Arts and Literature

It was great to see almost as many children as adults in attendance and as Carol Ann began with her humorous fairytale of Queen Munch and Queen Nibble, the audience settled into what would be a magical, and hugely enjoyable poetical journey.

Ranging across her growing repertoire of children’s poetry, including poems from her new collection The Hat, Carol Ann’s readings focused on the fun of language and storytelling.

From the tragicomic impossible love story, A Crow and a Scarecrow, to the witty word play in The Who, there was something for every member of the audience. 

The poetry was performed in bite-size chunks and, to save little attention spans from wandering, was punctuated with musical interludes from versatile musician John Sampson.

John played an array of toe-tapping tunes on a bewildering selection of recorders, horns and pipes. The children in the audience were encouraged to clap and stamp along, which they did with such enthusiasm that it soon became infectious.

The music, up beat and playful, was the perfect accompaniment to the rhythms and exuberance of the verse, making the reading an enchanting experience for every member of the family.

Manchester Literature Festival runs from 4-14 October at various venues. Check the festival website for details.