Let No One Steal Your Dreams: The Very Best Poems by Paul Cookson
on Goodreads (6)
What’s inside...
The Very Best of Paul Cookson is a collection that spans twenty-five years of the poet's work, featuring his favorite, most thoughtful, uplifting, and memorable poems. Notable inclusions are Let No One Steal Your Dreams, Father's Hands, May You Always, Invisible Magicians, This is Our School, among others. The anthology aims to showcase the breadth and depth of Cookson's poetry, capturing his humorous, poignant, and inspiring verses.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
160 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What is one dream you have that you would never want someone to steal? How would you protect it?
How do the poems make you feel about following your own dreams?
If you could write a poem to inspire someone else, what would you tell them?
Which poem in the book is your favorite and why does it stand out to you?
What do you think the author, Paul Cookson, wants readers to learn from these poems?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the discussion by sharing one of your own dreams and how you’ve worked or are working towards it, setting a personal example for the discussion.
Be sure to listen actively to your child's responses, validating their feelings and dreams, showing that their thoughts are important.
Encourage your child to draw or write a short poem about their dreams, using the book’s themes as inspiration to stimulate creativity.
Discuss the obstacles characters in the poems might face and ask your child how they would overcome similar challenges in pursuit of their dreams.
Use the poems as a starting point to talk about the importance of perseverance and not giving up on one’s aspirations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Pursue your dreams
Explanation: Through captivating poetry, the book inspires children to follow their passions and never let anyone discourage them.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to set personal goals and persistently work towards them, despite challenges.
Example Lesson: Self-expression
Explanation: The poems emphasize the importance of expressing one's thoughts and feelings creatively.
Real-World Application: Children learn to communicate their emotions and ideas confidently, whether through writing, art, or speech.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: The themes across the poems teach children to stay strong and bounce back from setbacks.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this to overcoming obstacles at school, such as difficult assignments or social conflicts.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Several poems delve into understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children develop stronger, more supportive relationships with their peers and family members.