Valerie Bloom
Valerie Bloom was born in Jamaica and came to England in 1979. She has performed her poetry extensively in Britain and abroad - in schools, universities, theatres, at festivals and on radio and television, and has published many acclaimed anthologies and collections of children’s poetry.
She has published nine poetry collections including her recent collection The World is Sweet and her poems have been included in over 100 adult and children’s anthologies. Perhaps her best known work for children includes Whoop n’ Shout, a delightful collection of fifty poems full of humour and insight, and particularly suitable for KS2. The poems range from haikus and rondels, to those drawing on specifically Caribbean experiences which use the Jamaican patois. She also writes for younger children, with books including the wonderful children’s alphabet book Ackee, Breadfruit, Callaloo: An edible alphabet.
Valerie’s work has gained her wide recognition, and she has appeared on television for the BBC, Granada, Thames and Sky and on many radio programs including Women’s Hour, Kaleidoscope, Stanza on Stage and Fine Lines. She has also performed in various festivals, including Edinburgh, WOMAD and Hay-on-Wye.
In between all this, and her ongoing writing, Valerie remains dedicated to her work in schools. She has a wealth of experience, working particularly with children from KS1 to KS3, and has enjoyed residencies in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and has also performed widely in schools in the Caribbean.
Valerie now lives in Kent with her husband and three children, and spends her time writing, performing, conducting writing courses and visiting schools..
Books
Whoop an’ Shout
Don’t let the light title fool you; this is a strong collection that fully shows Valerie’s range. There are engaging and often amusing poems written in Jamaican dialect, but Bloom does standard English equally well, with a nice sense of fun, a lightness of touch and at times even a lyrical note (‘When dusk is a soft blanket over the land,/ And the moon is brandishing her silver wand…’ from The Whooping Boys).
Hot Like Fire
When de July sun hot like fire Den I have just one desire To run down to de shop an’ buy a Kisko pop! A brilliant new collection from this wonderful performance poet. Her poetry is beautifully crafted yet full of energy and fun - her subjects range from global pollution to problems with maths homework and to the sad demise of pet frogs (he croaked of course).
Fruits
The girl in Valerie Bloom’s counting poem loves Caribbean fruit. From half a paw-paw and five jew-plums (’ … jew-plum’s me fav’rit’) to ten bananas, her enthusiasm is so infectious that you can almost taste the juice dribbling down your chin!
A sumptuous book, with rich, vibrant and distinctive illustrations.
The World is Sweet
In this collection of children’s poems, her subjects range from the philosophical to taking sandwiches to school and being afraid of ghosts. The poems use a mixture of standard English and dialect.
Ackee, Breadfruit, Callaloo: An Edible Alphabet
This book artfully teaches the alphabet as it creatively celebrates the West Indian life and culture. Teachers should enjoy using it in their classes to teach the alphabet/phonics, choral speaking, history, music and rhythm, and of course, food and nutrition.
Taste the book and see if you don’t enjoy it!
Surprising Joy (a children’s novel)
Joy has spent her life with her grandmother in Jamaica, steeped in Jamaican culture, sunshine and traditions. Until the day her dream comes true: Joy’s mother, who moved to England when Joy was a baby, writes to say that she’s ready for her daughter to come and join her. Joy can hardly contain her excitement. But London in December is a shock. It’s cold and dark and unfriendly. Even so, it’s nothing to the shock that awaits when she goes to live with her mother…
Duppy Jamboree: And Other Jamaican Poems
A collection of performance poetry, full of exuberant and humorous poems. The book is a touching and well crafted, and reveals Valerie’s attachment to the Jamaican people.
Let Me Touch the Sky: Selected Poems
The best of Valerie Bloom’s poetry, including “Fruits”. Her poems have been published in over 70 anthologies and this selection brings many of them together for the first time, along with some previously unpublished work.
New Baby
Jay is a young boy who is annoyed when his parents bring new baby home. The baby is no fun at all - she doesn’t play games, eat normal food, and she gets all the attention! But maybe she’s not all that bad… A story picture book in verse.
Books edited by Valerie
One River, Many Creeks: Poems from All Around the World
Spanning continents and centuries, this is a multicultural collection of poems and a celebration of the diversity of the peoples of the world. It features poems from all around the world and from poets of all nationalities now living in Britain.
A Twist in the Tale: Poems Chosen by Valerie Bloom
A cynical man from Mauritius
Thought it foolish to be superstitious
When a black cat passed near
He stood firm, without fear
(What a shame that the panther was vicious.)
Rachel Rooney
On a Camel to the Moon… and Other Poems About Journeys
An anthology of children’s poems about journeys both real and imagined, ranging from the comic to the thought-provoking. The poets include Geraldine McCaughrean, John Cunliffe, Valerie Bloom and Brian Moses, and there are humorous illustrations to catch children’s attention.
