Cat-rap

Story

Cat is taking a little nap…when it starts to rap! This fuzzy feline thinks it is the best rapper in the galaxy.

Why we chose it

Grace Nichols (b.1950), born in Guyana, is a highly acclaimed British poet and author, who has written books for both children and adults. Her warm and funny poems range from the magical (often inspired by Guyanese folklore and Amerindian myths) to the homely, such as this one about a pet cat.

Where it came from

She often writes about her childhood in the Caribbean, and what constitutes home, having moved to the UK in 1977. Nichols regularly performs her poetry, and many of her poems are musical in nature, often using rhyme, rap and other rhythms, as in Cat-Rap, a relatively recent poem which first appeared in the collection Everybody Got a Gift (2005).

Where it went next

Everybody Got a Gift received favourable reviews upon publication. Nichols remains a very popular children’s poet and features on the GCSE syllabus. She has been the recipient of many awards and honours over the years, including the 1983 Commonwealth Poetry Prize, a Cholmondeley Award (2001), and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Hull. She was also poet-in-residence at the Tate Gallery (1999 – 2000) and is a fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

Associated stories

Nichols is a prolific writer who has written countless novels and collections of poetry for both children and adults. Her other collections for children include Come on into my Tropical Garden (1988), Give Yourself a Hug (1994), The Poet-Cat (2001), Cosmic Disco (2013), and Paint Me A Poem (2004), written during her Tate residency.