Zooming the Zoo

The author of Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers and the illustrator of The Boy Who Biked the World team up for a hugely entertaining new collection of poems for children

Suggesting this zoo hold a meeting on zoom
Was not sensible, wise or astute
For the sloths all appear to have frozen onscreen
And I think that the swan’s stuck on mute.

Poems that play with words and ideas are John Dougherty’s specialty.

Meet Rover, the dog ＂who’ll chew through anything, except the things we let him chew＂, enjoy Grandad’s wrestle with the deckchair (it won), find out what the Ghosts of Grizzerley Grange are really scared of, admire the woman who’s made out of rainbows and steel, and be shocked by the Man of Naughtiness.

Comedy abounds, but there is also much good advice and mindfulness to be found in this feast of varied verse:

＂Please know that this is true: You’re important. You matter. It’s okay to be you.＂

John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, and some of the poems in this collection reflect his childhood there. He became a teacher (the nice sort, he says) but gave up teaching to become a full-time writer and performer, of songs as well as poems and stories, and now has over forty books published.

Tom Morgan-Jones also illustrated John’s previous collection for Otter-Barry Books, Dinosaurs and Dinner Ladies. A professional illustrator, author, events artist and inky hand-letterist, he has illustrated over 75 books and series for children.