Please Mrs Butler: questions to ask and activities to try
Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew keeps copying my work! Please Mrs Butler is Allan Ahlberg's timeless collection of funny school poems.
What age is it for? Please Mrs Butler is best for ages 6–10. Good for: Funny poems about school life.
Read a poem a day and ask which ones remind your child of their own school.
What it helps with
- Poetry
- School life
- Humour
- Reading aloud
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did the child ask Mrs Butler?”
- “What did she say?”
- “Which poem is funniest?”
- “Which is most like your school?”
- “What would you ask your teacher?”
- “What would your school poem be about?”
5-minute activities to try together
School poem
Write a short poem about something funny at school.
Teacher reply
Write Mrs Butler's reply to a silly question.
Free printables: Please Mrs Butler worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Funnybones (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- A funny-not-scary classic about skeletons
- Age
- 3-7
Poems Aloud (Joseph Coelho and Daniel Gray-Barnett)
- Best for
- Poems made to be read out loud
- Age
- 5-8
My Mum's Growing Down (Laura Dockrill and David Tazzyman)
- Best for
- Poems about a mum who acts like a kid
- Age
- 7-10
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.