They’re all here in this sometimes funny, sometimes touching, often surprising new collection: the Abracadabra Dad; the Jukebox Dad; the Pirate Dad and the Prison Dad; the Refugee Dad and the Rollercoaster Dad; right through to the Zen Dad and the Zzzz Dad. Using a wide variety of forms, Justin Coe parades 50 or more different fathers in front of his readers in poems that will make them laugh, smile, think or just nod in recognition. Not all of these dads are lovable, but there’s no doubt that they all feel real, and this is a collection that is well worth close reading. ~Andrea Reece
Look out for Big Bad Dad and Caveman Dad, laugh at Daddy Disaster and Donkey Dad, feel sorry for Faraway Dad and look forward to Homecoming Dad. Then raise a cheer for Mum-Dad! There are more than fifty different dads in The Dictionary of Dads. Find your favourite - but watch out for Exploding Dad! This is a brilliant and funny debut collection from a poet who performs his work in schools and theatres across the UK, with witty illustrations by Steve Wells.
Justin Coe is a performance poet on a mission to reconnect people with poetry and poetry with people. A regular and popular performer in schools, theatres and community settings, he has entertained everywhere from Sheppey to Shanghai and from the Savoy Hotel to street corners, steam trains and a sitting-room made entirely out of newspaper. In the last decade, since relocating to Southend and becoming a father, he has also written and performed seven spoken word theatre shows for young people. His most recent show Big Wow Small Wonder (about the joys of being the smallest boy in school) is produced by Half Moon Theatre in east London and continues to tour to venues nationally. He first dreamt of writing a book when he was five years old. It's taken him nearly 40 years, but he's done it! Justin Coe lives in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Steve Wells is a designer and illustrator. He has designed over 200 book covers and his spontaneous and scratchy illustrations have appeared in more than a dozen books and have been published around the world. He lives in Bath with his wife and three children, one cat and a lizard. Follow Steve on Instagram: @stevewellsdesign and at stevewellsdesign.com
