John Rice has visited over 2,000 schools, libraries, arts centres, theatres and festivals to read his poetry and tell stories. He has published 13 books for children, young people and adults, the latest of which is ‘Guzzling Jelly with Giant Gorbelly’ published by Macmillan.
His poetry has been included in over contemporary 300 anthologies and educational books as well as being featured regularly on radio and TV. He is currently Scottish Arts Council’s Poet-in-Residence in Glasgow working with a host of organisations such as the Science Centre, Transport Museum, Deaf Connections, Glasgow Education, Culture & Sport to promote poetry and storytelling across the city.
Visits
John is available to visit infant, primary or secondary schools. A typical visit to a Primary School usually includes a Poetry & Storytelling performance for all KS1 children, followed by a performance for all KS2 children (performances last one hour with no limits on numbers: parents are encouraged to be present). The afternoon features two 60- or 70-minute creative workshops for Years 5 or 6 children (30 maximum in each workshop). During the workshops children are involved in elements of analysing story, creating new stories, devising, dramatising, performing and offering critical advice to their peers. Much of the work is based on the Oral Tradition and thus memory, improvisation and projecting from ‘centre stage’ are central elements in the workshops. This format is adapted to suit secondary school needs.
Feedback
“Thank you for two marvellous days with us. The children were so excited by your visit and I was thrilled by their creative efforts.”
Jacky Rampall. St Lawrence College, Ramsgate
“Thank you so much for a great day! Everyone really enjoyed it, kids and adults alike. The Literacy Inspector was so impressed with it all and mentioned in particular your high expectations of the kids.”
Linda Telfer, Laleham School for Dyslexic Children, Margate
“John worked with each of our Year 7 classes individually in workshops, explaining the structure and techniques used in storytelling in a focused and relevant way. The standard of the workshops was excellent and enabled the pupils to dynamically become involved in another of the Year 7 Literacy Objectives which focuses on delivering stories and anecdotes to an audience…The girls thoroughly enjoyed this original way of experiencing another aspect of their syllabus.”
Lesley Lee, Head Teacher, Highworth School for Girls, Ashford
Recent Books:
Guzzling Jelly with Giant Gorbelly (Macmillan Children’s Books, 2004) ~ £3.99
Scottish Poems ~ editor, (Macmillan, 2005) ~ £6.99 hardback, £4.99 paperback
Books for Children:
An Odd Kettle of Fish with Brian Moses & Pie Corbett (Macmillan, 1995)
Down at the Dinosaur Fair illustrated by Toni Goffe (Nelson, Story Chest, 1993)
Dreaming of Dinosaurs illustrated by Charles Fuge (Macmillan, 1992)
Bears Don’t Like Bananas illustrated by Charles Fuge (Simon & Schuster, 1991)
Rockets & Quasars (Aten Press, 1982)
Zoomballooomballistic (Aten Press, 1981)
Books for adults (now out of print):
The Dream of Night Fishers: Poems & Photographs of the Scottish Islands
(Scottish Cultural Press, 1998)
Landscape, Coastscape, Dreamscape: Poems about Kent (Aten Press, 1991)