At a time when the book is being assailed on all sides we thought it would be appropriate to set our standard and rally to the cause. Libraries are closing, electronic books are replacing the hallowed paper page and people simply aren’t reading anymore. Initially tempted by the compact packability of an electronic reader, we pulled back at the last moment and decided that we would continue to buy the real thing, that is until the real thing ceases to exist.
Our days are bookended by the pleasure of settling back and enjoying a good read. A read to launch us into the day. A read to escape from the reality and relative mundanity of our working lives. Relative, that is, to the excitement that can be found within the pages of a book. As someone probably once said, for the price of a library ticket we can travel to far off climes, sail the high-seas with pirates, daydream on desert islands and race down snowy mountainsides on skidoos. And it’s also a pleasure to do this without the ever burgeoning presence of ‘the screen’ – the television screen, the computer screen, the iPad screen. We say ‘Give us paper every time!’
Which is why we love this poem by Levi Tafari. Ironically you’ll be reading this on a screen of one description or another. Unfortunately, sometimes we just have to bow to the inevitable.
We found ‘Reach for the Stars’ in Interactive student’s book 1, an English language course published by Cambridge University Press and written by Helen Hadkins and Samantha Lewis. And here are some ideas on how to teach it.
Firstly, it would be a good idea to give some information about Levi Tafari. To mention that Levi was born in Liverpool in 1960 and has writte a number of books of poetry including ‘From the Page to the Stage’ published in 2006. He has worked with drummers, dancers, reggae musicians and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. His poems are about many topics, including love, society and the environment. Levi is an excellent performer and as such his poems lend themselves to being read aloud.
Then a short speaking activity in pairs about poetry.
a) Do you like poems?
b) Do you know the names of any famous poets?
c) Do you think it is difficult to write poems? Why?/Why not?
If you can find a recording listen to Levi Tafari reading his poem. What do you think ‘Reach for the stars’ means?
Go through some of the vocabulary from the poem, perhaps matching words to pictures.
library ship plane train witches insects birds knife Braille cover
Underline these words in the poem. Then read them aloud and match the pairs of words that rhyme.
old boys planes words birds space noise race sold trains
Then in pairs read the poem, taking it in turns to read the verses or indeed alternate lines. Perhaps reading the chorus together.
The lesson could then finish with a general discussion about reading habits.
a) Do you like reading?
b) What type of things do you read?
c) Where do you usually read?
d) Are you reading a book at the moment? If so, what are you reading?
Reach for the Stars by Levi Tafari
BOOKS ARE COOL
BOOKS ARE FUN
BOOKS SHOULD BE READ
BY EVERYONE
BOOKS ARE COOL
BOOKS ARE FUN
BOOKS SHOULD BE READ
BY EVERYONE
Well it’s time to visit
your library
there you can borrow
BOOKS for free
BOOKS for the young
BOOKS for the old
In BOOKSHOPS
BOOKS are bought and sold
BOOKS on poetry
BOOKS about sports
BOOKS that are long
BOOKS that are short
BOOKS for girls
BOOKS for boys
with sound effects
that make lots of noise
BOOKS about cars
BOOKS on trains
BOOKS about ships
BOOKS on planes
BOOKS on animals
BOOKS on religion
BOOKS that give you
INSPIRATION!
BOOKS with witches
casting spells
BOOKS that you can
scratch and smell
picture BOOKS
that have no words
BOOKS on insects
BOOKS about birds
Biographies
portraying people’s lives
fictional BOOKS
putting you on the edge of a knife
horror BOOKS
with a sting in the tale
BOOKS for people
who read in Braille
BOOKS on romance
BOOKS with passion
BOOKS on the famous
BOOKS on fashion
BOOKS on war and outer space
BOOKS about the people of the human race
BOOKS that teach
you how to cook
you can even get
BOOKS about BOOKS
text BOOKS are used
in education
they are filled
with information
Now if you really want
to succeed
choose the right BOOK
and start to read
REACH FOR THE STARS
and you’ll discover
now digest that BOOK
FROM COVER TO COVER
Because…
BOOKS ARE COOL
BOOKS ARE FUN
BOOKS SHOULD BE READ
BY EVERYONE
BOOKS ARE COOL
BOOKS ARE FUN
BOOKS SHOULD BE READ
BY EVERYONE
