This is a vibrant collection of poetry and is a brilliant way of drawing children into reading and loving poetry. The collection of 51 poems from 42 poets and performers celebrates a diverse range of poets from the past including James Langston Hughs and W.E.B Du Bois, iconic poets like Maya Angelou and James Berry OBE and contemporary poets and artists including Common, Kanye West, Benjamin Zephaniah, Tupac Shaker, Stetasonic, A Tribe Called Quest and Queen Latifa. This beautifully produced book is multimodal with lively illustrations from six illustrators including Kristan Balouch and Alicia gel de Dios and has a CD with thirty recordings. This book gives children many ways into the poets’ work, they can perform them aloud, read them quietly, talk about the illustrations and meanings of the poems, sing along to the CD or make their own celebration of poetry with a beat. I learnt about this great book in Darren Chetty’s insightful article Beyond the Secret Garden, Rap, Rhythm and Rhyme http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/234/childrens-books/articles/beyond-the-secret-garden-rap-rhythm-and-rhyme There are short biographies of poets, artists and illustrators all adding to the richness of the text. As long as people have stories, there will be rhythm, rap and hip hop. ‘Not only will children love the great poetry but I am sure they will be encouraged to write and perform their own poetry, echoing Stetsasonic lyrics: ‘We wanna make this perfectly clear We’re talented and strong and have no fear Of those who judge but lack pizazz Talking all that jazz.’