Chris White
“A bundle of energy on stage. Lots of audience participation and drawing - from the children in the audience, too. Very funny - a kind of Young Person's Stand-up Comedian Poet.”
- Roger Stevens
Contents
About Chris White
Chris's School Visits
Chris's Latest Books
Samples of Chris's Poems
Recommendations & Reviews
Download Information Sheets for Schools
To make a Booking
About Chris White
Chris White is an author and illustrator extraordinaire. If you like your poetry wild, zany and yucky, you’ll certainly find plenty to laugh at. But, in poems such as "Elvis the Ugly Baby" and "The Little Blue Lion", Chris also delves into difficult ideas about what is and isn’t “normal”, and how individuality counts. And, of course, being Chris, he manages to make it funny as well.
Click here for a video interview with Chris on the BBC website
A versatile writer and performer, Chris has worked in a broad variety of settings including prisons and Women's Institute venues! Currently, Chris is participating in the BBC's Digital Curriculum project aimed to provide on-line literacy assistance for children.
A fusion of mini-rock-concert, mad-cap poetry and a 21st century Rolf Harris-style draw-along may seem an unlikely hotchpotch of elements, but these varied ingredients have provided Chris with a recipe for success in his hugely popular act blending humour, illustration, and poetry.
Whether on stage under the bright lights opening a festival (e.g. Birmingham’s Young Readers UK, 2002), or working with small groups at close quarters in a library, Chris manages to convey his enthusiasm for poetry, books and reading, and inspires his audience to share this passion.
Chris hails from Derby and enjoys a huge fan-base in the Midlands. He began his performance career working closely with Birmingham’s Stories from the Web clubs which quickly led to demand from schools, festivals, libraries, teaching conferences, literacy co-ordinators and EAZs for his input. Chris currently writes full-time, taking his unique poetry showcase country-wide.
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Chris's School Visits
Armed with drawing board and colourful imagination, Chris encourages his audience to chant and draw along as he plunges them into his wacky world - peopled with cartoon characters and colourful poems.
In a session full of entertaining, interactive fun, children and teachers alike are taken on a roller-coaster rhyme ride that appeals both aurally and visually.
In the primary sector Chris provides an hour-long performance for Years 1-6 followed by workshops for Years 2-6 which can be of 30, 45, or 60 minutes' duration, depending on time-table needs.
For secondary education the format is the same but aimed at Year 7 (plus Years 8-11 special needs).
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Chris's Latest Books
**Chris signs all copies of his books purchased by students on the day of his visit.**
Don't Put Dave in the Microwave!
WARNING!
This book may contain some of the following…
Men with huge heads! Nervous hamsters! Daft drawings, ridiculous rhymes Rubbish clowns, rubbish ghosts, The secret to lifelong happiness!
Stoopid people! Free money!
Ducks, genies, & crime-solving fish!
A voucher for eternal youth!
& weird creatures!
& rubbish in dustbins!
Hairy things & guitar-playing ferrets!
To find out which of these are contained inside,
Do read this book.
Do try and enjoy it.
BUT…
DON'T PUT DAVE IN THE MICROWAVE!!
Stumpy’s Big Adventure and The Beast From the East
Two fun-filled stories in one brilliant book!
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Samples of Chris's Poems
Click the "Play" button below to hear Chris perform one of his poems!
Carol
Carol the worm had no friends, I’m afraid,
Her life was one long toil.
She longed for another to burrow along
And join her in the soil.
Days turned to weeks, turned to months, turned to years,
And Carol was still alone.
No other worms came calling
At her quiet underground home.
So one day Carol took action and cried,
“I think that I have earned
My right to be happy and not miserable.
Today, this worm has turned!”
Carol’s a different worm these days,
She’s got loads of friends now;
She gets to speak with them every day,
Let me tell you how:
Carol bought a PC,
And all the friends she’s met
Are the product of being the world’s first worm
To be on the Internet!
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Recommendations & Reviews
I would just like to say thank you for giving us the opportunity to have Chris back in our school again. I have never seen our children so animated. It really was an amazing experience for them. Chris worked so hard throughout the day and I don't think our children will ever forget him.
- Tracey Churchill, Literacy Coordinator, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Derby, UK
Chris was a huge success and all of the children had a lovely day. Thank you again for organising a wonderful day.
- Milly Cogan, Literacy Coordinator, St Peter & St Paul C of E Primary School, Leicester, UK
I just wanted to write and let you know what a success Chris White's visit was to St. Mary's last Tuesday. Both children and staff were so impressed and entertained by Chris. His energy and spontaneity are amazing. I can tell you that I, and all our staff and children were roaring with laughter during his presentation at the beginning of the day! Many staff and children have made it their business to stop me and tell me how much they enjoyed Chris's visit. So much so that we would like to book him again for next year!
Chris made a fantastic impact on our school in the sense that children who normally never like writing poetry have decided to put pen to paper during their Golden Time (when they get to do whatever they like).
Your team do a fantastic job to ensure that poetry (and Literacy in general) can be a lot of fun!
Many thanks from all of us.
- Eimear Davis, Deputy Head Teacher, St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
“We had a fantastic day today with Chris. He is absolutely brilliant! There were so many great comments from teachers and pupils. Chris was so funny, and he was able to hold the attention of every pupil from Primary 1 to Primary 7.
Thank you for arranging the visit for us.
- Liz Simms, Downshire Primary School, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland
“We had the most amazing time with Chris. The children and staff all loved him and we got so much out of his visit! Thanks once again!”
- Amy Ross, Literacy Coordinator, Knaresborough St John's CofE Primary School, UK
“We loved Chris's visit to Firle. He had a brilliant way of connecting with the children and his way of teaching poetry through drawing is one that has inspired the staff to say they will try in a similar way next time they teach poetry.
The poems the children wrote with Chris have been made into class books that have been shared with parents. My Reception class still talk about the day he came in and point out to visitors the illustration of Rainbow Dash on our display board - they can remember what all the animals’ parts are.
Many thanks to you for organising it all and big thanks to Chris for inspiring both the children and staff."
- Literacy Subject Leader, Firle CE Primary School, East Sussex, UK
“Three letters:
FAB!!!
The staff and I did not expect Chris to be so energetic, funny and to have such a tremendous way with the children.
He should come into schools with a health warning:
'Side splitting and sore cheeks from smiling and laughing may occur!'”
- Paul Rowe, Headteacher, Emmbrook Junior School, Wokingham, UK
“Chris really entertained us today. He was hilarious and very talented. Everybody had such a good time and the children produced great cartoons and poems. Even the children who find writing difficult, or who are usually hard to motivate, were fired up and couldn’t wait to finish their poems. Some went on to do more cartoons and poems in the afternoon. The humour really appealed!”
- Sharon Cliff, Literacy Coordinator, Ringmer Primary School,
East Sussex, UK
“Our day with Chris White was excellent. The children particularly enjoyed the whole school performance and it was great to see all children (and staff!) participating with enthusiasm. The poetry workshop sessions allowed every single child to achieve and they all produced a poem to be proud of, many of which are now copied out and displayed in classrooms. A super day! Thank you!”
- Nicky Aston, Headteacher, Eastern Green Junior School,
Coventry, UK
“A bundle of energy on stage. Lots of audience participation and drawing - from the children in the audience, too. Very funny - a kind of Young Person's Stand-up Comedian Poet.”
- Roger Stevens
“Chris White was marvellous, entertaining, interactive fun... most enjoyable for kids and staff...”
- Waterstone’s, High Street, Birmingham
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Download Information for Schools
The following information is useful for schools to provide to parents. Please download, print out and make copies for the pupils to take home with them.
Information Sheet & Order Form for ParentsTo Make a Booking
To make an enquiry about Chris White, or any of the other authors, poets & illustrators listed on this website, please phone Trevor Wilson on +44 (0) 1535 656015 or email him at info@authorsabroad.com
Further information on Chris White is available from his website: www.veggievampire.com
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