New Releases by Colin West

Batty Ballads is a crazy collection of funny story-poems with many full colour illustrations by Colin West himself. The characters you can meet include Freda, a flat-footed fairy, a dirty cowboy called Bert, King Neptune''s naughty nephew, and young Gordon Glass, the boy who ignored notices.

A fantastic collection of children’s poetry which will appeal to fan’s of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and the silly verse of Spike Milligan Colin West’s new collection, Bonkers Ballads, contains a host of funny poems and accompanying colour illustrations sure to tickle your ribs and make you chuckle. Amongst the crazy characters are a seasick mermaid, an out-of-tune minstrel and a natty knight whose only concern is keeping his armour extra bright. And there is a mischivous fairy who loves practical jokes, a king with toothache and a very, very clever pig. Also included are a crafty witch, a feisty female pirate and a poor peasant who fashions himself a pair of fantastic boots which bring him fame and fortune. There’s even a pair of star-crossed lovers of Bingo, a wandering bear, a tabby cat who wears a hat and a whole bunch more in this fabulous book! Colin West’s fun poems are strong in rhyme and rhythm. There is not only magic and mayhem in these ballads, but great charm and warmth to balance the gruesome ends which some of the characters suffer. Colin has combined his love of history and poetry to create a memorable collection jam packed with fun to cause maximum merriment. The pages of Bonkers Ballads are embellished with over a hundred of his own witty illustrations. Colin’s poems have been widely anthologised in both Britain and America. Ken Nesbitt, the former U.S. Children’s Laureate has hailed Colin West ‘a master of the art of humorous poetry for children’. Poet Wendy Cope has said ‘Colin West has a considerable talent as a writer and an illustrator’. If you read this new collection you are likely to agree.

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.

This is one of five rib-tickling, jungle tales by a master of comedy for children. It tells of a cheeky monkey causing mischief in the jungle.

Herbs and Spices, my chives book, how best to use chives and how to grow chives, and some favorite recipes for cooking with chives.

Whether he''s waxing lyrical about washing up or declaiming about dodgem cars, Colin West has a way with words that makes the book hard to put down until you''ve reached the end

In the first of these two stories, Moose picks up some fallen apples in the garden before making a nice lunch for Mouse. Unfortunately, he leaves both the bags on Mouse's doorstep! In the second story, Moose and Mouse decide to go camping. But, as it is so dark, do they know where to pitch their tent?

An illustrated collection of 50 funny poems by a master of the genre. This anthology of rhymes on a range of silly topics will have children (and adults) rolling with laughter. All poems are illustrated.

This anthology of 50 funny poems covers a range of silly topics all absurdly illustrated.

Written in a non-legal style, this book helps companies comply with their obligations under competition law by providing the main rules of substance and procedure applicable to companies in the UK. Checklists, sample agreements and clauses are included, and understanding is reinforced through the use of Q&As.

Aimed at developing reading ability in children aged seven to nine, the comic strip novels in this series feature heros and heroines who use quick-thinking tactics to get them out of all scrapes and dilemmas. They are designed to bridge the gap between picture books and longer novels.

The closest relative of manThey say, is the orang-utan;And when I look at GrandpapaI realize how right they are!Jam-packed with the very best nonsense rhymes and tricky tongue-twisters, this wonderfully exuberant collection contains quirky, colour illustrations from Colin West and lashings of his wildly wacky verse! Divided into sections to satisfy nonsense-lovers everywhere, this brilliant bumper book will keep children in fits for hours and may inspire them to become rollicking rhyme-makers themselves! Chapters include: Curious Creatures, Tricky Tongue-twisters, Funny Folk, Moments with Monsters, Dotty Ditties, Vicious Verses, Hopeless History, Stories in Stanzas

The rain wets the grass that feeds the cow whose milk makes the cream in Canuto's dinner, who is bringing a gift to King Sisebuto.

Aimed at developing reading ability in children aged seven to nine, the comic strip novels in this series feature heros and heroines who use quick-thinking tactics to get them out of all scrapes and dilemmas. They are designed to bridge the gap between picture books and longer novels. Great Uncle Tom has a live pterodactyl which disguises itself as an umbrella to escape discovery.

Mr Potts smiled at the crowd. Hello everyone Welcome to the fool skate - I mean the school fete . Mr Potts was always in a muddle. He loved organising the St Egbert''s School fete, but maybe the fireworks display will turn out to be more than he bargained for.

One afternoon at Grandad''s I came across his old boneshaker bicycle. We mended the tyres, oiled the brakes and polished it all over. Then it was time to test it out.

One of a pre-school reading programme in four levels, for young children and parents to enjoy together. There are four levels - starting with red, then yellow, blue and finally green - each level consisting of six books and offering a variety of reading experiences.

Various animals look for the cunning crocodile, not realizing he is right under their noses.

The lobster is having a fine time frightening the other fish into believing that a big, hungry shark is about to eat them! He's having so much fun in fact he doesn't notice that a shark is following him. And this big, hungry shark isn't joking.

Bumblebee buzzes around bothering everyone until he comes to a gentle butterfly who understands that the busy bee is looking for someone to be his friend.

All the animals expected the toucan to spread the word of the elephant's birthday, but the toucan was the last to know and the last to join the jamboree.