This great first poetry collection from Chris quickly draws his readers into the warped world of characters he's created in this rip-roaring roller coaster of a rhyme ride that is Bitey the Veggie Vampire.

About this book...

Can a vampire ever be cuddly? Can a vampire be a vegetarian? Derby-based author and illustrator Chris White thinks so, and to prove it, he's produced this collection of children's poems featuring Bitey, the veggie vampire.

This book is Chris's first full-length collection of children's poetry, and as well as Bitey, Chris's work explores the slightly warped world of a whole bestiary of Bitey's buddies, including a one-eyed hamster, Stumpy, the one-legged pigeon, Nigel and Frank, the surprisingly passionate frogs, "The Bear in My Wardrobe" and "Henry, the Bald Caterpillar".

But it's not all fun for fun's sake: kids will warm to the environmental lessons in "Ted's Bad Dream" where Chris manages to discuss pollution without being too preachy, or "Dragon fo Hire", or the exploits of "Gerald the Pig", goalkeeper, postman, fireman, but in the end content just to be... well, a pig, actually. Finally, for those who wondered, Chris lets his readers into the secret of why you shouldn't give a duck a pen (or feed them cheese and wine for that matter).

A dedicated wielder of the drawing pen and airbrush, Chris has also done all of the illustrations in the book himself. Chris White has been writing (or "scribbling" as he puts it) for fifteen years, as well as drawing, but mostly for other people. All his own material just got stuffed in a drawer as soon as it was finished. As Chris himself puts it, "When the drawer wouldn't shut any more, I wondered if anyone out there would like to share them with me." Now that drawer has been opened, for the delight of readers everywhere!

Bitey the Veggie Vampire
And Other Weird Poems for Wacky Children
An Introduction by Chris White, Potty Poet

This book has been 15 years in the making! Although I have been drawing pretty much non-stop for all that time it has always been for other people. One day I realised I had nothing for myself.

So, during boring school lessons, long days at work, train journeys and those quiet moments when your mind wanders, these poems were scribbled down and shoved in a drawer.

When that drawer wouldn't shut any more I wondered if anyone out there would like to share them with me.

That's where the fine people at The King's England Press came in. Although I sometimes think I'm dreaming, here are those scribbles, dusted down and spruced up just for you.

I think what I'm trying to say is that if you get one of those quiet, mind-wandering moments, grab a pen and paper quick. Look what can happen!