If the World Belonged to Dogs

Michelle’s poems feature everything from redback spiders and sharks to koalas and sugar gliders, to things that go bump in the night and horrible habits, to favourite foods and school, to the uniqueness of our country and its characters… Many poems have a recognisable Australian sense of humour and a larrikin tone which young readers will no doubt enjoy.
A variety of poetic styles and forms are used in the book. These include traditional rhyming, free verse, haiku, list poem, ode, lullaby, anagram, fantastical nonsense poems, landscape poems, lyrical poems, narrative poems. This book would be an invaluable resource for teachers introducing students to the diversity of poetry, while at the same time bringing poems which are fun and accessible to children.

The book is especially suitable for children in their primary school years (who can read independently), as well as preschool-aged children (aided by an adult reader) As well as being an excellent introduction to the amazing world of poetry, teenagers and adults, as well as children, will enjoy many of these poems for their humour and playfulness.

There are 79 poems divided into 9 chapters, according to their theme.
1. Fantastical Nonsense
2. Creatures Great and Small
3. Families
4. Bread and Butter
5. ABC
6. Disgusting Habits
7. Goosebumps
8. A Big Country
9. Lazy Bones and Lullabies

About the Author
Michelle A Taylor was born in Brisbane in 1968, and grew up in Darwin and Brisbane. More recently she has lived in Suffolk, Glasgow and London, and she is presently living on the island of Madeira in Portugal with her husband and two young daughters. She has been writing and publishing for thirteen years, and she particularly enjoys taking poetry to young audiences and hearing what young people make of poetry in their lives today.

She is a popular choice as a performer and workshop leader in schools and at literary festivals, and is also an occupational therapist with many years experience working with those with mental and emotional health problems.