I am the author of two award-winning poetry-meets-science books: ‘Buzzing! Discover the poetry in garden minibeasts’ (shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize and winner of the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award for Poetry) and ‘Flying High! Discover the poetry in British birds’ (winner of the 2017 York Culture Award for Excellence in Writing).

A linguist by training, I studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University. I worked as a phonetician for the Oxford English Dictionary, as a translator and in educational publishing before setting up theBigBuzz in 2007 to ‘bring poetry to life’.

Since then I have been visiting primary schools, putting on ‘edu-taining’ poetry shows that promote learning through laughter, rhythm and rhyme. In these interactive, cross-curricular poetry shows I bring my minibeast and bird books to life – accompanied by projected images and music/birdsong. This is followed by poetry writing and/or performing workshops – indoors or outside. (Read feedback at: https://thebigbuzz.wordpress.com/schools/school-feedback/)

I also perform my poetry shows in festivals (e.g. the Hay Festival, York Festival of Ideas, the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition) and theatres (e.g. Oxford Playhouse, York Theatre Royal, Helmsley Arts Centre) nationwide, as well as in a variety of other venues, including railway stations, eco-centres, nature reserves, museums, libraries and the UK’s largest planetarium.

I have also written two eco-musicals, one of which, ‘Compost! The Mini-Musical’, won the Garden Organic Innovation Award (www.thebigbuzz.biz/compost.html) And I put on KS2 photography workshops too - https://thebigbuzz.wordpress.com/photo-workshops/school-photo-workshops/

I have been commissioned to write and perform by BBC radio programmes (e.g. Woman’s Hour, Radio 2 Arts Show, Today) and by organisations ranging from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust through York’s Chocolate Story to renaissance vocal ensemble The Clerks. I often take part in Ledbury Poetry Festival’s schools’ work, and am head judge of The P-Factor, Ryedale Book Festival’s children’s poetry performance competition. Find out more at my website: www.theBigBuzz.biz

I offer cross-curricular poetry shows and workshops for early years, KS1 and KS2. Buzzing!, for example, is my multimedia show about garden minibeasts. consisting of scientifically accurate, amusing poems, projected photos and audience participation. It covers science, poetry, maths, music, French, outdoor learning, sustainability ... Schools often invite me to visit during their book/poetry/science/green week, or when working towards Eco-Schools or ArtsMark awards.

In my follow-up workshops I aim to inspire pupils to enjoy playing with words and expressing themselves confidently in poetry. I want to leave pupils (and teachers) buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement for words and what they can do.

I also provide follow-up nature photography workshops (http://www.thebigbuzz.biz/photography_workshops.html)

I have developed a KS2 Writer in Residence programme (http://wp.me/p26tX-lD) and have experience with gifted and talented KS2 children, e.g. for Ledbury Poetry Festival’s Poets in Schools programme (http://wp.me/p26tX-88).

Find out more about my education work at: http://www.thebigbuzz.biz/education.html Schools’ feedback is at: http://www.thebigbuzz.biz/feedback2.html

It is my great pleasure to write a reference for Anneliese Emmans Dean. My class was incredibly fortunate to pay a visit to St. Nicholas Field and be both entertained and educated by Anneliese and 'The Big Buzz'! It was a truly magnificent performance and the children sat enthralled with mouths wide open. There was hardly a murmur as they hung on her every word. A combination of Literacy Poetry, Science and Art in an hour - Inspirational to both the children and me as a teacher! We have booked a follow up visit and are really looking forward to her return.

Teacher Archbishop of York's Church of England Junior School York

Anneliese visited St. Piran's School and gave an enthusiastic and mesmerising performance of The Big Buzz to a group of 9 - 11 year olds. The show is a collection of amusing poems on the wildlife in Anneliese's back garden, with the added extra of breathtaking photography and carefully selected music. It was a resounding success and even now several months on I still hear the children singing their particular favourite "Charlie is an earthworm" as I walk round school. My favourites were Doug the slug, with his distinctive York accent and the 22 spot ladybird. Anneliese's ability to deliver a flawless performance with such speed and clarity despite the complex nature of the poems has to be heard to be believed. The pupils were spellbound and their vocabulary most definitely enriched. Anyone wondering if this show would be suitable for their school should most definitely contact Anneliese right away!   I hope this will suffice - Anneliese really is an amazing talent!

Teacher St. Piran's School, Yorkshire