasionally edgy. Hers is a welcome new voice; she has alot of talent and has earned the Poet Laureate’s positive recommendation on the back cover. ‘A box of delights’, indeed.” – Books for Keeps

“A remarkably assured collection.” – Carousel

“Quirky, funny and thought-provoking. This is an entertaining little book to dip into on holidays.” – Irish Examiner

“5 Stars: Thoughtful, quirky, sensitive, amusing, occasionally edgy. Hers is a welcome new voice; she has a lot of talent and has earned the Poet Laureate’s positive recommendation on the back cover. ‘A box of delights’, indeed.” – Morag Styles Books for Keeps

“The poems are funny and quirky, with clever wordplay.” – Juno

“The distinctive drawings are a delicate strengthening of the reader’s feelings, including admiration.” – School Librarian

“With wordplay, riddles and poems that are funny, fast-paced, lyrical and thought-provoking, this is an exciting debut from an outstanding new poet.” – Lovereading

“Wordplay, riddles, fun poetic forms abound in this remarkably assured debut collection… These are poems that will make you laugh and think simultaneously – and ultimately yearn to learn the wonderful language of cat.” – Bookfest Ireland – Recommended Reading Guide

“This is not a children’s poetry book – it’s a book of poetry that many children will enjoy, but which deserves a place on the grown-up shelf, too. Many of the poems work on several levels, most are thought provoking, all are clever and illustrate the poet’s love of language and wordplay. There are poems about love, about growing up, about ambition, about loss and about the nature of poetry. This is the first solo collection by Rachel Rooney. I am sure it will be the first of many.” – Secret Lives of Poets

“Best Children’s Books of 2011: What a treat to find ‘The Language of Cat’ by Rachel Rooney. This debut collection is full of gems that can appeal to both a young reader – and an adult. Rooney makes sophisticated use of language and is at ease with a variety of poetic forms and rhythms. If this sounds serious, it is not. The whole is imbued with a subtle humour, presented with a smile and accompanied by charming line drawings by Ellie Jenkins. Above all ‘The Language of Cat’ celebrates words and the poet’s craft. This slim little book contains treasure. (Ferelith Hordon, Chair, the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Judges 2011.” – Books for Keeps

Paperback: 96 pages

ISBN: 9781847801678

Dimensions: 19 x 12.7 x 1 cm

Written by: Rachel Rooney

Illustrated by: Ellie Jenkins

About the Author:

Rachel Rooney trained and works as a special needs teacher, alongside visits to schools for poetry readings and workshops. Her debut collection of poems for older children The Language of Cat was the 2011 Poetry Book Society children’s choice. It also won the 2012 CLPE Award and was long listed for the Carnegie Medal. Her second collection of poems, for junior aged children My Life as a Goldfish came out in October 2014.

“Rachel Rooney’s poetry collection for children is a well-crafted, stimulating and unpatronising box of delights, always accessible and constantly inventive.” – Carol Ann Duffy