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Funny, thought-provoking and bursting with curiosity, Wise Up! Wise Down! is a lively conversation between two internationally renowned poets, illustrated by treasured artist Satoshi Kitamura. How can laughter be more powerful than a sword? Why do days have names but not weeks? And do pigeons ever get a craving for cake? Two friends, internationally acclaimed poets John Agard and JonArno Lawson, take us on an inspiring, hilarious and wondrous journey through poetry, asking questions and attempting answers as they discover that life really is a forever and ever adventure. Praise for Wise Up! Wise Down!"Curious minds will love the poems... Poetry at its most creative and versatile is what readers will discover in this most wonderous journey through words, ideas and pictures ~ on the page and in the mind." Armadillo Magazine"A fun collection of poetry." Left on the Shelf"Three awesome creative people from children's literature have collaborated on what is sure to become a favourite poetry book for many readers ... A terrific book." Red Reading Hub
About the author
Best known for his collections of Caribbean poetry, John is also a well-known writer, anthologist and performer of poetry for children and adults. He was born in Guyana and came to Britain in 1977. He has won many prizes, including the Smarties Book Prize and the Queen’s Gold Medal and in 2021 was awarded the prestigious BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding contribution to children's literature. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and his work appears in an AQA anthology for GCSE English Literature. He is the author of the Carnegie-longlisted My Name Is Book and John Agard's Windrush Child.JonArno Lawson is an award-winning poet and writer who is the author of many books for children and adults, including Over the Shop and A Day for Sandcastles, both illustrated by Qin Leng, and Footpath Flowers, illustrated by Sydney Smith. He has also written Wise Up! Wise Down! with John Agard, a funny children’s poetry collection with illustrations by acclaimed artist Satoshi Kitamura. He has won the Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Children’s Poetry four times and has also won the Governor General's Award for Illustrated Children's Books. He has taught children’s poetry at Simmons University and UBC, and lives in Toronto, Canada, with his family.A renowned children's author and illustrator whose quirky perspectives and brilliant watercolours won him the Mother Goose Award for the Most Exciting Newcomer to British Illustration 1983.
