Drawing together the work of 10 leading playwrights, this National Theatre Connections anthology features work by some of the most exciting and established contemporary playwrights. Gathered together in one volume, the plays collected offer young performers between the ages of 13 and 19 an engaging selection of material to perform, read or study. Each play has been specifically commissioned by the National Theatre's literary department with the young performer in mind. The anthology contains 10 play scripts; notes from the writer and director of each play, addressing the themes and ideas behind the play; and production notes and exercises for the drama groups. This year's anniversary anthology includes plays by Suhayla El-Bushra, Anders Lustgarten, Robin French, Tim Etchells, Patrick Marber, Kellie Smith, Lizzie Nunnery, Harriet Braun and Alistair McDowall.

Simon Ireland has worked as an English teacher for 35 years and brought many poets into schools for workshops, Book Weeks and the like. Now he has published a collection of his work for 7-13 year olds, with the aim of entertaining and educating young readers. Each poem is matched by questions designed to prompt pupils to think about the meaning in the verses and explore the ideas in them more widely. The book has been designed to encourage youngsters to read more widely and even have a go themselves. An entertaining and instructive introduction to poetry for youngsters.