It's Slapstick

What if your kids begged to play with words and ideas — because it was so fun?

‘The only fault with this Skinner winner is that it is too short — but it is Book 3 of the `Get Your Wordsworth' series so we're bound to have more. The man is addicting!’ 

Kids and teens love ideas from left field, a play on words that makes them giggle and stretches their creative language skills.

‘What I loved was the included illustrations, I'm a visual person and found they accompanied the poems well.’

Call it what you will this quick ‘n’ quirky combination of poetry, youthful humor, silly phrases, puns and sketches is designed to challenge developing brains to look at language — and life — from a whole new perspective.

‘It's Slapstick although aimed at kids to teens would be fine for anyone that's young at heart. It's not a long book but is certainly an enjoyable one.’

It’s Slapstick provides playful comments and musings on goldfish, bees, boy bands, listening, trolls, comedy and apps.

‘You can read it in twenty minutes, but you can also read it twenty times and still find yourself laughing. This book of creative, off-the-wall poetry from Skinner is perfect for kids who are perhaps just starting out in their exploration of poetry, or are looking to expand their vocabulary and creative associations.’ 

Encourage the young readers in your life to let loose with mad word associations, silly syllables and gormless giggles…in the bean bag with you, the car, or anywhere at all.

‘It is necessary to take kids outside of the rigid classroom-style lessons sometimes and let their minds roam to new areas of language and thought. Poetry can do this for any age group, but it is essential to start when they're young and untainted by conventions or ideas from the outside world (or their academic curriculum). Poetry books like these can spark new directions of thought in young minds, and I think Skinner nailed it with these hilarious and thoughtful poems.’

As a parent or teacher, you have probably already had some fun together with word association, punning, and experimentation via various forms of literature.

‘I'm certainly not 8–15 years of age, but having taught in the past, I know that these types of simple and silly poems will have kids laughing first, but perhaps thinking later.’

Eight short and slippery illustrated one page stories in crisp and quirky verse for sharp readers (ages 8–15) who enjoy satire and silliness.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this offering, and while I'm not sure that Skinner belongs in the poetry canon quite yet, he is certainly doing something worthwhile — improving the vocabulary, wit, and appreciation for poetry in a younger generation that will grow up in quite a different world than us. That's a valuable function for a children's author or poet these days, so I have to applaud him.’

Buy It’s Slapstick to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

‘It’s Slapstick is a collection of eight cheeky poems by author Tom Skinner. The end of each poem includes an author’s note, sometimes informative, mostly something that will just make you smile and groan at the pun, something my 13-year-old self would have loved.’

Note: It’s Slapstick is the third book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. Books 1–6 (read in any order) are also available as a box set.

‘8 wonderful and punny poems just the right age range for my granddaughter and just the right sharpness for my older brother (57 and a professor) who loves this sort of thing.'