The Caterpillar

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The Caterpillar

A magazine for children (aged 7-11) featuring poetry, stories and art. Features the likes of Michael It is printed in an unpronouncable place in Wales.

The Caterpillar is the younger sibling of The Moth, an international arts and literature magazine for grown-ups. The Caterpillar features poetry, stories and art for kids between the ages of 7 and 11(ish). It appears four times a year ‒ in March, June, September and December. John Hegley chose The Caterpillar as one of his 'top ten children's poetry books' in The Guardian - and it's not even a boo

k, or a poetry book for that matter! - sharing the limelight with the likes of Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson. It includes some GREAT writing by the likes of Michael Morpurgo, Meshack Asare, Julie O'Callaghan, Dennis Lee (who penned 'Fraggle Rock'), Frank Cottrell Boyce, Mo O'Hara, John Hegley, Ian Whybrow, Mark Lowery, Hilda Offen and Janet Wong (she's read her poems on the Oprah Winfrey Show!). The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is a new annual prize of €1,000 for the best poem written by an adult for children. You can find details of how to enter at www.thecaterpillarprize.com. The magazine is edited by Rebecca O'Connor in her children's former playroom. A one-year subscription (€20) or a single copy (€5) can be ordered at www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com.

07/12/2024

❛ I think poetry should be alive. You should be able to dance to it.

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who died one year ago .

06/12/2024

Less than four weeks to enter this year's Moth Poetry Prize – and every reason to give it a go! You never know what someone else might see in your work...

There's a total prize pot of €11,000 up for grabs if judge Fiona Benson chooses your poem.

Closing 31 December - don't miss out.
⏳️ bit.ly/mothpoetry24

04/12/2024

It's not just a magazine – it's an adventure, the chance to meet some new friends and think some new thoughts.

And a way to keep small hands busy for more than five minutes...

Back issues galore in our archives. Let's explore!

🌟 bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

30/11/2024

❛ As short as the summer, as lengthy as spite, / or a bustling, blustery winter's night.

'How Long' by Laura Mucha, from Issue 14: http://bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

27/11/2024

Anyone else's journey to work or school starting to feel like this? Brrrr...

'Dark Waters', by Scottish artist Lucy Campbell, Issue 36 🌨️ bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

24/11/2024

We're very lucky to have the excellent Kate Wakeling – winner of a CLiPPA prize for children’s poetry and nominated for the Carnegie Medal – as the judge for The Caterpillar Poetry Prize.

Writing pens at the ready! You have until 31 March.

✨ bit.ly/tcpp25

22/11/2024

❛ If they won't write the kind of books we like to read we shall have to write them ourselves.

The Chronicles of Narnia author C. S. Lewis, who died in 1963.

19/11/2024

Tuesday done! Go on, why not treat yourself.

Artwork by Christina Siravo, originally from the cover of Issue 8 of The Caterpillar. Discover more beautiful inspiration in our archives!

🍣 bit.ly/caterpillarbundles

16/11/2024

❛ Under the sugared sky / they flew, / skimming the moon...

Brrr... ❄️ A little poem by Una Leavy from our archives for anyone feeling a chill this evening. Plus art by Evgenia Badiyanova (Issue 31).

13/11/2024

❛ I don't think I'm essentially interested in children's books. I'm interested in writing, and in pictures. I'm interested in people and in children because they are people.

'Goodnight Moon' author Mary Wise Brown, who died in 1952.

11/11/2024

In case you missed it! The annual Caterpillar Poetry Prize is now OPEN for submissions...

With this year's judge Kate Wakeling, we're on the hunt for the best poem written by an adult for children – and we want to hear from you.

Closing 31 March.
✨ bit.ly/tcpp25

08/11/2024

Stocking stuffers? Gifts for little ones in far away places? A present that definitely doesn't need AA batteries?

It's never too early to get it all sorted...

5 issues for the price of 4, in a perfectly presented bundle. From as little as €20.

🎁 bit.ly/caterpillarbundles

04/11/2024

Join our weekly virtual art group The Moth Studios! 👇

The theme for this week's The Moth Studios Challenge theme is America. Complete your piece within 2 hours and submitted to The Moth Studios (via Facebook DM) from 9-11pm on Tuesday evening.

The challenge is open to everyone. Please share and good luck!

🎨 Arthur Sarnoff

03/11/2024

Hello November! ❄️ We're welcoming in the longer nights and colder days here.

Do you have any favourite recommendations for curling up with?

🎨 Kay Neilsen

31/10/2024

Keep your eyes out for any spooky happenings tonight, especially close to home...

🧟‍♂️ bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

29/10/2024

Anyone still picking out a Halloween costume? Planning a trick or a treat?

🎃 Illustration by Raul Nieto Guridi

25/10/2024

Do you like potion? Step right up!

A spookily good little poem by Annie Berke (with art by Janet Hill) from Issue 34.

🔮 bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

21/10/2024

Entries are now OPEN for this year's The Caterpillar Poetry Prize - where we're on the hunt for the best poem written by an adult for children aged between 7-11.

Judged by Kate Wakeling. Closing 31 March.

Make sure you're following us over on The Caterpillar for all the information and updates - and head over to the website for more details: bit.ly/tccp25

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Dublin

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+353872657251

Website

https://www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com/

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Videos

To celebrate the weekend finally arriving, here's the last of this year's Caterpillar Poetry Prize readings, from each of Joseph Coelho's three winning poets. Our final video is from third prize-winner Rose Rahtz, with her poem 'How to Metamorphose'. 🦋

Last week we announced Joseph Coelho's winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024! 🎉 Here's Dean Atta with a reading of his second prize-winning poem, 'Boy in Uniform with Drum'...

In case you missed it... 🎉 Yesterday we announced Joseph Coelho's overall winner of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024 – Louise Greig's 'Foster Child'. Here's Louise with a reading of the winning poem!

Next week, we'll be sharing this year's Caterpillar Poetry Prize winners (as chosen by Joseph Coelho) – we're so excited we can hardly wait! For now, a reminder of 2023's reigning first prize winner: Ciara O'Connor with 'Hints of an Adventurer', as chosen by Michael Rosen. 🌅

As we countdown down to the big reveal of this year's Caterpillar Poetry Prize winners in June, here's a little throwback to last year's brilliant second prize-winning poem – 'Butterfly Necklace' by @joshuaseigal, as picked by Michael Rosen. 🦋

Did you know we're on YouTube? You can find a selection of super fun readings there, from an assortment of marvellous friends of The Caterpillar. Including this, 'They Say' from @BobSchechter – which made our Saturday a little brighter... 🐛 www.youtube.com/@TheCaterpillar-so5zk

How's your poem for this year's Caterpillar Poetry Prize coming along? If you need a little inspiration, say 'hello' to Carole Bromley's poem, 'Pry'vit', which was our first prize winner in 2022. 👋