Be the Change - poetry book review

Title: Be the Change. Poems to Help You Save the World

Publishing Date: 2019

Publisher: MacMillan Children’s Books

Suggested reading age: 6-10

Keywords: Poetry; change; global issues

Opening: The poem that opens the book is the upbeat and cheerful poem by Matt Goodfellow “Start Now”:

be the change

you want to see

walk the walk

stand with me

take the challenge

spread the word

we can make

our voices heard

every single

action helps

with a friend

or by yourself

be the change

you want to see

walk the walk

stand with me

Matt Goodfellow

Summary:

Three wonderful British poets, Matt Goodfellow, Liz Brownlee and Roger Stevens, worked together to create this anthology of 59 poems on various global issues for all young changemakers.

It is divided into three major themes:

• Ways to change the world

• The Natural World

• Tricky Questions, Talking Points

Opinion:

There are poems that are very serious, there are some which use humour, and some that might make you teary. The poems not only inform and teach us to be good citizens of our only planet, but they also entertain and inspire.

One can find a short explanation after each poem that mainly talks about the issue the poem tackles.

Rating: