Michael Skyner

01/09/2026

THIS WEEK'S POEM FROM THE MONKEY

Mr Blob

Mr Blob was a bit of a slob
Who never could be tidy
He left his socks on the floor and his ties in meat pies
Which he ate every other Friday

Mr Blob was a bit of a slob
Who ate until he was fit to burst
He dined on lion and whale
And even worse, would belch and tell fishmongers’ tales

Mr Blob was a bit of a slob
Who would dribble all over his dinner
He would slobber and drool
And, as a rule, would wipe his mouth
With the back of the cat
And keep mince pies
Underneath his top hat

michaelskyner.co.uk

26/08/2026

20/08/2026

MAMMOTH RIDER REVIEW
Paid for copy.

Sometimes one comes across a book which stands out from the herd. Yes, the pun is deliberate. And this is very much the case with S.J. Poyton’s Mammoth Rider. A beautifully written and illustrated fantasy story of a young girl’s (Ash) quest to become a Mammoth Rider in the footsteps of her father. Set in a future Arctic where mammoths have been brought back into existence via cloning. Mammoth Rider brings into question the ethical debate surrounding cloning and the environment which the author addresses in the appendices.
Often the best stories are ones where the reader is transported to another world which is credible and believable. And here Mammoth Rider does not disappoint. Set in an arctic research station, MAC. Ash, the station director’s daughter, befriends one of the mammoths and her cute albino calf Nayala, whom I am certain will become a children’s favourite. From the start the action is fast-paced, and as the story unfolds, it is clear that someone is determined to undermine the project and only Ash and her friends are left to save the mammoths. The book is presented in a dyslexic-friendly format, reflecting the author’s neurodivergences. But this is a story which will appeal to all ages. Verdict: a Mammoth success.

04/08/2026

A SHORT STORY FROM THE MONKEY

The Old Man and the Wood Turner

One day, a little girl went to see her grandmother. ‘Oh, do tell me a story, Granny,' said the little girl as she sat on her granny's knee. So, the grandmother told the little girl the tale of the old man and the wood turner.

The story was all about how an old man would go out into the wood every day to find chopping wood but, no matter how often he went, he simply couldn’t find any wood. So, he had no wood to light the fire with and then, one day when he was in the wood, he came across a neatly stacked pile of logs, already chopped up for the fire.

He brought the wood home and the next day, he went out looking for more wood and sure enough, there was another pile of wood all chopped up and ready to go. So, he took the wood home and used it for firewood and all in the house were happy.

Except the wood turner, who was scratching his head wondering what had happened to his pile of wood. Then, while he watched, the wood turner saw the old man taking his wood and asked him what he thought he was doing with it.

The old man told the wood turner that he needed the wood for his fire, as his family was freezing with the cold. The wood turner felt sorry for the old man’s family and took pity on the old man’s plight.

‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘If you give me a hand with turning this wood, I’ll let you have some for your family.’
‘That’s most generous of you for sure,’ said the old man.

So, the old man helped the wood turner to turn his wood, which ensured that he had enough wood to keep his family warm.

And the moral of this story is, children, that whenever you find yourself in need of someone’s help, remember...

One wood turner deserves another.

28/07/2026

Here’s a quick, practical tweak you can use this summer: show a two-frame visual (before/after) with wider line spacing and a finger-tracking prompt next to a 20-word excerpt from Michael Skyner’s Funreads. I use the extra spacing so each line feels calmer and easier to follow, and finger-tracking helps readers keep their place without re-reading. That reduces cognitive load by slowing pace, cutting visual crowding, and letting kids enjoy the rhythm of the words - exactly what Skyner aims for with his accessible, joy-first language. Try this at home or in the classroom and tell me how it goes: what changes did you notice? https://wix.to/LsKKTXJ

21/07/2026

I love how a little rhyme can open up a big smile-and a new reader. Here’s a short excerpt from my accessible-format edition to try at bedtime or in class:

“Tip-tap toes on the moonlit mat,
Whisker whispers, a snoring cat.
Giggles wiggle, rhythms play - Words fall in line and hop away.”

Rhythm and rhyme give reluctant readers a predictable beat to follow, building confidence and fluency. Perfect for caregivers and teachers who want a gentle, fun lift. Find the full collection and classroom resources at https://wix.to/1wIeTPe

Want more excerpts like this? Tell me whether you read aloud with kids or share in class!

14/07/2026

Happy World Emoji Day! 🎉 Ready for a quick brain-teaser? I’ve turned a two-sentence mini-story about one of Michael Skyner’s characters into only emojis - decode it and drop the book title in the comments for a chance to spark someone’s next favorite read. 😊
mi

Why this matters: playful visuals and language can make reading more inviting for reluctant and dyslexic readers. Skyner’s humor-forward approach makes stories feel fun, not like homework - and that can change everything.

Want to explore the book? Visit https://wix.to/UE3CoO7 and let us know your guess below! 📚✨

07/07/2026

THIS WEEK'S POEM FROM THE MONKEY

Jibbering Jim

Jibbering Jim was a wreck of a man
Whose nerves were all of a tremor
At the slightest sound
He would jump up and down
And quiver and quake
And shiver and shake
And become so upset
He would throw up all over his dinner

michaelskyner.co.uk
michaelskyner.com

16/06/2026

https://wix.to/0NWTGxG

09/06/2026

THIS WEEK'S POEM FROM THE MONKEY

Jibbering Jim
Jibbering Jim was a wreck of a man
Whose nerves were all a-tremor
At the slightest sound
He would jump up and down
And quiver and quake
And shiver and shake
And become so upset
He would throw up all over his dinner