Tony Mitton

Tony Mitton (1951–2022) was a British poet and children’s-writer, born in Tripoli and educated in England at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he studied English. After decades as a primary school and special-needs teacher, he turned to writing full-time, publishing numerous beloved poetry collections and children’s picture books — including the award-winning The Red & White Spotted Handkerchief and Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus!His work, admired for its playful—and at times profound—use of rhyme and rhythm, brought poetry to countless young readers until his death in June 2022.