Don't Put Mustard in the Custard (Picture Books)

Product Information

Michael Rosen incorporates lots of made up nonsense words which making the poems light-hearted and very easy for children to listen to and interract with.

Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy - BookTrust Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy - BookTrust

And, as to be expected when read by the author, the emphasis on the various words is just right and really brings the poems to life. I hadn’t heard about the writing frameworks you mentioned and I have to agree with you, creative writing needs some freedom! This volume includes Michael Rosen's 'You Can't Catch Me' and 'Don't Put Mustard in the Custard' with illustrations added by the incomparable Quentin Blake. The combination of Michael Rosen's poetry with Quentin Blake's illustrations results in a fantastic book, as the language is funny and engaging and the illustrations help to bring the poems to life. There are poems about growing up, pets, nightmares and siblings all of which are good discussion points for younger children.

All the poems are fascinating and at a first glance some look as though they might not work, but, rest assured, they sure do. I loved it – and more to the point, my six-year-old read the whole thing in one sitting, and then proceeded to read the poems to me.

Don’t’ by Michael Rosen Activity sheet for ‘Don’t’ by Michael Rosen

Writing is a creative form of self expression and with so many rules and dos and don’ts being placed on children I worry that it will block their creativity and turn those that struggle off writing altogether. The poems are meant to be read aloud and they would be great to act out and read aloud to a reception, year 1 or a year 2 class at the end of the school day.Please excuse the unidentified smears of what I can only assume is food on the front cover there – a sign that a book has been truly loved by children. Keith's Cupboard' is an example, when he won't get his tent out for his friend to play with, his mother intervenes and says, 'Keith, why don't you get your tent out? Michael Rosen’s talent to articulate everyday situations in a child’s life is amazing, coupled with Quentin Blake’s ability to bring these topics to life. This book can be used for subject support in English when pupils are learning about and writing their own poetry.

Don’t Put Mustard in the Custard by Michael Rosen – World Don’t Put Mustard in the Custard by Michael Rosen – World

Rosen says in his erudite introduction, 'My poems are made up out of the words and phrases and sounds I've caught off the air, whizzing past me as uttered by my brother, my parents, my friends and my children.There are many more, peas, eggs, cuddles, shorts, the nursery and the bathroom all get the Roden treatment and all are great stuff. It would be a wonderful drama task for children to perform the poems or simply to read for some light relief. The general style of the poems can all be said to be conversational, this vital as it would allow children to easily relate to the pieces of writing.

Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy | Centre for - CLPE Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy | Centre for - CLPE

Both books went on to be bestsellers and both poet and artist are stellar names in the world of children’s books. Another poem titled ‘Tiffy Taffy’ explores the use of alliteration and phonics by using sentences such as ‘Tiffy taffy toffee on the flee flo floor’.As adults we stop spending as much time pondering small things like why Keith, who has so many toys, never plays with them in the poem “ Keith’s Cupboard”. One of the first things I learned when I started work as a press officer in 1997 was that it’s perfectly acceptable. A wonderfully accessible introduction to poetry for Rec-Y2; with rhyme, word-play and repetition many of the poems roll off your tongue like music helping children learn how to read. Overall I enjoyed reading this book because the fun nature of the poems alongside the interesting illustrations.