Author: Bob Cox
Publisher: Crown House Publishing
ISBN: 1845909208
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Opening Doors provides 20 units of work which includes poetry and prose from our literary heritage. Each unit of work has exciting stimulus material with creative suggestions for ways in which the material can be used for outstanding learning possibilities. Visuals and innovative ideas to help pupils' access the meaning and wonder of the text which will add to the appeal. Pupils are encouraged, throughout the units of work, to engage with language, invent questions and write with flair and accuracy, bringing literature from the past alive for them and opening doors to further reading and exploration. Also included is an introduction to the concepts used in the book and suggestions about a range of methods and pathways which can lead to language development and literary appreciation. Although the units are all different and have a range of poetry and prose for teachers to use, each unit will have some common sections to give a coherent and ambitious approach. Opening Doors both informs and excites, it gives fresh resources and suggests new ways of going on the journey to outstanding literacy achievement. For 7-11 year olds.
Opening Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose
Author: Bob Cox
Publisher: Crown House Publishing
ISBN: 1845909208
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Opening Doors provides 20 units of work which includes poetry and prose from our literary heritage. Each unit of work has exciting stimulus material with creative suggestions for ways in which the material can be used for outstanding learning possibilities. Visuals and innovative ideas to help pupils' access the meaning and wonder of the text which will add to the appeal. Pupils are encouraged, throughout the units of work, to engage with language, invent questions and write with flair and accuracy, bringing literature from the past alive for them and opening doors to further reading and exploration. Also included is an introduction to the concepts used in the book and suggestions about a range of methods and pathways which can lead to language development and literary appreciation. Although the units are all different and have a range of poetry and prose for teachers to use, each unit will have some common sections to give a coherent and ambitious approach. Opening Doors both informs and excites, it gives fresh resources and suggests new ways of going on the journey to outstanding literacy achievement. For 7-11 year olds.
Publisher: Crown House Publishing
ISBN: 1845909208
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Opening Doors provides 20 units of work which includes poetry and prose from our literary heritage. Each unit of work has exciting stimulus material with creative suggestions for ways in which the material can be used for outstanding learning possibilities. Visuals and innovative ideas to help pupils' access the meaning and wonder of the text which will add to the appeal. Pupils are encouraged, throughout the units of work, to engage with language, invent questions and write with flair and accuracy, bringing literature from the past alive for them and opening doors to further reading and exploration. Also included is an introduction to the concepts used in the book and suggestions about a range of methods and pathways which can lead to language development and literary appreciation. Although the units are all different and have a range of poetry and prose for teachers to use, each unit will have some common sections to give a coherent and ambitious approach. Opening Doors both informs and excites, it gives fresh resources and suggests new ways of going on the journey to outstanding literacy achievement. For 7-11 year olds.
Opening Doors to Quality Writing
Author: Bob Cox
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785831232
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 141
Book Description
In Opening Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose, Bob Cox introduced teachers to engaging strategies which use literary heritage texts as the stimulus for excellent learning. This new companion book, Opening Doors to Quality Writing, for ages 6 to 9, puts the focus on pupils producing quality writing - developing their literacy skills and a love of reading in the process. In the course of his educational consultancy work, Bob has seen many teachers successfully use the scope and depth which literature can offer to inspire high standards, mastery learning and, above all, a love of language in its many forms. Schools using the 'opening doors' strategies told Bob they led to: More teacher empowerment and confidence. More knowledge building for pupils and teachers. A growing confidence with literature, including poetry. Planning from the top becoming a norm. Planning for mastery learning becoming a norm. Improved comprehension skills. Improved quality writing and associated excitement. They also asked Bob for further examples of inspiring, quality texts, and more ways in which pupils of all abilities can access them. Bob was only too happy to oblige. These 15 units of work cover poetry and prose: each unit provides exciting stimulus material, creative ideas for writing projects, and differentiation and support strategies, meaning all pupils can achieve the quality writing objectives. All the units should help teachers facilitate understanding of the challenging texts and maximise the huge potential for quality writing. Discover a multitude of ready-to-use ideas, inspired by classic literature and great writers' works, along with plenty of new strategies and advice. The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series won the 2017 Education Resources Awards in the Educational Book Award category. Judges' Comments: "Described as two gems which provide innovative approaches to exploring quality texts as stimuli for children's writing. Judges described The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series as an invaluable resource, particularly for non-specialist teachers. Excellent literary choices contained within very attractively produced books." Opening Doors To Quality Writing: Ideas for writing inspired by great writers for ages 10 to 13
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785831232
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 141
Book Description
In Opening Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose, Bob Cox introduced teachers to engaging strategies which use literary heritage texts as the stimulus for excellent learning. This new companion book, Opening Doors to Quality Writing, for ages 6 to 9, puts the focus on pupils producing quality writing - developing their literacy skills and a love of reading in the process. In the course of his educational consultancy work, Bob has seen many teachers successfully use the scope and depth which literature can offer to inspire high standards, mastery learning and, above all, a love of language in its many forms. Schools using the 'opening doors' strategies told Bob they led to: More teacher empowerment and confidence. More knowledge building for pupils and teachers. A growing confidence with literature, including poetry. Planning from the top becoming a norm. Planning for mastery learning becoming a norm. Improved comprehension skills. Improved quality writing and associated excitement. They also asked Bob for further examples of inspiring, quality texts, and more ways in which pupils of all abilities can access them. Bob was only too happy to oblige. These 15 units of work cover poetry and prose: each unit provides exciting stimulus material, creative ideas for writing projects, and differentiation and support strategies, meaning all pupils can achieve the quality writing objectives. All the units should help teachers facilitate understanding of the challenging texts and maximise the huge potential for quality writing. Discover a multitude of ready-to-use ideas, inspired by classic literature and great writers' works, along with plenty of new strategies and advice. The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series won the 2017 Education Resources Awards in the Educational Book Award category. Judges' Comments: "Described as two gems which provide innovative approaches to exploring quality texts as stimuli for children's writing. Judges described The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series as an invaluable resource, particularly for non-specialist teachers. Excellent literary choices contained within very attractively produced books." Opening Doors To Quality Writing: Ideas for writing inspired by great writers for ages 10 to 13
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 10 to 13 (Opening Doors series)
Author: Verity Jones
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785834517
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 231
Book Description
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 10 to 13 takes Bob Cox's award-winning 'Opening Doors' series into bold new territories, providing a treasury of techniques and strategies all carefully selected to support the design of a deeper, more creative and more expansive curriculum. Together with Leah Crawford and Verity Jones, Bob has compiled this rich resource to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths. It includes 15 ready-to-use units of work covering a range of inspiring poetry and prose from across the literary tradition, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox. Bob, Leah and Verity's innovative ideas on theory, best practice and how to cultivate a pioneering classroom spirit are all integrated into the lesson suggestions, which have been designed for both the teacher's and the learners' immediate benefit. Together they empower teachers to explore with their learners the scope and depth of literature capable of inspiring high standards and instilling a love of language in its many forms. Furthermore, they help teachers to lay down intricate curricular pathways that will prompt their pupils to better enjoy literature, read and analyse texts with a greater sense of curiosity, and write with more originality. The book includes a great range of texts both as the core of each unit and as link reading, incorporating some contemporary texts to show how past and present co-exist - and how various literary styles can be taught using similar principles, all of which are open to further adaptation. The authors have also suggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples with which you can work. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need in order to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable, and the book also includes a helpful glossary of key terms.
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785834517
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 231
Book Description
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 10 to 13 takes Bob Cox's award-winning 'Opening Doors' series into bold new territories, providing a treasury of techniques and strategies all carefully selected to support the design of a deeper, more creative and more expansive curriculum. Together with Leah Crawford and Verity Jones, Bob has compiled this rich resource to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths. It includes 15 ready-to-use units of work covering a range of inspiring poetry and prose from across the literary tradition, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox. Bob, Leah and Verity's innovative ideas on theory, best practice and how to cultivate a pioneering classroom spirit are all integrated into the lesson suggestions, which have been designed for both the teacher's and the learners' immediate benefit. Together they empower teachers to explore with their learners the scope and depth of literature capable of inspiring high standards and instilling a love of language in its many forms. Furthermore, they help teachers to lay down intricate curricular pathways that will prompt their pupils to better enjoy literature, read and analyse texts with a greater sense of curiosity, and write with more originality. The book includes a great range of texts both as the core of each unit and as link reading, incorporating some contemporary texts to show how past and present co-exist - and how various literary styles can be taught using similar principles, all of which are open to further adaptation. The authors have also suggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples with which you can work. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need in order to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable, and the book also includes a helpful glossary of key terms.
Opening Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781845909192
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781845909192
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
The Land of Counterpane
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781609731526
Category : Children's poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Presents an illustrated poem from Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses."
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781609731526
Category : Children's poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Presents an illustrated poem from Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses."
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 6 to 9 (Opening Doors series)
Author: Verity Jones
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785834614
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 6 to 9 takes Bob Cox's award-winning 'Opening Doors' series into bold new territories, providing a treasury of techniques and strategies all carefully selected to support the design of a deeper, more creative and more expansive curriculum. Together with Leah Crawford and Verity Jones, Bob has compiled this rich resource to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths. It includes 15 ready-to-use units of work covering a range of inspiring poetry and prose from across the literary tradition, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox. Bob, Leah and Verity's innovative ideas on theory, best practice and how to cultivate a pioneering classroom spirit are all integrated into the lesson suggestions, which have been designed for both the teacher's and the learners' immediate benefit. Together they empower teachers to explore with their learners the scope and depth of literature capable of inspiring high standards and instilling a love of language in its many forms. Furthermore, they help teachers to lay down intricate curricular pathways that will prompt their pupils to better enjoy literature, read and analyse texts with a greater sense of curiosity, and write with more originality. The book includes a great range of texts both as the core of each unit and as link reading, incorporating some contemporary texts to show how past and present co-exist and how various literary styles can be taught using similar principles, all of which are open to further adaptation. The authors have also suggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples with which you can work. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need in order to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable, and the book also includes a helpful glossary of key terms.
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785834614
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
Opening Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 6 to 9 takes Bob Cox's award-winning 'Opening Doors' series into bold new territories, providing a treasury of techniques and strategies all carefully selected to support the design of a deeper, more creative and more expansive curriculum. Together with Leah Crawford and Verity Jones, Bob has compiled this rich resource to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths. It includes 15 ready-to-use units of work covering a range of inspiring poetry and prose from across the literary tradition, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox. Bob, Leah and Verity's innovative ideas on theory, best practice and how to cultivate a pioneering classroom spirit are all integrated into the lesson suggestions, which have been designed for both the teacher's and the learners' immediate benefit. Together they empower teachers to explore with their learners the scope and depth of literature capable of inspiring high standards and instilling a love of language in its many forms. Furthermore, they help teachers to lay down intricate curricular pathways that will prompt their pupils to better enjoy literature, read and analyse texts with a greater sense of curiosity, and write with more originality. The book includes a great range of texts both as the core of each unit and as link reading, incorporating some contemporary texts to show how past and present co-exist and how various literary styles can be taught using similar principles, all of which are open to further adaptation. The authors have also suggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples with which you can work. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need in order to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable, and the book also includes a helpful glossary of key terms.
The Hatred of Poetry
Author: Ben Lerner
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0865478201
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97
Book Description
"The novelist and poet Ben Lerner argues that our hatred of poetry is ultimately a sign of its nagging relevance"--
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0865478201
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97
Book Description
"The novelist and poet Ben Lerner argues that our hatred of poetry is ultimately a sign of its nagging relevance"--
Opening Doors to Quality Writing
Author: Bob Cox
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785831267
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 141
Book Description
In the course of his educational consultancy work, Bob has seen many teachers successfully use the scope and depth which literature can offer to inspire high standards, mastery learning and, above all, a love of language in its many forms. Schools using the 'opening doors' strategies told Bob they led to: More teacher empowerment and confidence. More knowledge building for pupils and teachers. A growing confidence with literature, including poetry. Planning from the top becoming a norm. Planning for mastery learning becoming a norm. Improved comprehension skills. Improved quality writing and associated excitement. They also asked Bob for further examples of inspiring, quality texts, and more ways in which all abilities can access them. Bob was only too happy to oblige. These 15 units of work cover poetry and prose: each unit provides exciting stimulus material, creative ideas for writing projects, and differentiation and support strategies, meaning all pupils can achieve the quality writing objectives. All the units should help teachers facilitate understanding of the challenging texts and maximise the huge potential for quality writing. Discover a multitude of ready-to-use ideas, inspired by classic literature and great writers' works, along with plenty of new strategies and advice. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable a link to the download web page is provided in the book. Units include: (Click on the links below to view a collection of written work produced by school children aged 10 to 13 who are following the passages and exercises related to the texts included in this book) Part 1: Opening doors to prose 1. Night Encounter - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins 2. Spooky Scientists! - The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards 3. The Strongest Looking Brute in Alaska - That Spot by Jack London 4. Mr Knickerbocker's Notes - Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving 5. The Portrait of Doom - Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 6. The Hell Hound - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 7. Sinister Spaces - Metamorphosis and The Castle by Franz Kafka 9. All in This House is Mossing Over - From 'Mementos' by Charlotte Bronte 10. Dancing the Skies - 'High Flight' by John Gillespie Magee, Jr 11. The Mystery of the Lonely Merman - 'The Forsaken Merman' by Matthew Arnold 12. Making Magic Talk - 'The Magnifying Glass' by Walter de la Mare 13. The Spirit in the Garden - 'A Garden at Night' by James Reeves 14. A Shropshire Lad - 'Blue Remembered Hills' by A. E. Housman 15. The Silver Heel - 'I Started Early - Took My Dog' by Emily Dickinson The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series won the 2017 Education Resources Awards in the Educational Book Award category. Judges' Comments: "Described as two gems which provide innovative approaches to exploring quality texts as stimuli for children's writing. Judges described The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series as an invaluable resource, particularly for non-specialist teachers. Excellent literary choices contained within very attractively produced books." Opening Doors To Quality Writing: Ideas For Writing Inspired By Great Writers For Ages 6 To 9
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785831267
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 141
Book Description
In the course of his educational consultancy work, Bob has seen many teachers successfully use the scope and depth which literature can offer to inspire high standards, mastery learning and, above all, a love of language in its many forms. Schools using the 'opening doors' strategies told Bob they led to: More teacher empowerment and confidence. More knowledge building for pupils and teachers. A growing confidence with literature, including poetry. Planning from the top becoming a norm. Planning for mastery learning becoming a norm. Improved comprehension skills. Improved quality writing and associated excitement. They also asked Bob for further examples of inspiring, quality texts, and more ways in which all abilities can access them. Bob was only too happy to oblige. These 15 units of work cover poetry and prose: each unit provides exciting stimulus material, creative ideas for writing projects, and differentiation and support strategies, meaning all pupils can achieve the quality writing objectives. All the units should help teachers facilitate understanding of the challenging texts and maximise the huge potential for quality writing. Discover a multitude of ready-to-use ideas, inspired by classic literature and great writers' works, along with plenty of new strategies and advice. All of the extracts and illustrations you will need to begin opening doors in your classroom are downloadable a link to the download web page is provided in the book. Units include: (Click on the links below to view a collection of written work produced by school children aged 10 to 13 who are following the passages and exercises related to the texts included in this book) Part 1: Opening doors to prose 1. Night Encounter - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins 2. Spooky Scientists! - The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards 3. The Strongest Looking Brute in Alaska - That Spot by Jack London 4. Mr Knickerbocker's Notes - Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving 5. The Portrait of Doom - Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 6. The Hell Hound - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 7. Sinister Spaces - Metamorphosis and The Castle by Franz Kafka 9. All in This House is Mossing Over - From 'Mementos' by Charlotte Bronte 10. Dancing the Skies - 'High Flight' by John Gillespie Magee, Jr 11. The Mystery of the Lonely Merman - 'The Forsaken Merman' by Matthew Arnold 12. Making Magic Talk - 'The Magnifying Glass' by Walter de la Mare 13. The Spirit in the Garden - 'A Garden at Night' by James Reeves 14. A Shropshire Lad - 'Blue Remembered Hills' by A. E. Housman 15. The Silver Heel - 'I Started Early - Took My Dog' by Emily Dickinson The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series won the 2017 Education Resources Awards in the Educational Book Award category. Judges' Comments: "Described as two gems which provide innovative approaches to exploring quality texts as stimuli for children's writing. Judges described The Opening Doors to Quality Writing series as an invaluable resource, particularly for non-specialist teachers. Excellent literary choices contained within very attractively produced books." Opening Doors To Quality Writing: Ideas For Writing Inspired By Great Writers For Ages 6 To 9
Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary EnglishPitching high and including all
Author: Julie Sargent
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785836730
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 199
Book Description
Together with Leah Crawford, Angela Jenkins and Julie Sargent, Bob Cox has compiled this rich resource, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox, to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths.Working in association with the Opening Doors network of schools, the authors address the vital concept of pitching high but including all pupils and how this approach can be delivered in practice. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishexplains and models top quality ways of thinking, planning and teaching. Theresources, case studies andauthors' innovative ideas on theorywill help you to make primary English vibrant, creative and challenging in your school. It alsoprovides frameworks and principlesfor any school wishing to be more ambitious in developing pupils' speaking, listening, reading, writing and thinking witha greater sense of curiosity and more originality. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishcontains chapter by chapter explanations of how English in primary schools can be developed in ambitious ways. Supported by research references, examples of pupils' work and illuminating case studies, the book provides teachers with a toolkit of strategies which schools can adapt and apply to their own contexts. The book is supported by the Opening Doors series of books which contain units of work based around selected texts. The authors hope this book will act as a starting block from which to develop an Opening Doors approach to English, and havesuggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples to work from. Suitable for teachers and curriculum leads in primary settings.
Publisher: Crown House Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1785836730
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 199
Book Description
Together with Leah Crawford, Angela Jenkins and Julie Sargent, Bob Cox has compiled this rich resource, complete with vivid illustrations by Victoria Cox, to help teachers enhance their learners' engagement with challenging texts and develop their writing skills as budding wordsmiths.Working in association with the Opening Doors network of schools, the authors address the vital concept of pitching high but including all pupils and how this approach can be delivered in practice. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishexplains and models top quality ways of thinking, planning and teaching. Theresources, case studies andauthors' innovative ideas on theorywill help you to make primary English vibrant, creative and challenging in your school. It alsoprovides frameworks and principlesfor any school wishing to be more ambitious in developing pupils' speaking, listening, reading, writing and thinking witha greater sense of curiosity and more originality. Opening Doors to Ambitious Primary Englishcontains chapter by chapter explanations of how English in primary schools can be developed in ambitious ways. Supported by research references, examples of pupils' work and illuminating case studies, the book provides teachers with a toolkit of strategies which schools can adapt and apply to their own contexts. The book is supported by the Opening Doors series of books which contain units of work based around selected texts. The authors hope this book will act as a starting block from which to develop an Opening Doors approach to English, and havesuggested key concepts around which the curriculum can be built, with the units providing examples to work from. Suitable for teachers and curriculum leads in primary settings.
Vanishing Acts
Author: Brian Barker
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN: 0809337274
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 73
Book Description
In Vanishing Acts, Brian Barker cements his reputation as one of contemporary poetry’s great surrealists. These prose poems read like dreams and nightmares, fables and myths. With a dark whimsicality, Barker explores such topics as extinction, power, class, the consequences of tyranny and war, and the ongoing destruction of the environment in the name of progress. A linked sequence of poems forms the book’s backbone, with an oracular voice from the future heralding the return—or hoped for return—of common animals. Part lyrical odes, part creation myths, part excerpts from a bizarre guide for naturalists, these poems mix fact and fiction, science and fable to create an unsettling vision of a dystopian world stricken by extinction, one where the world’s last catfish sleeps “in the shadow of a hydroelectric dam.” The imaginative language and bizarre stories of these poems are perfectly suited to capture a world that no longer makes sense: a man who wears a toupee to hide an injury inflicted by secret police, a group of villagers who make a bad bargain with a land agent. The poems in Vanishing Acts straddle the comic and the tragic. They are by turns funny and haunting and ripe with scathing satire. They draw on the genres of speculative and science fiction as much as poetic traditions, and speak to the precarious state of man and the natural world in the twenty-first century.
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
ISBN: 0809337274
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 73
Book Description
In Vanishing Acts, Brian Barker cements his reputation as one of contemporary poetry’s great surrealists. These prose poems read like dreams and nightmares, fables and myths. With a dark whimsicality, Barker explores such topics as extinction, power, class, the consequences of tyranny and war, and the ongoing destruction of the environment in the name of progress. A linked sequence of poems forms the book’s backbone, with an oracular voice from the future heralding the return—or hoped for return—of common animals. Part lyrical odes, part creation myths, part excerpts from a bizarre guide for naturalists, these poems mix fact and fiction, science and fable to create an unsettling vision of a dystopian world stricken by extinction, one where the world’s last catfish sleeps “in the shadow of a hydroelectric dam.” The imaginative language and bizarre stories of these poems are perfectly suited to capture a world that no longer makes sense: a man who wears a toupee to hide an injury inflicted by secret police, a group of villagers who make a bad bargain with a land agent. The poems in Vanishing Acts straddle the comic and the tragic. They are by turns funny and haunting and ripe with scathing satire. They draw on the genres of speculative and science fiction as much as poetic traditions, and speak to the precarious state of man and the natural world in the twenty-first century.