A Lot of Silly

Joy Cowley once again proves her mastery of playful storytelling in A Lot of Silly, a delightfully absurd collection of poems and very short stories designed to entertain young readers and the young at heart. From a man who takes his tadpoles for a walk in his hat, to a tiger with a taste for dentists, each piece revels in nonsense and wordplay, evoking the spirit of classic humourists like Spike Milligan, Edward Lear, and Ogden Nash.

Cowley’s gift for rhythm and sound makes this collection a joy to read aloud, with phrases that roll effortlessly off the tongue. Whether it’s a two-line snippet or a longer, wittily subversive tale, each selection invites children to revel in the sheer fun of language. The text is further enriched by David Barrow’s lively and whimsical illustrations, which amplify the humour and bring Cowley’s flights of fancy to life.

This full-colour hardback is a feast for the senses, offering laughter, surprise, and the kind of wordplay that encourages creative thinking. With its mix of the positively bonkers and the cleverly thought-provoking, A Lot of Silly is a testament to Cowley’s status as a literary treasure. Destined to delight readers of all ages, this exuberant collection reminds us that, sometimes, a little silly is exactly what we need.