Kirjahaku

Funny and thought-provoking answers to curious questions … in poetry form! Join renowned poet Brian Bilston for a hilarious, non-fiction adventure in 100 poems – with subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids, technology and MUCH more. Questions include … · How many stars in the Universe exploded today? · Who invented football? · Who is the champion weightlifter of the animal world? · How did the ancient Egyptians make a mummy? Each fascinating question about the world around us is answered with one of Brian's unforgettable, witty and characterful poems. Expect the hilarious, thought-provoking, poignant – and downright silly! Brian’s poems are accompanied by an extra non-fiction explainer, filled with facts and written with just as much humour and heart as the poems. Prepare to find some amazing stories and information to share with your family, teachers and friends! Each page is brought to life with bright, humorous and characterful artwork by Bristol-based illustrator, animator and cartoonist Joe Berger. Joe has illustrated over 40 children’s books including Sammy Striker and the Football Cup by Catherine Emmett and Sometimes I am Furious by Timothy Knapman. He is a past official illustrator for World Book Day, and winner of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators Award.

A brilliant way to brighten each day. In this playful, innovative collection, Brian Bilston writes a poem to accompany every day of the year.Each poem is inspired by a significant – often curious – event associated with that day: from Open an Umbrella Indoors Day to the day on which New York banned public flirting; from the launch of the Rubik’s Cube to the first appearance of the phrase, ‘the best thing since sliced bread’.Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with friends, Days Like These: An alternative guide to the year in 366 poems will take the blues out of Monday, flatten the Wednesday hump, and amplify that Friday feeling.

A brilliant way to brighten each day. In this playful collection, Brian Bilston writes a poem to accompany every day of the year.Each poem is inspired by a significant – often curious – event associated with that day: from Open an Umbrella Indoors Day to the day on which New York banned public flirting; from the launch of the Rubik’s Cube to the first appearance of the phrase, ‘the best thing since sliced bread’.Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with friends, Days Like These: An alternative guide to the year in 366 poems will take the blues out of Monday, flatten the Wednesday hump, and amplify that Friday feeling.

It’s that time of year again . . .With his signature wit, Brian Bilston returns with And So This is Christmas, fifty-one poems in celebration of the festive season: from bizarre family traditions to the office Christmas party; from voting day for turkeys to the impossible art of gift-giving.So hang your stockings, grab your mistletoe and curl up with this heart-warming collection of Christmas crackers.

A hilarious collection of pet poems by wordplay wizard Brian Bilston. When you've got a bad case of the 'mews' and are in desperate need of a 'pup'-lifting read, this book is the 'ulti-mutt' remedy. The perfect gift for a dog person, cat person and every pet lover in between.Please don’t think me lazy,I’m not trying to slack –it’s just that I’m stuck, you see,under this cat.Let Sleeping Cats Lie is a collection of poems following the funny lives of our furry – and not so furry – friends. Stars include Wilf, the hypnotist Labracadabrador, a philosophically inclined goldfish penning a profound haiku, a hen named Barbara receiving an adoring tribute, and an 'octopussy' cat that seems to have all its paws in plenty of odd little pies.

A hilarious collection of pet poems by wordplay wizard Brian Bilston. When you've got a bad case of the 'mews' and are in desperate need of a 'pup'-lifting read, this book is the 'ulti-mutt' remedy.Please don’t think me lazy,I’m not trying to slack –it’s just that I’m stuck, you see,under this cat.This collection of poems focuses on the hilarious happenings in the lives of our furry - and not so furry - friends. Stars include Wilf, the hypnotist Labracadabrador, a philosophically inclined goldfish penning a profound haiku, a hen named Barbara receiving an adoring tribute, and an 'octopussy' cat that seems to have all its paws in plenty of odd little pies.The perfect gift for a dog person, cat person and every pet lover in between.

Why do we write poetry? Who should write it? And where do you even start? Well, Brian Bilston, one of the UK’s most hilarious and best-loved poets, is here to take us through the hows, whys and whats of reading, writing and enjoying poetry every day. With his characteristic wit and charm, Bilston accompanies us through the jungle of imagination to the source of inspiration, takes us under the bonnet of a sonnet and over the fear of literary devices. He gives us a whirlwind tour through the history of verse, and shows us why human poetry will always triumph over any attempts by AI. Showcasing over a hundred brand new poems, and including practical critiques of some of his greatest hits, every page is an immensely pleasurable deep-dive into the life-affirming craft of poetry and a passionate argument for why we should all pick up a pen. How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside is for anyone who loves words and all the things they can do.

If you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston - Richard Osman, author of We Solve Murders'There is poetry to be found in anything if you look hard enough.'You Took the Last Bus Home is a collection of ingenious, hilarious and touching poems from Brian Bilston, one of Britain’s funniest and best-loved poets.With endless wit, wisdom and delightful wordplay, Bilston's first collection of poetry offers profound insights into the common joys and sorrows of modern life. Exploring themes as diverse as love, death, and the unbearable torment of forgetting to put the rubbish out, all of Bilston’s poems are alive to the improbable nuances of the English language.Constantly experimenting with poetic forms – from Venn diagrams to Scrabble tiles – this irresistibly charming collection of poems will make you ponder the very essence of the human condition in the twenty-first century.'Bilston is a magician with words' - The Guardian'Brian Bilston is a laureate for our fractured times' - Ian McMillan

Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award.'Glorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year.' - Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to HurtPart tender love story, part murder mystery, part hilarious description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a stunningly original novel from Twitter sensation, Brian Bilston.It’s January 1st and Brian Bilston is convinced that this year, his New Year’s resolution will change his life. Every day for a year, he will write a poem. It’s quite simple. Brian’s life certainly needs improving. His ex-wife has taken up with a new man, he seems to constantly disappoint his long-suffering son, and at work he is drowning in a sea of spreadsheets and management jargon. So poetry will be his salvation. But there is an obstacle in the form of Toby Salt, his arch nemesis at Poetry Club and rival suitor to Liz, Brian’s new poetic inspiration. When Toby goes missing, just after the announcement of the publication of his first collection, This Bridge No Hands Shall Cleave, Brian becomes the number one suspect. If he is to regain his reputation and to have a chance of winning Liz, he must find out what has happened to Toby before it is too late.

A witty and inventive blend of poetry, mystery, and midlife mayhem – this Costa First Novel Award shortlisted debut is a true original.'If you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston' – Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club'Nobody must find out about this unique gem, because I'm giving it to EVERYONE, and I want to appear clever and discerning.' – Dawn FrenchIt's January 1st and Brian Bilston's life needs to change. His ex-wife has taken up with a new man, a motivational speaker and marketing guru to boot; he seems to constantly disappoint his long-suffering son; and at work he is drowning in a sea of spreadsheets and management jargon.Brian's resolution is to write a poem every day; poetry will be his salvation. But there is an obstacle to his happiness in the form of Toby Salt, his arch nemesis in the Poetry Group and rival suitor to Liz, Brian's new poetic inspiration. When Toby goes missing, Brian is the number one suspect.Part tender love story, part suburban murder mystery, part scathing description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a unique, original and hilarious novel.'Glorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year.' – Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt.

A funny collection of football poems by Brian Bilston, the unofficial Poet Laureate of Twitter. Perfect for football fans of all ages – from the young footie fanatic to a been-to-every-game-grandma, and every 'I could've been a pro' in between.Full of poems that will make you giggle about all things football, including being left out of the World Cup squad, mum's opinion on Messi vs Ronaldo, or those unmissable fixtures:I’d love nothing more than to go outsideand spend time with Mother Nature.But what can I do? It’s out of my hands:Nigeria are playing Croatia 50 Ways to Score a Goal and Other Football Poems includes witty chants, a haiku or two, and fun shape poems about the beautiful game. Laugh together through the Euros or Premier League games, and swap the half-time pundits for puns!'Bilston is a magician with words' – Guardian'Someone who knows their way round both a joke and a bittersweet narrative.' – The Times

A hilarious and moving poetry collection. The perfect, witty gift for Valentine’s and beyond.‘Bilston is a magician with words’ - GuardianAlexa, What Is There to Know About Love? is a wonderful collection of poems by Brian Bilston, Twitter’s ‘unofficial poet laureate’, in which he frets over the challenges of modern life, celebrates the pleasures of books, broods over politics, and ponders the curiosities of language.But at its heart, this is a collection of poems about love. From our caveman days to the internet era, from first dates to love in old age, Alexa, What Is There to Know About Love? has a love poem for every time, place and occasion – and will stir the soul of even the most jaded romantic.'If you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston' - Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club‘Brian Bilston is a laureate for our fractured times.’ - Ian McMillan‘Part John Cooper Clarke, part Frank Sidebottom . . . all brilliant.’ - Esquire

You Took the Last Bus Home is the first and long-awaited collection of ingeniously hilarious and surprisingly touching poems from Brian Bilston, the mysterious `Poet Laureate of Twitter'.With endless wit, imaginative wordplay and underlying heartache, he offers profound insights into modern life, exploring themes as diverse as love, death, the inestimable value of a mobile phone charger, the unbearable torment of forgetting to put the rubbish out, and the improbable nuances of the English language.Constantly experimenting with literary form, Bilston's words have been known to float off the page, take the shape of the subjects they explore, and reflect our contemporary world in the form of Excel spreadsheets, Venn diagrams and Scrabble tiles.This irresistibly charming collection of his best-loved poems will make you question the very essence of the human condition in the twenty-first century.YOU TOOK THE LAST BUS HOMEyou tookthe last bus homedon't know howyou got it through the dooryou're always doing amazing stufflike the timewhen you caught that train

Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here? Why my country? It is a feeling many people share. It is one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges. It says, 'Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?' The world is undergoing a period of mass human migration. Whether this is caused by war, persecution or economics, the people we see on the news in those camps are waiting - waiting to live their lives. There are two sides to every debate. There are two sides to a wall. This story shows both sides of the issue with skill and the illustrations depict the issue in a magic realism style, powerful but never frightening, and will promote a deeper discussion on this topic with an older child.

Refugee is a powerful word. One that conjures opposing emotions. For some it provokes feelings of fear and hate, for others the need for compassion, understanding, and empathy. In this celebrated poem, "Refugees," Brian Bilston tells both sides of the story by cleverly crafting a verse that can be read backward and forward to convey two opposing views. Brian Bilston is often described as the "Poet Laureate of Twitter" (now X) and this much admired poem, perfectly accompanied by artwork from illustrator, Jose Sanabria, is a wonderful way to explore this emotive issue as you realize that it's not just the words that have been reversed!

Refugee is a powerful word. One that conjures opposing emotions.For some it provokes feelings of fear and hate, for others the need for compassion, understanding and empathy. In this celebrated powem, 'Refugees, ' Brian Bilston tells both sides of the story by cleverly crafting a verse that can be read backwards and forwards to convey two opposing views.