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."