About the Author

A real live poet!

Steve Turner inspires children to both read and write poetry by reading to them from his five best selling collections. He then answers questions, signs books and is available for conversations. Steve works with children from Nursery to Y6.

Steve started writing poetry when he was 16 and had published four books for adults before launching The Day I Fell down the Toilet in 1996.

His work for children has received great critical acclaim and he has recorded three of his books for BBC Audio.

Steve has performed his work in schools, bookstores, churches, coffee houses, prisons, cathedrals and rock clubs. He grew up in Northamptonshire and has lived in London since 1970.

Testimonials

Children's Comments:

“I think that you're a brilliant poet and should become more famous than the Queen.”
Danny Weston, 10

“I like the way you write your funny poems because it makes me want to read more and more. I also like the way you express your poems and the way you told your little stories about the poems.”
Jordan-Marie Ferdinand, 8

“The poems will stick with me for life.”
Jay Ahluwahlia, 11

“I love the book. I especially like 'The Day I Fell down the Toilet.' I took the book into my class and lots of children read it too.”
Holly Bloomfield, 7

“My mum couldn't read The Day I Fell down the Toilet out loud because it made her laugh so much! Can you write a poem for me? I love your book. I am trying to find other books by you. Can you tell me some?”
Jamie Denton, 9

 

Teachers' Reports:

“My Year 2 pupils enjoy reciting many of these verses. Indeed, the poetry has inspired their own written work and immensely enriched their individual appreciation of poetry.”
Susan Huelin, St John's School, Jersey

“Thanks so much for yesterday. One wee lad coming downstairs at the end of the day said, 'Please Miss. That was great. We met a real live poet. Wait 'til my mum hears!' You were a hit.”
Moira Kleissner, Librarian, Fairley House School, Pimlico

 

The Day I Fell Down the Toilet (1996):
(Federation of Children's Book Groups recommendation)

“An excellent addition to any poetry section in public or school libraries.”
Julie Blaisdale - The School Librarian Journal

“This hilarious collection of modern poems will make you laugh out loud.”
Young Telegraph In the Beginning (1997):

“Simple and fast moving.”
Helen Taylor - Books for Keeps

“It raps along through a gaudy jungle of pictures and pulls up smart with a charming punch line.”
Brian Alderson - Times Literary Supplement

 

Dad, You're Not Funny (1999):

“If you like your poetry to make you laugh, Steve Turner's your man.”
Daily Telegraph

“I handed it to my ten-year old, who's dyslexic and not especially given to reading poetry aloud. He brought the poems to fluent, humorous life, full of expression, at a first reading, clearly getting as much pleasure out of his performance as he gave. It's not difficult to see why Turner's first collection, 'The Day I Fell Down the Toilet', was so successful.”
Sara O'Reilly - Time Out

“Uncovers a seam of humour to which children and adults can relate but which also has more enduring characteristics such as sensitivity and compassion.”
Jayne Lacny - Oxford Times

“One of the most original and child-friendly voices to emerge in the last few years.”
Dinah Hall - Sunday Telegraph

 

The Moon Has Got His Pants On (2001): Chosen as Best Single-Author collection by The Children's Poetry Bookshelf (Poetry Book Society), Summer term, 2002

“Children in the seven to nine years age range will devour it.”
Junior Education

“A wonderful modern selection for children. Challenging, entertaining and thought-provoking.”
Irene Babsky - School Librarian Journal

 

Don't Take Your Elephant to School (2006):

“A wide-ranging, funny and thought-provoking collection.”
Kathryn Ross - The Scotsman

“Age Range: 7 and above. Fun Factor: Yes, lots. Usefulness as Teaching Tool: Tightly structured verse and some good teaching models, including the book's format. Final Verdict: Buy one for every classroom and the library.”
Roger Stevens - Poetry Zone

“We think you're going to love Don't Take Your Elephant to School, the latest book from leading children's poet Steve Turner…These poems are fun for children to read but are also good for parents to read to children.”
Primary Times

“Steve Turner's usual deft touch is employed in this collection of alphabet poems. Each letter has three pieces about animals, people or things, and there's a lot here to tickle the funny bone.”
Valerie Bloom - Junior Education

 

Publications

Steve's poems have appeared in numerous anthologies including:

Essential Poems for Children (ed. Daisy Goodwin)

Sensation (ed. Roger McGough)

The Works 2-6 (ed. Paul Cookson, Brian Moses, Pie Corbett)

Culture Shock (ed. Michael Rosen)

Oxford Book of Children's Poetry (ed. Michael Harrison and Christopher Stuart Clark)

Usborne Book of Children's Poetry

as well as being read on Radio 2, Radio 5 and the Disney Channel.

Booking Information

Home:	London
Travels to:	Anywhere
Prices:	£390 full day + travel expenses/ accommodation expenses as necessary + VAT

Publications by the Author