Norman MacCaig's poetry is clear and lucid and filled with the shifting light of Edinburgh and Assynt. MacCaig stands in the first rank of twentieth-century poets: Seamus Heaney said of him, "He means poetry to me". Roderick Watson's SCOTNOTE study guide will enhance any student's enjoyment of MacCaig's poetry, as well as providing a deeper understanding of the poet's craft.

A superb collection of football poems covering a range of different aspects of the game - referees, team talk, 1966 World Cup and more. Written in a variety of verse forms - sonnets, rhyming couplets, narrative poems, etc. Just as good as Allan Ahlberg's previous collections and again supported by Fritz Wegner's appealing artwork.

Exam Board: AQA Level: GCSE Grade 9-1 Subject: English Literature Suitable for the 2023 exams Everything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guide Everything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise Lord of the Flies by William Golding in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

Robin Jenkins's greatest novel is a powerful examination of good and evil, set against the backdrop of a Scottish estate during World War II. With its themes of class-conflict, war, evil and envy, this is a towering work of fiction that remains as relevant today as when it was first published. Suspenseful, dark and unforgettable, it is one of the masterpieces of modern Scottish literature. Iain Crichton Smith's SCOTNOTE study guide is a skilful and intelligent guide to the themes and characters of the novel, and explores the religious, philosophical and moral questions that it poses. Suitable for senior school pupils and students of all ages.

Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off is the best-known and most critically acclaimed of Liz Lochhead's plays. Dramatising the religious and political history of Scotland from a particularly female point of view, it remains popular with audiences and with the author herself, who sees the work as "a metaphor for the Scots today". Margery Palmer McCulloch's SCOTNOTE study guide provides a background to the history and to the dramatic presentation, as well as giving an overview of the modern context of Lochhead's play, for senior school pupils and students at all levels.

Kazito's grandmother tells him the fascinating story of his great grandfather and his special necklace, called a dambo. This story will give learners insight into the plight of the Ndebele tribe in the 1870's.

The Smart-Kids Read! series is designed and created by teachers and reading specialists to help children learn to read confidently and enjoy reading. The series is perfect for children who are starting to recognise words. All the books include notes for parents, a wordlist and activities to enhance comprehension skills. Kids will have such fun, they won't even know they're learning!Smart-Kids Read! Level 4 is for children who are ready to read longer paragraphs. At this level, children rely less on the illustrations to read the text, but the pictures add interest and provide support. The stories are more complex than at previous levels and build on and extend reading vocabulary. Once a child recognises sentences, they are ready to follow the adventures of the loveable Smart-Kids characters in Level 4.

Delightful collection of 60 limericks includes famous rhymes by such masters of the form as Gelett Burgess, Oliver Herford, and Edward Lear, as well as lesser-known works by these and other humorists, including the editor himself. Fun to read, easy to memorize and great to share with family and friends, each entertaining snippet of verse is accompanied by an equally humorous illustration.

James Hogg's most famous novel is an unforgettable tale of mystery, murder, religious fanaticism, folklore, horror, and fantasy. Strikingly modern in style and tone, the intricate structure and eerie atmosphere of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner makes it a favourite text for classroom study. Elaine Petrie's Scotnote carefully exposes and explains the numerous layers of this classic novel, and is ideal for senior school pupils and students.

Twelve Shakespeare plays presented afresh by Leon Garfield in narrative form. These are not simple retellings, but more like a refashioning of the dramas as stories, which remain true to the essential spirit of the original versions. The author has captured all the richness of character, plot, mood and setting in Shakespeare's works. It is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for the young.

Key features of this text: * How to study the text * Author and historical background * General and detailed summaries * Commentary on themes, structure, characters, language and style * Glossaries * Test questions and issues to consider * Essay writing advice * Cultural connections * Literary terms * Illustrations * Colour design

This collation of 25 poems introduce Robert Frost to young people. The selections are arranged by the seasons and Sorensen's handsome watercolour illustrations capture the feel of the New England landscape without in any way trying to provide literal images for the poetry. There's an excellent biographical essay and, at the bottom of each page, Schmidt provides a brief note on some of the possible ways to read the lines...These nature poems show that poetry holds feelings and ideas that everyone can understand.

The Heinemann Plays series offers contemporary drama and classic plays in classroom editions. Many have large casts and an equal mix of boy and girl parts. This play discusses racial tension in the heart of the American South.

In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater.
Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world." Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.

An extensive range of poetry is offered in this anthology, including traditional, contemporary, South African and women's poetry. A variety of special features are offered to make the poetry more enjoyable and accessible: biographical notes about the poet's life and times; in-depth commentaries aimed at evoking discussion and discovery; questions to bothe guide and challenge the reader and skill-based activities to practise writing, speaking and interactive language.

The Heinemann Plays series offers contemporary drama and classic plays in durable classroom editions. Many have large casts and an equal mix of boy and girl parts. This play is an adaptation of the humorous diary of a young intellectual, suffering the traumas of love, parental divorce and spots.

This series of unabridged Shakespeare titles is based on the premise that students can reach a clear understanding of their work only through a close and careful reading of the text. The commentary facing each page of the text has been designed to suggest a critical interpretation of the play.

No parent, teacher or nursery group should be without this classic treasury. There are songs, rhymes and games for every occasion, all chosen for their proven popularity with young children. Collected from all over Britain, the contents reflect the cultural diversity of the nation, making it an outstandingly rich and stimulating collection. Since the first edition of This Little Puffin was published over thirty years ago, it has been revised and updated, allowing it to remain the most invaluable book of its kind.

Charles Dickens' timeless story is brought to life in this vibrant new version by the award-winning playwright Neil Duffield. Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it is for everyone except the miserable Scrooge. He prefers to spend Christmas all alone in his large house, instead of celebrating with mistletoe and merriment. Bah, humbug! But one cold, dark Christmas Eve Scrooge is surprised by the ghost of Marley, his former business partner. Marley warns Scrooge that he will be called upon by three spirits - each will take him on a mysterious and magical journey to show him the error of his ways... Can Scrooge discover the true wonder and meaning of Christmas before it's too late?

Lists in rhyme the dwellings of various animals and things.