'Crimson floods the sunset sky
as we say Goodbye, Goodbye.'

Published by Little Island and Poetry Ireland

With a rainbow of enchanting illustration by award-winning artist Lauren O’Neill, winner of the Children’s Books Ireland Award for Illustration in 2016.

From ice creams to Christmas trees, flying grannies to reading mermaids, haiku to rhyming verse, Hopscotch in the Sky takes children on a magical poetic journey through the seasons of the year. Funny and touching, sweet and sharp, these poems are full of life and verve.

PRAISE FOR HOPSCOTCH IN THE SKY

Editor’s Choice in the Children’s Books Ireland Reading Guide 2017

'This is a sensitively illustrated and finely produced volume ... it offers a range of poetic forms to satisfy the national curriculum and some memorable moments … Hopefully, there are more poems and collections to come.' – Books For Keeps

'This is a charming, accessible collection from one of Ireland’s best poets for children, Lucinda Jacob ...The classy, expressive illustrations by Lauren O’Neill make this a pocket treasure.' – The Irish Independent from their list of best children’s books of 2017

'This superb collection of illustrated poems is groundbreaking… The most striking thing is the integrity of the poet’s voice. It is a gentle though full voice. It is true to itself, to children and to poetry. The illustrations are perfectly balanced to reflect, interact with, add layers of meaning to and play with the poems.’ – Celia Keenan, Inis Magazine

'Mesmerising poems for and about childhood… these poems are at once timeless and contemporary… A wise and beautiful collection that every household should own.’ – Amanda Bell, CBI Reading Guide

'Hopscotch in the Sky is a collection to be cherished and will initiate much conversation and creativity, as well as inspire readers and budding poets to venture outside.' – RTEjr Bookclub

An accompanying ebook, The Hopscotch in the Sky Poetry Kit, is free to download. this ebook introduces children to the poetic forms used in the book and chock-full of ideas to encourage readers to try their hand at writing their own poems. It will be especially helpful also to teachers who would like to include writing poetry as a classroom activity with their pupils. 

Download for free

Lucinda Jacob is a children's writer and creative writing teacher. She has written (and in some cases illustrated) several books for children, as well as scripts for children's TV and radio. She is also a textile artist and works part-time as a librarian.

Lucinda often visits schools and libraries, to read and talk to children about stories and poetry, and she often works with children, helping them to write poems of their own.

She lives with her husband in Dùn Laoghaire. (Anyone who knows the area will spot some familiar place names in this collection). She has two grown up daughters.

Lots of Lucinda's poems have been published in magazines and collections, but Hopscotch in the Sky is her first book of poems.