Meet Two Six Publishing
Cast your mind back to being read to as a child. . . . that particular magic of a story that had a proper rhythm to it, words that bounced and tumbled and rhymed so naturally that you found yourself finishing the lines before the grown-up could get there. If you grew up in the golden age of rhyming picture books, you know exactly what that feeling is. And if you are now a parent, grandparent, or teacher desperately trying to recreate that experience for the children in your life, you will also know how surprisingly difficult it has become to find books that genuinely deliver it.
That search ends here. Because Two Six Publishing and the extraordinary rhyming world of Paul Burrows are precisely what you have been looking for, and once you discover them, you will want to tell absolutely everyone you know.
The Problem With “Rhyming” Books That Don’t Actually Rhyme Properly
There is a particular kind of disappointment that every book-loving parent will recognise. You pick up a picture book that promises rhyme on the cover, you settle down with your little one full of excited anticipation, and then, somewhere around page three, the metre goes completely off the rails. You find yourself doing what can only be described as verbal gymnastics, stretching syllables and swallowing words, desperately trying to make the rhythm work while your child looks at you with mild concern.
Rhyming children’s books are extraordinarily difficult to write well. Anybody can make words rhyme. The real craft lies in making every single line feel effortless, like the words could not possibly have existed in any other order. The rhythm has to be so natural that a child can clap along, that a tired parent reading their fifth bedtime story can still feel the musicality of it, that the whole thing reads like a song rather than a committee decision. When a rhyming picture book truly works, it becomes something a child wants to hear again and again, not just because of the story, but because the language itself is genuinely pleasurable. That is an incredibly rare thing. And it is exactly what Paul Burrows has managed to create.
Paul Burrows is a UK-based children’s author who writes funny, rhyming picture books designed to be read aloud.
When he isn’t writing new rhymes or dreaming up daft characters, Paul lives in the UK with his wife and is a very proud dad to his daughter, who has now started her next big adventure at university.
Meet the Man Behind Two Six Publishing
Paul Burrows is not a publishing corporation. He is not a team of writers and focus groups and market research analysts. He is a dad who fell in love with language through word games with his daughter, who discovered that the playfulness and rhythm of rhyme was something he could not stop doing, and who eventually took the leap into publishing his own books under the Two Six Publishing name. That origin story matters enormously, because it is written into every page of his work.
There is an authenticity to books that come from a genuine place of love for language and storytelling, a warmth that children instinctively respond to, even if they cannot articulate why. Paul’s books feel like they were written by someone who has actually sat on a bedroom floor making up ridiculous stories, someone who knows that a well-timed silly word can cause absolute chaos in the best possible way. The craft is meticulous, but the heart behind it is completely visible. That combination is rarer than it should be.
What Makes a Truly Great Rhyming Picture Book?
If you want to understand why Paul Burrows’ books stand apart, it helps to think about what the very Best Rhyming books actually do. The rhythm must feel so natural it almost disappears, you are aware of it the way you are aware of a great film score, not consciously, but you would notice immediately if it were gone. The humour must work on two levels simultaneously: landing brilliantly for the child while also offering something for the adult reading aloud who would otherwise be thoroughly bored by page four. And the illustrations must not simply accompany the words but amplify them, adding layers of story and joke and character that the text alone cannot carry.
Paul’s books achieve all three. Readers who have discovered them often reach for the same comparison point, the rhythm and playfulness that recalls the very best of Dr Seuss, but with a distinctly British sensibility that feels completely fresh. The illustrations bring an additional dimension of joy to each story, catching details and expressions that reward repeat reading. And perhaps most importantly, these are books that parents actually enjoy reading aloud, which, as any seasoned parent will tell you, is not something to be taken lightly when you are on your fourteenth consecutive evening of bedtime stories.
The Books Themselves
Three Reasons to Clear Some Shelf Space Immediately
Parents should enjoy story time too. It’s true. The idea that adults should just sit through picture books out of duty is not needed. The best children’s books are a joy for grown-ups as well. Think of the classic books that have lasted for years. Dr. Seuss. Roald Dahl’s poetry.
These books have such fun language that they captivate anyone reading them. Paul Burrows is part of this legacy. One happy reader compared his books to Dr. Seuss, not because they are copies, but because both show a love for rhyme and funny stories for kids. This is important and shows a serious writer.
The artwork matches the lively text, colourful and detailed, encouraging a child to look closely instead of rushing to finish. When the words and pictures work well together, parents enjoy picking the book off the shelf. That excitement spreads. Kids can sense when an adult is truly engaged, making the entire experience better.
The Monster Under My Bed Is Scared of Me
Bedtime fears are common for kids, and many picture books cover this topic. It’s impressive that Paul Burrows has a fresh take. Instead of just telling a child the monster isn’t real, this book changes the story: what if the monster under the bed is just as scared as the child?
What if fear could be the starting point for friendship rather than something to be overcome alone? Imagine a child who is scared of bedtime. They suddenly see their imaginary monster not as a danger but as another scared friend needing comfort. This change in how they think, shown through beautiful rhymes and great pictures, really makes a difference.
The Fox in Blue Socks
If you’ve seen a young child enjoy figuring out a pattern and be happy about knowing what comes next, then The Fox in Blue Socks will make sense to you. This book uses happy repetition and guessing games to get young readers involved in the story, rather than just having them listen. It promotes interaction, invites participation, and has a lively energy that makes story time feel special, not just a habit.
The Fox in Blue Socks is the kind of book that a child picks up independently and carries to whoever is nearest, demanding that it be read immediately. Teachers and grandparents, consider yourselves warned. For early readers, books like this are genuinely valuable. The repetition builds confidence, the rhythm supports phonological awareness, and the sheer fun of it means children want to come back to it, which is, ultimately, how a love of reading begins. Not through obligation, but through genuine delight.
Billy Bear and the Thunder Burp
Let us be honest with each other . . . a book with “Thunder Burp” in the title has already won a significant portion of its audience before a single page is turned. Children find bodily humour categorically hilarious, and any author willing to lean into that with genuine commitment rather than awkward reluctance immediately earns enormous credibility with the under-seven crowd.
It is silly and genuinely funny, but it also carries something real. That combination, the laugh-out-loud surface and the quietly meaningful heart underneath, is what separates a book that gets read once from one that becomes a firm family favourite. Billy Bear has all the ingredients of a classic in the making, and the rhymes throughout are as smooth and satisfying as anything in the genre.
What Real Readers Are Saying
The response to Paul Burrows’ books has been very positive, just what you want from good children’s books. Parents are giving copies to friends. Teachers are adding them to reading lists for their classes. Grandparents are happy to read them, which is impressive considering they have read many average picture books over the years. People often compare his work to Dr. Seuss, and those comparisons are important.
This means the rhymes are smooth, the language is fun and creative, and a talented writer is at work. Readers also note that the illustrations work well with the text instead of just being decorations, and the humor appeals to both kids and adults. These are not standard five-star reviews. They are the reactions of people who found something surprising and enjoyable.
Your Next Step – Discover Two Six Publishing for Yourself
If any part of this has resonated, if you remember the joy of a perfect rhyming story, if you are quietly exhausted by picture books that do not quite deliver, if you want to give a child in your life something genuinely brilliant, then head over to Two Six Publishing and explore the full collection. These books make extraordinary gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or the very best reason of all: absolutely no reason whatsoever, because a good book needs no occasion.
And please, share this post. Put it in the WhatsApp groups. Send it to the teachers. Tell the grandparents. Because the best children’s books deserve to find their readers, and Paul Burrows’ books deserve to be on every bookshelf in Britain.
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