Today, Tom’s family are going shopping for a new school uniform, because Tom is going to big school

Tom is 5. He has just finished Nursery School. His big sister goes to the Giant School, and she says there are monsters there!

After buying a uniform, Tom’s Mum says ‘Tom, you’re going to need a lunchbox, pen, pencils, and a pencil case with some other things in.

Tom replied, ‘OK Mum, as long as I get to choose which ones I want’ Mum laughed and said, ‘OK’

When they got to the lunch-box section, I saw one that was bright blue, with a bright yellow star on it. The star had a big smily face in the middle.

Tom led his Mum to the pens and pencils. He bought a bright green rubber, a yellow pencil, a purple sharpener, a blue pen and a scarlet pencil-case to hold them all in.

As it sparkled in the light, Tom thought he saw it wink at him.

When Tom got home he ran straight into the living room where his dad was sitting. Tom showed his dad the things he had bought, the pencil case and the things in it. Also the pencil case had a star and a bright, happy face, like the lunchbox.

Tom’s first day at school soon came and he was very scared and nervous because this was school and he had never been before.

tom was taught how to write the letter ‘Q’. He used his new, bright yellow pencil. Yellow was his favourite colour, because he said it was the colour of the sun and the sun lit up the whole world.

Next came lunchbreak. Tom was looking forward to lunch because he was going to show his friends his lunchbox.

They all thought it was great and wanted one just like it. Tom ate the rest of his lunch feeling proud of his new lunchbox.

When he got back into class, it was still lunchbreak, and his teacher, Miss Honey, was in the staffroom. Tom didn’t feeling like going outside, so he settled down and tried to find something to do.

Suddenly, all of tom’s things came to life! His pencil case grew arms and legs and smiled at him. So did his rubber, his ruler, his sharpener, his pencil, and his lunchbox winked at him.

Tom was frozen with shock.

"Hi! Tom," called out his lunchbox. "My name’s Lenny. Let me introduce you to all my friends. This is Reg the Ruler, this is Peter Pencil, Penelope Pencil Case, and Simone Stylo. He’s French, you know!"

"Hey, don’t forget us!" shouted a rough-looking group of stationery.

"I’m Ronnie Rubber, this is Sammy Sharpener, and this is Slizer Scissors."

"They’re a rough, horrible lot, not worth getting to know!" whispered Lenny.

"Come over here a minute, tom," called Ronnie.

Tom walked over to where the group was standing.

"I wonder what would happen if you stuck your finger in there?" said Ronnie, pointing at the plug socket.

As Tom started to reach for the socket, Lenny saw what was about to happen, and rushed into action. He flipped Simone from the table, sending him catapulting towards the gang of naughty stationery items. He landed right on top of them, distracting Tom from the plug socket. 

Lenny arrived on the scene at that moment. He shouted loudly, "Tom, don’t stick your finger in there, you’ll get electrocuted!"

Tom quickly took his hand away from the socket. "You saved me!" exclaimed Tom.

Tom arrived home buzzing with excitement.

"Have you had a good day?" asked his mum.

"Brilliant!" exclaimed Tom. He looked at Lenny and winked, and Lenny winked back!

It’s a boiling hot day,

I can’t go on this way,

Hoping for a drink,

Just a little drink.

There’s the shop,

I would hop,

And jump for joy,

But, oh boy,

It’s too hot!

Oh, the cold of the Tip-Top,

It makes me feel Tip-Top alright!

All across my sweaty brow,

I’m feeling quite cool now.

Oh no! Horrors!

It’s melting!

Oh, well!

Upon the sleeping land.

She tends for little seedlings.

Winter can be gentle,

Winter has come again.

Birds are forced to fly away,

Because of Winter’s cruel cold.

Trees are blown over.

Winter can be angry,

Winter has come again.

Children love to play with Winter,

Making snowmen and throwing snowballs.

Winter helps the sledgers slide down hills.

Winter can be playful,

Winter has come again.

A FRUITY DATE

Her name was Melony.

She was so appealing!

I had to pear up with someone

And asked her out for a date

I said as a figure of peach.

We took a spin in my avacar-do'

Got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the cinnamon

It was raining berry hard

But I had my trusty Plumbrella.

We went to see

James and the Giant Peach,

And the ending was somewhat fruity!

Group Poem written with Andrew Fusek Peters with Barry Keegan, Sam Jarvis, Leigh Duffy and

Craig Ledger