“I’d like to introduce you to another young poet who I think has a great future in the world of children’s poetry – Joshua Seigal.” Brian Moses
“Joshua’s work is very clever” Kenn Nesbitt – children’s poet
My name is Joshua Seigal. I am a young poet, hailing from Barnet, London. After completing five years of intense academic research at Oxford University and University College London, I started to realise that I am more interested in people than I am in merely abstract ideas. I have been writing poetry for a good number of years, and after undertaking lots of voluntary work with young people, all the way through from Early Years to secondary school, I became captivated with the rhyme, rhythm, wordplay and humour of children’s poetry. This, combined with my childhood love of authors such as Roald Dahl, Michael Rosen and especially Colin McNaughton, convinced me to give it a go myself. Holding a room full of children captivated with my words, as well as inspiring them to engage with language themselves, is one of the greatest pleasures I can imagine.
Joshua has supplied us with some of his top tips for writing
-Fun, educational and interactive
-References and samples of work available on request
For bookings and info contact
joshuaseigal1986@hotmail.co.uk
Phone: 07904 571181
Twitter: @joshuaseigal
I have been lucky enough to perform my poetry and conduct workshops in some wonderful schools, and have received extremely positive feedback from teachers, pupils and fellow authors alike. Here are some of the comments I’ve received.
“Funny poems at the right level. Children appreciated the jokes. Calm presentation but in control of the crowd. Good explanation of unknown vocabulary. Good use of visual aids.” Year 2 teacher, De Bohun Primary School, Southgate, London.
“It was well pitched and pacy. Just right for our children.” Year 5 teacher, De Bohun Primary School, Southgate, London.
“Excellent stuff. The children loved it and were really engaged.” Year 1 teacher, St. Mary’s and St. John’s Primary School, Hendon, London.
“Joshua has a lovely manner with the children. They were eager to impress him and loved his poetry. I would definitely invite him back.” Year 2 teacher, Fairway Primary School, Mill Hill, London
“The kids loved you and wanted you to stay! Well Done!” Antony Lishak, children’s author.
“Josh worked with me for a whole day at Selwyn Primary School, E4 [London]. I was very impressed – as I felt the children and staff were too – with the quality of his performance, his poems and his ability to relate to the children. I have now asked him to work with me again on the strength of that day”. Neal Zetter, Comedy Performance Poet, CCCP Workshops Ltd.
I have had poems published in various magazines and journals (even the odd book) and am currently working on my own collection, a book of mostly funny, although occasionally reflective poems aimed at Key Stage 2, entitled ‘We All Love Llamas!’. I also write and perform for adults, and occasionally indulge in stand-up comedy.
Poems By Joshua Seigal
The Ferocious Commotion
(A sonnet)
A ferocious commotion’s occurring next door
It’s like ten thousand buffalo having a fight
It’s loud as the crash of a rusty chainsaw
And I know it’ll keep me awake half the night.
Like the whistling whoosh of a runaway train
A ferocious commotion’s occurring next door
Like a hideous monster yelling out in pain
It’s loud as a battlefield, loud as a war.
It roars like a lion that’s stepped on a pin
It clanks like a tank that’s got stuck in the mud
And it shrieks like a shark when you tickle its fin
With a hoot and a honk and a bang and a thud.
What on earth is it? I go exploring
And discover it’s only my grandfather snoring.
The Naughty Chair
If you look in the corner
Jim’s sat over there
With his face to the wall,
On The Naughty Chair.
Over there in the corner
Is where Jim’s sat,
For he weed on the carpet
And blamed the cat.
It was a good story,
You can’t fault him for trying,
But his parents discovered
That young Jim had been lying:
His scandalous tale
Fell rather flat,
For his family don’t
Even own a cat.
Before Long
We put a lion and a tiger in a den together –
Before long we got a liger.
We put a whale and a dolphin in a pool together –
Before long we got a wolphin.
We put a zebra and a horse in a field together –
Before long we got a zorse.
We put a crocodile and an alligator in a swamp together –
Before long we got a crocogator.
We put mum and dad in a room together –
Before long we got mad.
Minsk
You’d better beware in Minsk
When you go to the kitchen sinsk
For the water there’s hard
But you won’t be scarred
If you boil it first, I thinsk.
Testimony
“The children really enjoyed the session with you. They were so inspired that they wanted to complete the poetry after you left and they have now decided to display it around the school. We will definitely be booking you again.”
When not writing Joshua spends his days working in Schools. Below is an example of some of the work produced by a child in Year 2.
The King
I am going to be the king tomorrow,
And I don’t want to be king.
No No No! Today is the day!
I am in this horrible castle.
I go crazy when I see the crown.
I am as terrified as Catherine Howard.
I feel like a flower dying in the ground.
Alas how sad am I!
Year 2, Fairway Community Primary School, London
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