Press Start to Play
by Sam Gayton, illustrated by Jack Noel
Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Andersen Press, 2025
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
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Lists of recommended reads
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Books for fans of video games
Video games are a hugely popular and exciting medium, and they can tell great stories too. Through gaming, children can become the main character in fantasy adventures, can build their own creative worlds, and even manage their favourite football team! The following recommendations embrace the joys of gaming. There are books based on video games, books that explore the social side of gaming, and even books that allow the reader to interact and play with the story itself as it progresses.
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Interactive books to play along with
Reading doesn't have to be a quiet, sitting-down activity; books can be a huge amount of active fun! We have collated a list of book recommendations for mixed ages that are interactive and playful.