Books Make Good Pets

An uplifting and funny celebration of the magic of books by John Agard, winner of the Queens Gold Medal for Poetry.

Books make good pets and don't need going to the vet.
You don't have to keep them on a lead or throw them a stick.
They'll wag their words whenever you flick their dog-eared pages.
Even howl an ancient tale for the inward-listening ear.

Did you know that a book can take you anywhere? You only need to turn the pages of a story, and in a moment, you and your book could be crossing the waves in a pirate ship... or diving with mermaids... or even snoozing with a dragon.

Books really DO make good pets! Why don't you peep inside this one, and take your mind on an adventure?

This delightful original picture book poem is the perfect gift for anyone who delights in the magic of a good book. Agard's evocative, lyrical style is perfectly complemented with illustrations by Momoko Abe, whose colourful visuals add character, transporting the reader into an enchanting world of imagination.

About the Author

John Agard was born in Guyana and emigrated to Britain in 1977. He has worked as an actor and a performer with a jazz group and spent several years with the Commonwealth Institute, travelling all over Britain giving talks, performances and workshops. He has visited literally thousands of schools.

His poem 'Half-caste' is on the AQA English GCSE syllabus, and every year he tours the country performing with other top poets for GCSE students. His children's poetry includes We Animals Would Like a Word With You, Points of View With Professor Peekaboo, and most recently Einstein, the Girl Who Hated Maths and Hello H2O, poems about maths and science respectively. All these titles have been in collaboration with the illustrator Satoshi Kitamura.

He lives in Sussex and is married to Grace Nichols, herself a respected Caribbean poet. They have a daughter.

About the Illustrator

Momoko Abe was born in Japan and has been drawing ever since she can remember. Aged 20, pursuing her passion for visual storytelling, she came to the UK to study filmmaking, and still works in the TV and film industry alongside her illustration work. Avocado Asks is Momoko's debut picture book. She lives in London.