Interview with prolific author Jennifer Poulter about her pictrue book Hip Hop Hurrah Zoo Dance

readilearn: Introducing Jennifer Poulter, author of Hip Hop HURRAH! Zoo Dance

15 Replies

Meet Australian author J.R. Poulter as she discusses her beautiful picture book Hip Hop Hurrah Zoo Dance which is great for reading and getting kids moving.

This week I am delighted to introduce you to prolific Australian author Jennifer Poulter. Jennifer writes fiction and poetry for children, education and the literary market. She has had over 50 traditional books and thirteen digital picture books published. She writes under the names J.R. Poulter and J.R. McRae and has received numerous awards for both fiction and poetry writing.

Throughout her career, Jennifer has been employed in numerous roles including Senior Education Officer with the Queensland Studies Authority and Senior Librarian with the State Library of Queensland. She even once worked in a circus. In addition to writing, Jennifer is also an editor and artist. Now, under the banner of Word Wings, Jennifer collaborates with other creatives from over 20 countries.

Today I am talking with Jennifer about her picture book Hip Hop HURRAH! Zoo Dance.

What initially attracted me to this book is its ability to get children moving. What a great way to incorporate fun with movement and reading into any day.

The book also fits perfectly with a dance curriculum that encourages children to become aware of their bodies and how they move in space, to explore and improvise dance movements. Children can be encouraged to move like the zoo animals in the book or improvise movements for other animals and objects that move.

But Hip Hop HURRAH! Zoo Dance can also find its place in the literacy curriculum. Written in rhythmic verse, it encourages children to join in with the reading. It has a treasure of words to delight and extend vocabularies and add sparkle to writing; words like ‘limber, fandangle, prance and shimmies’. Children will laugh at the hippos with the backside wobbles and be intrigued by the combination of illustrations by Jade Potts and the variety of media used by designer Takara Beech in creating the double page spreads.

If you throw in some counting of animals and legs, needs and features of living things, and places they live, you can cover almost the entire curriculum with this one little book. But enough from me, let’s find out what Jennifer has to say.

Continue reading: Introducing Jennifer Poulter, author of Hip Hop HURRAH! Zoo Dance – Readilearn

15 thoughts on “readilearn: Introducing Jennifer Poulter, author of Hip Hop HURRAH! Zoo Dance”

  2. Sandy Briggs

    Norah, this sounds like an excellent choice for our grandchild. Do you know where I can buy it? Sandy

    You already have my facts.

    Sandy Briggs

    Like

    Reply ↓
  5. Patricia Tilton

    What a beautiful book with many ways to use it. I love the idea of encouraging kids in movement and dance. It can be fun and silly. Helps with kids who are afraid of perfection and encourages letting go and being yourself. Also great for learning what your body can do. Great review!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  7. Annecdotist

    I think it’s great introducing young children to unusual words they like the sound of. My reaction is it’s far too complicated, but kids know all those dinosaur names, so why not? And movement is so important for development.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Norah Post author

      Thanks, Anne. Children love to collect big words. I guess as writers, it’s important for us to collect interesting words. It’s good to get children started from a young age.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.