"Loving words clutch crimson roses,
Rude words sniff and pick their noses,
Sly words come dressed up as foxes,
Short words stand on cardboard boxes,
Common words tell jokes and gabble,
Complicated words play Scrabble ..."

Read aloud, these poems will have an immediate impact and will bring enjoyment to both children and adults. The line drawings by John Lawrence, one of our finest illustrators, are also a delight.

1. When I Was Three
2. Snow
3. Littlemouse
4. The Number
5. The Word Party
6. Our Pond
7. Don't
8. Badgers
9. Monster
10. Mr Marrumpeter's Shop
11. The Rainflower
12. Two Friends
13. Susannah
14. Uncle Ted's Tea
15. Cloudburst
16. Gypsy Jill
17. A Wild One
18. To Slim or Not to Slim
19. My Dear Salooma
20. If Only
21. How?
22. A Corner of Bread
23. Can You Help?
24. A Song Without Music or Very Much Sense
25. The Wind
26. It
27. Three Owls
28. Wizard
29. The Blue Room
30. Be Careful
31. The Mandradum
32. George Mackenzie
33. Say This as Fast as You Can
34. Cooking
35. At Midnight
36. The Rippling River
37. My Little Dog
38. The Door
39. A Forest by Night
40. The Song of a Mole

Richard Edwards has been writing poetry for many years and has had poems accepted in various literary magazines. He teaches English on the east coast of Italy. His book Amazing Animal Alphabet was runner-up in the English 4-11 Awards for the Best Children's Picture Books of 1998.

John Lawrence is one of the finest illustrators in Britain today. He is known for his wood cuts and engravings as well as his children's book illustrations.