The Funniest Stuff contains over fifty funny poems with equally amusing illustrations created by Colin West. They cover an array of different subjects in a range of various verse forms, strong in rhyme and wordplay. There are crazy creatures like the Snoope and the Lolloping Lollop. There are eccentric characters like Uncle Norman, a traffic warden who likes to keep on his uniform, (even in bed), and Aunt Priscilla, who wrestles a wild gorilla. There are insights into the poet's world, where Colin eschews personal questions in `Don't Ask Me About Myself', and gives vent to his feelings about airy-fairy writers in `O How I Hate the Poet!' Black humour is in evidence in short pieces, such as the nature-loving Henrietta and the longer rollicking ballad, Fritz, who liked to frolic in the foothills but whose dreams were sadly crushed. There is even a pastiche of the early Victorian cautionary tale in `Belated Bertie', about a boy who liked to play practical jokes. There is pure nonsense in `Under My Uncle's Umbrella' and a nod to concrete poetry in `I Used To Climb Up Lamp-posts, Sir'. The Funniest Stuff is brimming with humour, wit and charm and is sure to find your funny-bone and give it a good tickle! It will appeal to children aged 8-12.

 

There are 64 pages in this book. This book was published 2016 by Troubador Publishing .

Colin West was born in 1951 and studied Illustration at London's Royal College of Art. He is the author of over fifty works, which include picture books such as Have You Seen the Crocodile? (Walker, 2009). Colin is based in East Sussex.