This week I spent time with a wonderful team of volunteers from Beanstalk, a fantastic national charity that provides one-to-one literacy support to children who struggle with their reading ability and confidence.

On national poetry day 21st March, during an interactive workshop the keen volunteers from Shropshire each contributed some creative ideas which we used to create the Beanstalk poem!

I gave them the theme of flying a kite and we worked together, adding rhythm and rhyme to words which would evoke interest and engagement for young children.

The result of their thoughtful contribution is here and it was my pleasure to bring it to life by illustrating it.

Together we fly

Billy and Milly were flying a kite

Whirling and swirling and holding so tight

With a tail full of ribbons and bouncing away

Dancing through meadows with magical sway

Billy was spinning; he started to sing

But then he tripped over; let go of the string!

The kite somersaulted and captured the breeze

Climbing higher and higher, up into the trees

“Oh no!” shouted Milly: “we must make it stop!”

Running fast up the hillside, she got to the top.

The colourful kite was twisting about

“I know you can do it…” she heard Billy shout.

Milly leapt forward and rescued the toy

And Billy, excited, then squealed out with joy

“Thank you for sharing and caring today”

Said Billy to Milly: “You have saved the day.”

Have you heard about Beanstalk? Find out more about this great team of people right here.

Anita Williams