Turkeys jus wanna play reggae
Turkeys jus wanna hip-hop
Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,
'I cannot wait for de chop'?

Hot, hip, playful and provocative, here are straight-talking poems from ground-breaking rap poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Look forward to a powerful performance on every page.

“He’s a real messenger, unlike anyone in Britain in his stand against the mystification of culture. I defy anyone to listen to a performance of his poetry and not come away uplifted. Brecht would have loved him.” Poetry Review

“Zephaniah is the reigning king of children’s poetry... He has an unselfconscious relish for language and word-play that never strays into the patronising dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum territory of so much of children’s poetry: his are poems that bounce up from the page and demand to be read, rapped, sung and hip-hopped aloud.” Independent on Sunday

"Benjamin Zephaniah’s poems are short, funny and modern. This is poetry with attitude.” The Times

“Britain’s best known Rasta poet, famous for his hypnotic readings.” Mail on Sunday

“He brings Jamaican rhythms, the patois of the streets, the perception that… poetry can be powerful, provocative, street-wise… He takes poetry off the page and into urban mouths, turns verse into sassy, beat-filled performance.” The Scotsman

“Benjamin Zephaniah writes poems that tickle your imagination and make you think.” Meg@ (The Times)

“His wit is devastating and his well aimed shafts of satire rarely miss their mark.” Junior Bookshelf

“Funky Chickens and Talking Turkeys play with typeface and orthography, pulse with irreverent energy and joie-de-vivre.” The Scotsman

“Talking Turkeys… relates to different religions and cultures so every child can feel they are a part of society and not feel left out… The book is for children but the grown ups will be sneaking off with it.” Black Literature Project

“If rap and rhythm are your bag, then Talking Turkeys will be right up your street. This book is sure to get you clucking along with delight.”

“A collection that works well on the page and is a delight to read aloud.” Brian Patten on Talking Turkeys

“Funny, vulnerable and provocative… a vivid outspoken view of life.” Oxford Times on Talking Turkeys

“A wild collection of street wit.” Liverpool Echo on Talking Turkeys

“The liveliest looking (and sounding) poetry for teenagers…the issues and targets, the humour and music of the lines are an invitation to read and read aloud.” Books For Keeps on Talking Turkeys

“A brilliant, funny and inventive collection.” Weekly Journal on Talking Turkeys

“The book is wild; the illustrations madcap… poems with high energy and an urban edge.” Junior Education on Talking Turkeys

“Punchy, straight-talking, highly original and wonderfully stimulating.” Books For Keeps Multicultural Guide on Talking Turkeys

“Just right for a boisterous poetry class, with plenty of opportunity for participation.” Children’s Books in Ireland on Talking Turkeys

“He makes poetry accessible for all ages.” Herald Express (Torquay) on Talking Turkeys

“Irreverence for the academic trappings of traditional written poetry, a loose-foot, streetwise approach to form and to content and a large-hearted humanity, permeate his poetry, and this should ensure his popularity with school children – natural inconoclasts – for years to come.” Errol Lloyd, quoted in Books For Keeps