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Tritt ein in eine Welt voller Geschichten

Hören und Lesen

Tom Skinner

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

‘Laugh-out loud poetry that's not just for the young, but also for those that like the ridiculous. ’

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

‘These poems will forever be a cherished memory of childhood for my kids and have ignited an interest in poetry that may follow them through adulthood. ’

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.

‘Can easily say that this is my daughter's favourite book of the moment, wonderfully descriptive and very imaginative. Highly recommended. ’

Einstein’s Cat lifts puns and ideas from the father of physics and the ordinariness of life, to playful comments and musings about lettuce, lycra, woks and sharks.

‘A good balance of cerebral protein to get one's teeth into alongside a healthy salad of whimsical word-play. ’

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.

‘Funny, clever, easy reading poetry. Top toilet read, or last thing before bed read, or wherever read. I liked it. You will too (maybe). ’

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

‘Very cute kid-friendly poems with lots of humor, puns, insight into the kid's mind and cute illustrations that made me laugh. Only four stars because it was way too short. I got it free, but really, expand the book, because this is great stuff. Nice cover, too. ’

Eight illustrated one page stories in crisp and quirky verse for elastic fantastic readers (ages 8-15) who enjoy a good brain-stretch.

‘Clever little book of easily read poetry that appeals to kids of all ages. The most amusing thing for me were the author's notes at the end of the poems. ’

Buy Einstein’s Cat to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

‘I absolutely loved this book of poetry. Sometimes you want to laugh when you read poetry and this collection does it for me. It was fun and brought me back to the little kid in me. ’ 

Note: Einstein’s Cat is the first book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. The other books, which can be read in any order are… Pavlov’s Dog… It’s Slapstick… Plain Crazy… Too Much TV… Tractor Gate… Overload

Books 1-6 are also available as a box set (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1).

‘Sure had me laughing, great sense of humor, love the art work, too. Would love to read more from this author. ’

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s tough to describe because Get Your Wordsworth seems to be a new style of fiction or genre-busting poetry-prose…one that combines a timeless art form with a few modern day twists and tweaks.

Overall, I call these short story poems fast blasts. But a quick brainstorm also unearthed the following possible permutations!

casual poetry-prose

'laugh now, think later' verse

illustrated micro fiction

poetry-prose mash-ups

micro poetry-prose

rap traps

one minute super shorts

bite-size bedtime reads

Pink Hippo Press

Get Your Wordsworth

Einstein's Cat: easy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

What if your kids thought playing with words and ideas was incredibly fun?

‘It was very weird and I love love love love love love love love love love love love this book. ’

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

‘Plug in and learn and have fun and laugh and get to know Tom Skinner. Feels like we may be discovering a new Theodor Geisel - a poet bound for success in his chosen genre. ’ 

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.

‘These are some awesome poems for kids. Where poetry seems to be "not cool" anymore this brings new life back to this timeless art form in a manner that any kid can appreciate!!’

Pavlov’s Dog provides a less-than-serious review of serious (?) scientific principles such as Pavlovian responses as well as playful comments and musings on manners, man caves, moose, cauliflower and chimps.

‘Very strange yet entertaining. Makes little sense but understood every word. Have to say that it's the most fun I've had reading poetry since ever!’

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

‘Some of them are pure silliness, but there is also flashes of true poetic genius in there too. Saying complicated things in a simple way takes more skill than we're often willing to admit. ’

Eight short and sassy illustrated one page stories in crisp and quirky verse for smart kids (ages 8-15) who have been barking up the wrong poetry tree.

‘The poems are great, funny, whimsical and they roll of the tongue nicely. You don't have to spend a lot of time thinking about them, or wondering if you got the context, so great for non-poetry readers and older children. ’

Buy Pavlov’s Dog to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

‘He doesn't try to be too quixotic or mysterious with his verse, and each short story poem (as I began thinking of them in my head) is succinct and wrapped up in itself. You can flip to any page at any time and find something that will surely entertain and inspire, even if you might laugh out loud at yourself for reading something so silly or childish (on the surface).'

Note: Pavlov’s Dog is the second book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. The other books, which can be read in any order are…Einstein’s Cat… It’s Slapstick… Plain Crazy… Too Much TV… Tractor Gate… Overload

Books 1-6 are also available as a box set (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1).

‘Overall, if you're looking for a new book of poetry to sink your teeth into, this probably isn't it (as it is short and relatively simple), but if you want your kids to read something that will make them laugh, teach them something, and also increase their appreciation for what poetry can do for the mind, then this would be an ideal choice. Honestly, it was a pleasure to read.'

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s tough to describe because Get Your Wordsworth seems to be a new style of fiction or genre-busting poetry-prose…one that was deliberately designed to be much less rigid, formal or technical than the traditional poetry model and one that did not bore the buttocks off bright young people.

I call these short story poems fast blasts!

Pavlov's Dog: easy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

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.'

It's Slapstick: easy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

What if your kids thought playing with words and ideas was incredibly fun?

‘It's witty and entertaining. The drawings are funny. ’

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

‘Definitely good for a quick giggle. ’

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.

Plain Crazy is now boarding for playful comments and musings on flying, marriage, eating, anger, flexibility and shopping.

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.

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

Eight short and swift illustrated one page stories in crisp and quirky verse for sagacious readers (ages 8-15) who up to speed.

Buy Plain Crazy to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

Note: Plain Crazy is the fourth book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. The other books, which can be read in any order are…Einstein's Cat… Pavlov's Dog… It's Slapstick… Too Much TV… Tractor Gate… Overload

Books 1-6 are also available as a box set (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1).

So, what makes the Get Your Wordsworth series special? 

It's a mix of things, really. When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create a new type of poetry. A poetry-prose hybrid that was much less rigid, formal or technical than the traditional model and one that did not bore the buttocks off bright young people.

Hence the highly unorthodox format, combining a newspaper style title and sub-title, an original hand-drawn high quality sketch for each poem plus a personal author insight or pun were all designed to make verse more accessible and digestible for middle grade readers.

Overall, the Get Your Wordsworth series is designed for those, young and old alike, who appreciate the English language in all its nuanced, layered and textured glory and who can handle a judicious mix of the super silly and gently philosophical all imbued with a healthy dose of wry and dry humor!

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s tough to describe because Get Your Wordsworth seems to be a totally new style of fiction…one that combines a timeless art form (poetry) with a couple of unorthodox twists and tweaks… one for the early adopters and mavericks perhaps!

Overall, I call these poetry-prose mash-ups fast blasts. But a quick brainstorm also unearthed the following possible descriptions!

casual poetry-prose

short story poems

quirky poetry-prose fusion

laugh now, think later verse

micro poetry-prose

illustrated micro fiction

rap traps

genre-busting poetry-prose

one minute super shorts

pictorial poetry-prose

bite-size bedtime reads

playful poetry

cheeky poetry chunks

poetry-prose hybrid

little book of laughs

Plain Crazy: feasy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

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

‘I love Shel Silverstein books (who doesn't). But this book is something more, something different. The poems are full of voluptuous words and pleasurable word play that sit in your mouth like pieces of melting chocolate. ’

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

‘Fun way to introduce poetry to children. This book is very short and can easily be read in a single story time session. ’

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.

Too Much TV contains playful musing and comments about TV, rabbits, donkeys, turtles, farting and walking.

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.

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

Eight short and crisp illustrated one page stories for canny readers (ages 8-15) who are wide-awake.

Buy Too Much TV to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

Note: Too Much TV is the fifth book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. The other books, which can be read in any order are also available as a box set (Books 1-6) (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1).

So, what makes the Get Your Wordsworth series special? 

It's a mix of things, really. When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create a new type of poetry. A poetry-prose hybrid that was much less rigid, formal or technical than the traditional model and one that did not bore the buttocks off bright young people.

Hence the highly unorthodox format, combining a newspaper style title and sub-title, an original hand-drawn high quality sketch for each poem plus a personal author insight or pun were all designed to make the poetry more accessible and digestible for middle grade readers.

Overall, the Get Your Wordsworth series is designed for those, young and old alike, who appreciate the English language in all its nuanced, layered and textured glory and who can handle a judicious mix of the super silly and gently philosophical all imbued with a healthy dose of wry and dry humor!

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s tough to describe because Get Your Wordsworth seems to be (as far as I can tell) a new style of middle grade fiction…one that combines a timeless art form (poetry) with a couple of quirky yet synergistic twists and tweaks.

Overall, I call this style of illustrated micro fiction fast blasts. But a quick brainstorm also unearthed the following possible descriptors!

short story poems

quirky poetry-prose fusion

laugh now, think later verse

poetry-prose mash-up

rap traps

genre-busting poetry-prose

one minute super shorts

pictorial poetry-prose

bite-size bedtime reads

playful poetry

cheeky chunks poetry

poetry-prose hybrid

little book of laughs

Re-verse High-Brow

Too Much TV: easy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

What if your kids thought playing with words and ideas was incredibly fun?

‘My son and I enjoyed it more than once at bed time. ’

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

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.

Tractor Gate continues Tom Skinner’s tradition of having fun with language. It contains playful musings and comments about wood, voices, rain, countries, stamina and farm equipment.

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.

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

Eight short and punchy illustrated one page stories with real pulling power for perspicacious readers (ages 8-15).

Buy Tractor Gate to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

Note: Tractor Gate is the sixth book in the Get Your Wordsworth series. The other books, which can be read in any order are…Einstein’s Cat… Pavlov’s Dog… It’s Slapstick… Plain Crazy… Too Much TV… Overload

Books 1-6 are also available as a box set (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1).

So, what makes the Get Your Wordsworth series special? 

It's a mix of things, really. When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create a new type of poetry. A poetry-prose hybrid that was much less rigid, formal, turgid and technical than the traditional model and one that did not bore the buttocks off bright young people.

Hence the highly unorthodox format, combining a newspaper style title and sub-title, an original hand-drawn high quality sketch for each poem plus a personal author insight or pun were all designed to make the poetry more accessible and digestible for middle grade readers.

The out-of-the-box format is a direct spin off of my studies in journalism, advertising and my career as a traditionally published children's picture book author plus an innate sense of silly!

Overall, the Get Your Wordsworth series is designed for those, young and old alike, who appreciate the English language in all its nuanced, layered and textured glory and who can handle a judicious mix of the super silly and gently philosophical all imbued with a healthy dose of wry and dry humor!

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s very very hard to describe until you experience it for yourself because Get Your Wordsworth seems (to me at least) to be a new style of fiction…one that combines short story illustrated poems with a few modern day twists and tweaks to make verse less fearsome and impenetrable.

Overall, I call this potentially new style of pictorial poetry-prose fast blasts. But a quick brainstorm also unearthed the following possible descriptors!

casual poetry-prose

quirky poetry-prose fusion

laugh now, think later verse

micro poetry-prose

illustrated micro fiction

poetry-prose mash-up

rap traps

genre-busting poetry-prose

one minute super shorts

bite-size bedtime reads

playful poetry

cheeky poetry chunks

poetry-prose hybrid

little book of laughs

Re-verse High-brow

Tractor Gate: easy read, short blast, funny punny poetry

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

‘Tom is a magician with words, a sorcerer with challenging ideas, and an all around excellent poet. ’ 

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

'Skinner’s quirky sense of humor shines throughout the book and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. ’ 

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.

‘The author’s note after each poem is unique and hilarious. ’ 

Overload contains a diverse collection of playful comments and musings about Moses, poetry, wizards, feelings, cowboys and monkeys.

‘The author has kept the language very simple and used oodles of humour to generate and maintain reader interest. ’

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.

‘I absolutely loved this book. Wish I could have given it more than five stars!’

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 recommend this to children who are new to poetry. ’

Eight zappy illustrated one page stories in crisp and quirky verse for elastic fantastic readers (ages 8-15) who can handle a bit of high voltage wordplay!

‘I wasn't sure I was going to like it. In fact, I was quite sure I wasn't going to like it. But the book took me by surprise!’ 

Buy Overload to have some unexpected fun with verse today!

‘He creates poems that challenge young brains to inspect language and get a fresh vista of what words are all about. ’

Note: Overload is the seventh book in the Get Your Wordsworth series which can be read in any order. Books 1-6 are available as a box set (Get Your Wordsworth, Volume 1). The other books are Einstein's Cat, Pavlov's Dog, It's Slapstick, Plain Crazy, Too Much TV and Tractor Gate.

‘Recommended series. ’

What words would you, as a modern muse, use to describe this series? 

It’s very hard to describe this series until you read it because Get Your Wordsworth is (as far as I can tell) a new hybrid model of illustrated poetry-prose which combines an old art form with a few modern alchemic twists and tweaks. It is these hitherto unseen and highly unorthodox bolt-ons (newspaper style title and sub-title, an original hand-drawn high quality sketch for each story plus a personal author note) which I believe give rise to this far more accessible (though admittedly less technical) twenty first century verse.

Overall, I call these ever so artful one page hodgepodges, medleys, melanges or potpourris fast blasts! 

I'm sure you will have your own version. Other fast blast type descriptors include…

casual poetry-prose

poetry-prose fusion

laugh now, think later verse

micro poetry-prose

illustrated micro fiction

poetry-prose mash-up

rap traps

one minute super shorts

playful poetry

cheeky poetry chunks

little book of laughs

Get Your Wordsworth

Get Your Wordsworth

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