"There Was a Naughty Boy is a delightful journey through the playful and rhythmic verses of John Keats, brought to life with enchanting illustrations by José Sépi. Originally penned as a letter to his sister, this lively poem tells the story of a mischievous boy who ventures to Scotland and discovers universal truths about the world around him. With its timeless charm and lyrical wit, this book captures the essence of Keats's humour and creativity, making it an engaging read for children and adults alike. Ruth Finnegan's expertise as a celebrated writer complements Sépi's vivid artistry, creating a joyful celebration of poetry, curiosity, and adventure. Perfect for introducing young readers to the magic of classic literature!"The famous nineteenth-century poet John Keats wrote this poem to his sister while he was on holiday in Scotland - probably laughing at himself and his (normally very serious) way of writing. The verse 'comic' illustrated in this book is the most famous part of the full poem (the best and most rhythmic in my opinion - is it in yours?). Explore the poem.
What will you do with it? What aspects of his life does he make fun of? Try out different ways of speaking the poem to make it as entertaining as possible for his sister. Think of a school trip or holiday you have been on and write a poem in the same style with lots of short lines and lively rhymes that describe some of the things you saw and experienced on your trip. Make your poem entertaining for someone who wasn't there. And, why not make your own illustrations!
He wasn't so much a 'naughty' boy as a boy who wanted to investigate things. It's just like when you buy a puppy you don't go for the ones that are sitting quietly in dreamland near their mothers but the "naughty" one that comes to try to undo your shoelaces - because that's the one that's the most intelligent.
He was very intelligent in another way too. If you only sit at home it's easy just to take things around you for granted - you often don't even notice them, let alone try to understand them more deeply. This is why I found as an anthropologist (someone who studies human behaviour) that I couldn't write my book about Milton Keynes, the city where I live, until I had done research into two other cultures, one in a country in West Africa, the other an island in the Pacific. It was only when I came back after that that I started really noticing the interesting, different, things around me.
When you come to think of it, so many of the things that the naughty little boy noticed when he ran off to Scotland had been there in England around him all the time - he just hadn't noticed: the amazing things of nature (the cherries, the hard ground); the beautiful things that humans make like music and poetry; the wonders of mathematics and measuring; and just the solid reality of the world around him.
So - he stood in his shoes and he wondered. And so should we!
