POETRY IN THE MAKING HANDBOOK FOR WRITING AND TEACHING

'IN A SERIES OF CHAPTERS BUILT ROUND POEMS BY A NUMBER OF WRITERS INCLUDING HIMSELF...TED HUGHES EXPLORES, COLORFULLY AND INTENSIVELY, THEMES SUCH AS 'CAPTURING ANIMALS', 'WIND AND WEATHER' AND 'WRITING ABOUT PEOPLE'. THE PURPOSE THROUGHOUT IS TO LEAD ON, VIA A DISCUSSION OF THE POEMS (WHICH HE DOES WITH RIVETING SKILL) TO SOME DIRECT ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CHILDREN TO THINK AND WRITE FOR THEMSELVES. HE MAKES THE WHOLE VENTURE SEEM ENJOYABLE, AND SOMEHOW URGENT...' - "TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT".