Press Start to Play

by Sam Gayton, illustrated by Jack Noel

Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 7+

Published by Andersen Press, 2025

  • Poetry and rhyme

About this book

Gamers get ready… to press start and play with a world of poetry and language in this exciting new anthology from Sam Gayton. There are poems for Minecraft superfans, poems for board game aficionados, poems about playground games and much more besides. Most impressively, these poems also gamify language itself by demonstrating the joys of poetry and experimenting with form and structure, making words and rhythm a central part of the fun.

With modern video game references, genuinely funny moments and a pleasing aesthetic, this poetry collection will appeal to fans of gaming and is an excellent way into the world of poetry that showcases the subversive, fun side of language in a non-intimidating way. Game on!

About the author

Sam Gayton lives in Margate. In 2009 he completed the Writing for Young People MA at Bath Spa University and not long after published his first book, The Snow Merchant. He loves American novels, Italian food and the English countryside. When he's not writing, he likes playing old board games, strumming his guitar and joining as many rock bands as possible (currently at seven).

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