John Foster

children's poet

School Visits and Performances

 

John Foster has performed his poems in schools and libraries throughout the UK and is well-known for his performances as a dancing dinosaur and a rapping granny!

John is available for visits to schools and libraries within a 50 mile radius of his Oxfordshire home. His performance for juniors lasts approximately an hour and includes time for questions and answers about his poems and how he writes them.

Performance Photo

 

His separate performance for infants includes action rhymes, chanting rhymes and counting rhymes for the children to join in as well as an explanation of what really happened to Humpty Dumpty and why Mary, Mary Quite Contrary was looking glum.

Read more: School Visits and Performances

School Visits

Winter 2017

In the Winter term John will be visiting:


Bampton Primary School
Abbots Farm Infant School, Rugby
Little Milton Primary School
Pinewood School


He will also be at Headington Library from 1.30pm to 2.30 pm on Thursday 26 October.

 

Spring and Summer 2017

During the spring and summer terms John visited:


St Joseph’s R.C. Primary School Carterton ,
The Heights Primary School, Caversham,
Giles Brook School, Milton Keynes,
Standlake School,
Wootton Hill Junior School
Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford.
Jewells Academy, Christchurch,
Shipton-under-Wychwood Primary School
St Edburg’s Primary School, Bicester.

Winter 2016

During the winter term John has visits booked to Shipton-under-Wychwood Primary School, St Joseph’s R.C. Primary School Carterton , Dunmore School Abingdon and Windmill School, Headington, Oxford.

During the summer term he also visited Standlake Primary School to work with some of the pupils to produce a booklet of poems.

Here are two of the poems from the booklet. The whole booklet is available on the Standlake Primary School website www.standlakeschool.co.uk

 

Animals found in the Human Zoo

Loneliness

Loneliness is like a cub separated from its pack.

Its self-consciousness stops the flow of common sense.

This animal is all big eyes with a misty look from faraway

And whimpers of self-pity.

It can be made to feel unimportant, invisible

And can be easily twisted.

Loneliness will scamper like a mouse

When scared,

Because it has been singled out.

It will feed off memories of forgotten loved ones,

Who have been tossed away.

Loneliness is like a traumatised child left on the streets.

It has nobody to run to.

It is all alone.

Jasmine Willans

 

Distraction

Distraction is an annoying beast.

It pulls you away from things you have to do,

the things you really want to do.

Distraction lives in places

Full of excitement and adventure,

Places where everyone dreams of going.

This creature is the colour of the rainbow,

Luring you into its brightness,

Like puppies or kittens.
You cannot ignore distraction.

Distraction can be your best friend
And your worst enemy.

Now, if you have things to do,

Please resist stroking.

Ella Hardy

 

John recently visited Broadmeadow Junior School, Birmingham. After the visit, the headteacher wrote in the school’s newsletter to parents:

"The atmosphere in the hall was electric as John captivated his audience with his witty poems and humorous performances – I don’t think I’ll ever forget seeing him perform ‘Bloomers in the Sky’!

John’s visit was a resounding success and we would definitely love to see him again."