Member Reviews

3.5 stars. This is a real nice little book about poems.....especially meant for around Halloween time. There's a variety of levels of poetry in the book, some simple....easy to read aloud & understand, especially for little's......& there are some more intricate works, that I'm not sure little kids would especially latch on to. The really neat thing about the book is the bits of instruction on the different types of poetry & how to write it yourself....the author gives examples & easy instructions. I quite liked the book, & it's illustrations were easy to understand & grasp too. Yeah, I'd recommend it!
I received an e-copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest review, via NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group-Wide Eyed Editions.

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2 ⭐️

I went into this with high hopes, but the poems in this book are just sort of blah. I like poems that are clever and thought out, the poems in this book feel like they are quickly put together and there is nothing clever about them.

I would not recommend this book.



**Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions | Wide Eyed Editions for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**

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Este libro fue muy educativo; tiene un concepto diferente al que se suele encontrar. Me gustó que con cada poema venía un ejercicio y también una lección sobre el estilo de cada poema, animando al lector a aprender y crear ese estilo por sí mismo. Realmente aprecié ese aspecto de este libro de poesía.

Los poemas en sí estaban bien; no me gustaron todos y sentí que algunos podrían haber sido un poco más espeluznantes y que otros podrían haber estado redactados un poco mejor. Sin embargo, fueron una buena lectura y sé que a los niños les encantarían.

Las ilustraciones en cada página eran muy divertidas de ver; antes de leer los poemas, ya puedes ver de qué se tratará cada uno y me gustó mucho mirarlas.

Me gusta este estilo de libro de poesía; es una forma mucho más fácil y divertida de ayudar a los niños a crear poesía por sí mismos. Tienen la guía y hasta algunas ideas que se les ofrecen, está dividido en secciones pequeñas y es simple para ellos.

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Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

Joseph Coelho does it again! A master in his craft, this book is filled with wonderfully spooky and creepy poems, limericks, and even prompts for readers to write their own creative poems. Throughout the book, Coelho teaches about different parts of speech like adjectives or onomatopoeia, and different types and parts of poems like a villanelle or a pantoum. The poems are creepy, creative, and very enjoyable to read, while the illustrations help to increase the spooky atmosphere. This book is a wonderful addition to any poetry collection, especially if you have readers who like scary reads!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy! What a cute, fun, and funny children’s book, perfect to read on Halloween! Great illustrations to go with.

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These are such cute little poems, easy for kids to read out loud and even memorize. There is a little potty humor so if you don't want your kiddo exposed to that, maybe skip it. I personally don't care. This is really fun and adorable!

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A children's poetry collection with some adorably spooky illustrations? Bring it on please. This is an amazing little poetry collection for the tiny poetry enthusiasts, especially since it's Spooktober! There are 25 poems to be read aloud with your children (or sometimes like in my case, by yourself) and guess what? These poems come with prompts for them tiny tots to write a poem of their own. Also, what I particularly liked was this teaches about villanelle poetic form, the difference between renga and tanka, a pantoum and so on. I do not remember reading a poetry collection which offered such unique features for the children to look upto and learn while enjoying the funny amd spooky poems. And lastly, I'd like to emphasize once more that the illustrations were really adorable along with the spooky poems of this collection.

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I absolutely love this book of poems and from a teacher's and librarian's point of view, it is beyond perfect for creating mini-lessons and teaching not only the elements of poetry but how to write poems. I love how many of the poems have little starter prompts and cannot wait to purchase a physical copy to use with my students. I already know that we will be drawing a witch and comparing them to our peers.

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I must admit I did not expect myself to be so bored by a spooky book. I love all things Halloween and monsters and creepy, but this little poems book for kids was not it. Some poems were nice and fun, but overall I felt like this book did not quite deliver.

Also, the poems instructions and notes were not needed - I know this could work as a nice activity for kids, but maybe it was a little bit too much and it did not fit the book.

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I enjoyed "Spooky Poems Aloud" by Joseph Coelho. The poems were funny and creative. I appreciated the writing prompts and learning about different forms of poetry. Love the illustrations. I plan to check out some of Coelho's other poetry collections. Good seasonal read. Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions and NetGalley for the eARC.

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Spooky Poems Aloud

By @josephcoelhoauthor and @dgraybarnett

Fantastic poems and interactive. I think this would be perfect for teachers to use during spooky season for young ones trying to learn how to write poems, or just for fun at home.

I would get this for my kiddos, I think they would have a blast with this book.

Thank you @netgalley , @wideeyededitions and @quartokids for letting me read this through you!

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This is such a great book to help introduce many different types of poems to kids! Love the spooky theme too 🦇

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A great book for a young reader and a budding poet at Halloween! It’s not only got a great collection of some wonderful spooky poems but also simply explains a few types of poems that were included and that you could play with (a few I hadn’t even heard of - which was great) and prompts to write some of your own.

I really loved some of these and as I was reading this around Halloween- the timing was perfect. It was fun, educational without feeling like a lesson and a great activity to do with your kids.

The pictures are great too and it’s quite a short read that can be read in one sitting or spread out to fully participate and enjoy and do the activities. It will definitely get your creative brain going!

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These poems are exactly what the title promises! Spooky and perfect for reading aloud. I loved that each page explained the type of poem and challenged the reader to write that type or use that poem for inspiration of their own. In terms of possible favorite poems from this collection: Vampire Club Rules
Zombie Memories
The Skeleton in the Basement

I can see this being a hit!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for a copy of this book.

This is a cute little poem book perfect for children at Halloween or even for boo buckets. A couple I thought might be scary depending on age but overall super cute book.

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Book Review: Spooky Poems Aloud: 25 Poems to Frighten and Delight by Joseph Coelho and Daniel Gray-Barnett

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Spooky Poems Aloud by Joseph Coelho, and wow, what a delightful treat! With a charming mix of giggles and ghouls, this collection features 25 spooky poems aimed at young readers and aspiring performers. Coelho, a Children’s Laureate, really knows how to capture the imagination of kids, and this collection is a testament to that.

The poems range from spine-chilling snippets that might make you jump to whimsical verses that can enchant everything from a witch’s cat to your own funny bone. I loved how each poem came with an explanation of its style and a prompt for readers to write their own. This not only adds an interactive element but also makes it an incredible teaching resource. Can you imagine how fun it would be to borrow this book in the classroom? It’s a fantastic tool for encouraging kids to read aloud and develop their speech and drama skills.

First off, let me just say that I absolutely adore the cover! It’s playful and perfectly sets the stage for the spooky fun that awaits inside. As for the poems themselves, they are mild on the spooky scale, making them perfect for the intended age group. They strike a great balance between being engaging and entertaining without being too frightening—ideal for kids who might be nervous about anything too creepy.

The illustrations by Daniel Gray-Barnett are another highlight. They complement the poems beautifully, adding a layer of visual engagement that keeps young readers captivated. Each page feels alive with color and character, making it even more enjoyable to explore.

Overall, Spooky Poems Aloud is a fantastic collection that not only entertains but also educates. It's a perfect addition to any child's bookshelf, especially as Halloween approaches. If you’re looking for a fun way to spark creativity in young minds or simply want to share some giggles and ghouls with the little ones, this book is a must-read! I’d give it a solid four stars for its charm, creativity, and ability to inspire.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

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I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Spooky Poems Aloud is a fun and educational book for children containing 25 poems for the spooky season. Each poem had an explanation for the reader as to the style/type of poem it was and a prompt for them to try to write their own poem, too. This aspect would make it a fantastic teaching resource in the classroom for children to borrow and use as well as for a tool in lessons.
The poems were very mild on the spooky level but fun and interesting, which the intended audience age will enjoy. The illustrations were fun and engaging, too.

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We are a family that loves Halloween and this fun collection of poems was perfectly fun. These poems are so fun to read out loud or as a fun whisper story time. Some are silly and some can give you chills. We had such a fun time reading these together. We found some favorites for sure, like Vampire Club Rules and The Tower. These were created with young readers in mind and a great opportunity to help children practice reading aloud and in front of others. Get creative with this fun book for your whole family.

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Spooky Poems Aloud, written by Joseph Coelho, is a funny, spooky, and educational book of poetry perfect for elementary readers! This book features different types and forms of poems, and is a great seasonal book to read. I loved how the author tells the reader about the type of poem, gives them an example, and encourages them to write one for themselves, even giving ideas and suggestions if needed! I also feel like this book is just the perfect amount of spooky, and humor, for a young reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A fun, attractively illustrated collection of child-accessible poems to read aloud or on their own. Pictures can make for a fun interactive read when reading in pairs or a small group. Great fun for family and classrooms.

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