Poetry really is for every person and every age, as today’s Poem of the Week shows. Our weekly poetry spotlight is shining on children’s poetry book Tadpoles in the Torrens, a poetry anthology edited by Jude Aquilina.
Post written by Poppy Nwosu
This week I am focusing on something a little different. Poetry for children!
This is my first time reading poems for kids, and I was really struck by how utterly charming this collection is from the very first words I read.
Here is an excerpt from the lovely foreword (which almost reads like poetry itself) in Tadpoles in the Torrens, as written by editor Jude Aquilina:
You know those days when spring has sprung and you
can feel the sun on your skin?
Let’s say you are down at the creek, there’s a buzz
in the air, the smell of moss and damp mushrooms . . .
So you take off your shoes and wade through the soft,
fleshy soursobs to the water’s edge.
The frogs are beep-booping – until you tread on a
stick! So you drop a plastic bag into the stream to catch
little black commas, some with legs. Well, you might
think you’re just at the park or down by the river, but
you’re actually living inside a poem.
Tadpoles in the Torrens foreword by Jude Aquilina.
What a delightful beginning!
And it really only gets better.
Which is probably why I wasn’t able to stop myself from sharing more than one excerpt this week. In fact, I had a lot of trouble limiting myself!
I was surprised (though as an author for young people, I really shouldn’t have been) by the fact that these poems are not all sunshine and rainbows. There is an edge here too, a little sprinkle of darkness that adds grit.
Which brings me to the gorgeous Poem of the Week:
‘Reynard’s Raid’ by Jude Aquilina
It is interesting to note, that on top of the poems within this collection, Tadpoles in the Torrens also includes a set of Teacher’s Vignettes, which breakdown the poetry from the anthology for the hearts and minds of children.
Discover more about Tadpoles in the Torrens on our website.
And remember, the best way to show your support for writers, poets, publishers and booksellers is to buy books!
Support Wakefield Press by buying our beautiful books! Visit our website or contact us on 08 8352 4455 for more information, or to purchase a book (or three!). We can post your purchase to your doorstep!
Hello Poppy,
Thank you for your lovely review of Tadpoles in the Torrens. I am pleased you enjoyed the poems. I like the poems you selected , and will let the poets know to check this Poetry Spotlight. Reynard’s Raid still rings true, with a fox roaming my home town of Milang and snatching chickens in daylight! I see you grew up in the country. I think we are fortunate to have lived alongside nature, with its inspiration and challenges.
It was a great experience putting the collection together and working with highly respected poets, and with Michael, Liz and the talented team at Wakefield Press.
Congratulations, Poppy, on your brilliant successes in YA fiction. I look forward to reading your books and hopefully meeting at a WP event one day.
Kind regards, Jude
Hi Jude 🙂
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.
I found it very hard to pick the poems for this blog, as I loved them all, it really is such a wonderful collection. It sounds like you had a good time putting it all together, though I imagine it was also a lot of work! Worth it, of course. And the fox is still there in your hometown!
Thank you for your lovely words about my YA books, and hopefully we will indeed cross paths very soon (I am sure we will!)
Poppy