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.

17/01/2025

'Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize brought me a book publishing deal and many wonderful opportunities thereafter. Thank you with all my heart.' – Louise Greig

🌎 Open worldwide
🌟 Judged by Kate Wakeling
💸 Win up to €1,000 cash prize

Enter here: bit.ly/tcpp25

13/01/2025

❛ I never continue to the next page until I am happy with the one I am writing. Goodness knows how many times I go over it. I don’t mind that though, it is a case of getting it right.

Paddington creator and author Michael Bond, born in 1926.

09/01/2025

A brand new year, just waiting to be unwrapped! We can't wait to see what's inside...

A little inspiration from Flora Fricker, originally from Issue 37.

05/01/2025

Do you have a favourite poem that reminds you of January? 💙 We'll kick things off with one by John Updike...

03/01/2025

New year, new competition!

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is now open – make sure to mark the deadline in your diary for the chance to win up to €1,000 + a week at .

Judged by Kate Wakeling. Closing 31 March. 🌟 bit.ly/tcpp25

31/12/2024

Wishing 2024 farewell with a little 'End Song', by Mary Green, originally from Issue 40.

Here's to new beginnings! 🎆

28/12/2024

Anyone else not even sure what day it is anymore? Oh well, we've got the perfect poem for the betwixtmas confusion from Sarah Ziman!

🎁 bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

24/12/2024

✨️ One week to go! ✨️

Don't miss your chance to enter one of the world's biggest prizes for a single poem – and win a share of the €11,000 prize pot.

🌎 Open worldwide.
🌟 Judged by Fiona Benson.
⏳️ Closing 31 December.

Enter here: bit.ly/mothpoetry24

22/12/2024

❛I want kids to understand that making pictures is similar to making music; there are so many instruments and so many tunes that the possibilities for how you play are truly limitless.

Illustrator Jerry Pinkney, born in 1939.

18/12/2024

A poem for anyone driving home for Christmas at some point this week – Carol L. MacKay's poem 'Moving Day Villanelle', which appeared in Issue 25 of The Caterpillar.

🎄 bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

15/12/2024

Wishing everyone goodnight and sweet dreams with this beautiful piece by Japanese children's book illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki, who was born in 1918.

12/12/2024

There's an issue of The Caterpillar for every season – like this beautiful back issue from Winter 2021, adorned with artwork by Nicole Cicak and packed full of stories, poems, 'seasoned greetings', spooky Santas, snow days and dragons...

🎁 bit.ly/caterpillarbackissues

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

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Dublin

Telephone

+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. 👋