A Rocketful of Space Poems

John Foster chooses a selection of poems on the popular theme of space in an anthology which includes several of his own.

The selection takes us on a journey throughout the Universe. We find out that ‘If you Drive to the Moon’ it takes 134 days (according to J Patrick Lewis) and how to direct Martians who have lost their way in Eric Finney’s ‘Turn Left to the Moon’. Space tourism is imagined in John Foster’s email poem ‘Staying at a Space Hotel’ and Liz Brownlee sends greetings from the Milky Way in ‘Flurp Blurp’. We visit Peter Cookson’s ‘Greasy Peter Pluto’s Fast Food Superstore’ with tempting treats such as ‘Lunar mooncheese toasties’ and ‘Zenchucky fried Kraken’ which are fun to savour as you read them though probably best not sampled! This and several other poems might inspire children’s own creativity describing other items on the menu, or other monsters after reading David Harmer’s ‘Worst Monsters in the Universe’.

Important questions are answered such as what would be sold at a garage sale in outer space and how you play Intergalactic squibble ball; David Harmer provides the official rules. If you are ever in danger in space John Foster tells us how to ‘Save Our Spaceship’, apparently you need to send a signal to Supergirl!

The poetry rhymes and skips along in this light-hearted, enjoyable anthology. There is a plenty of humour throughout including Clive Webster’s ‘Dumb Earthling’ which describes a Martian who thinks he has found an earthling to talk to but gets no reply, because he is speaking to a petrol pump! The book ends with jokes, a riddle and a limerick.

Korky Paul’s distinctive style adds to the humour and fantastical effect. The page borders maintain the space theme providing an interesting and effective frame each illustration. The endpapers with children’s art work are a lovely touch.