Will You Be My Friend

This new edition of Will You Be My Friend brings together over 100 of Gabriel Fitzmaurice’s best-loved poems chosen from his collections for children together with more than thirty new poems, including a selection of his poems in Irish. Enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart, the poems range from the silly to the serious, from the sad to the happy, from the naughty to the nice. Childhood, family, school, animals, the seasons and festivals of the year are all seen through the eyes of a child.

PRAISE FOR GABRIEL FITZMAURICE’S POETRY FOR CHILDREN

‘The Irish A.A. Milne.’
Declan Kiberd The Sunday Tribune

‘Fitzmaurice is the children’s poet who, more than any other… strikes a true chord in the childlike heart.’
Eilís Ní Dhuibhne The Lion and the Unicorn, USA

‘Full of real spontaneous fun.’
Ted Hughes

‘Silly poems and serious poems, nice poems and naughty poems, with numerous echoes of the real world of home, school, children and parents.’
Robert Dunbar The Irish Times

‘Ireland’s favourite poet for children.’
Claire Ranson Best Books!

‘Gabriel Fitzmaurice’s engaging collection of New & Selected Poems Will You Be My Friend? is guaranteed to delight pupils and teachers alike.’
Sheila Nunan INTOUCH