Australian Children’s Poetry Prompts

Once Upon a Whoops, coming soon!

| June

Ta, da! Cover reveal! Preorder HERE.

Wonderful anthologies, from Anthology Angels, are produced annually, and proceeds go to a different charity each year.

This year Anthology Angels are ambassadors for Walk for Prems and profits from the anthology will be donated to Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

I have contributed a ridiculous rhyme this year, inspired by my family’s pet guinea pigs!

This is the third anthology I’ve been part of, and it’s truly a special one to contribute to, especially thinking of the children and families enjoying the books and the charities it supports. Writers and artists contributing have big hearts, as do the anthology angels production team.

Many congratulations to the contributors and to Jen Horn and Kayt Duncan, for the cover and design, and to Michelle Worthington.

The book will be launched in September 2021.

Congratulations to all the team in Spooktacular Stories!

| June

Congratulations to the producer and contributors of Spooktacular Stories on becoming finalists in the Book Excellence Awards!

This is a special anthology to be part of, firstly because for every book sold, one is donated for readers stuck in hospitals, looking for both courage and entertainment.

Secondly, because some hugely talented writers are featured within.

I chose to contribute a story about a family’s encounter with a storm.  ‘Storm Girl’  channels a lot of personal experience into an authentic story for children on how to deal with the memory of a natural disaster. It has taken a long time for me to truly write this story.

But I like to adopt many tones and purposes for story and also contributed a humorous poem about facing fear!

A huge thank you to Share Your Story for providing opportunities for others to have a voice, and in mentoring, in both writing and business.

May the Share Your Story anthology projects go from strength to strength, and their contributors build amazing careers as writers, illustrators and storytellers.

Last year’s launch – Spooktacular Stories, Mad Hatters Book Shop

Cupid has Struck

| June

Image Credits: Image credits: SWNS on

https://www.boredpanda.com/unusual-animal-friendships-interspecies/

 

Labrador protects duckling,
while cat cuddles fox,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.

A dog and elephant water play,
And chicken warms some puppies,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.

A dog howls with the owl
giraffe and ostrich nuzzle necks,
that’s when you can tell
Cupid has struck.

These dear ones
love beyond feather, furs and skin;
see friendship
Is more than luck.

 

By June Perkins

 

First Appeared on Australian Children’s Poetry, February 13th 2019.

Inspired by stories of unusual animal friendships and playful Jazz songs.

https://www.boredpanda.com/unusual-animal-friendships-interspecies/

‘Mermaids and Monster Trucks’ by June Perkins

| June

Australian Children’s Poetry

Mermaids and Monster Trucks

Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys

they love to drive their Monster trucks.

Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls

swimming with the dolphins

go the Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys

Now they go to school

Could there be a duel?

Mermaid Girls watch the Monster Truck Boys.

Monster Truck Boys watch the Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls, Mermaid Girls

super diving Mermaid Girls.

Monster Truck Boys, Monster Truck Boys

super driving monster trucks.

Mermaid Girls and Monster Truck Boys

They’re playing at magic school

which has a friendly rule.

Mermaid Girls can play with Monster Truck Boys.

Monster Truck Boys can play with Mermaid Girls.

Mermaid Girls talk to Monster Truck Boys.

Monster Truck Boys talk to Mermaid Girls.

Soon Monster Truck Boys 

like swimming in the sea.

They’re jumping and bumping 

in the sea.

Now Mermaid Girls 

like driving monster trucks

as…

View original post 134 more words

Paper Boats

| June

Image by Geson Ratow

 

Paper boats conjure dreams
of petals soaked by
scents of the
ocean.

Traveling boats
float in shadows
people
who have a simple hope
for happy lands,
but white markers sink
in sandy earth
marking graves of people
who cannot resist new germs.

‘Once watched paper boats,’
paternal grandfather says
in Vietnamese
but nobody understands
No translators here.

So shadow puppets dance
for petals
falling from kumquat boughs.

By June Perkins

Appeared on Australian Children’s Poetry for Refugee Week Prompt

Beckoning Autumn

| June

Collin Key Flickr Woman walking with her dog through an autumn landscape

Come burnt orange

golden yellow and burnished red

leaves.

 

Bring us

relief from heat waves

and air conditioners.

 

Remember my light red jumper

and favourite boots

They’re out once more.

 

Loosen your leaves

to reveal sculptural trees

on the hillsides.

 

Let the fading days of summer

whisper listening to autumn jazz

with a milo.

 

By June Perkins

 

An Invitation Poem

This poetry idea is based on ideas in Barbara Esbensen’s book A Celebration of Bees: Helping Children Write Poetry

You write a poem like this when you want something to happen, like a season, event or a birthday party.

Published on Australian Children’s Poetry

 

Grass Skirt

| June

DSC_4145_good
(c) June Perkins

 

Kilt clan patterns

Mother’s hands twisting string

for homemade video to keep tradition strong

Once made from plants now plastic too

Scratching identity from legs to ankles

Calling out for head-dress and for beads

Bare feet beating dance on earth

Sway and swish

Past, present and future steps

Given by my mother to say

You are grown

By   June Perkins

DSC_4071
Image copyright June Perkins

This poem appeared on the Australian Children’s Poetry Blog

Acrostic River on Australian Children’s Poetry Blog

| June

Andrew Matthews, some rights reserved, Franklin River

I just love the Australian Children’s poetry blog, mainly because it shares such a variety of poets with diverse styles and many interesting prompts.

There are funny, serious, rhyming, non rhyming,  scientific and reflective poems. 

I have shared some interviews with some of the poets featured there on my Ripple Poetry blog in a series called Ten things about Poetry and Me if you would like to go read them.

This is my latest contribution on Australian Children’s Poetry, published earlier this week.

 

Three Trips Down the River

 

I  – A  Bed Time Story

Rainforest children fall

Into green dreams

Visions

Embracing nature’s eyes

Releasing their love for salmon.

 

II-  Night Time Wishing

Releasing time

In my heart for

Visions of night fishing with Poppy

Evenings of searching for the perfect spot

Remembering our smiles at my first catch.

 

III –  The Franklin

Revealing wild rivers

In the journeys they inspire

Visions for tourist and visitors

Entranced by nature’s eyes

Recipes are made for protective renewal.

June Perkins

First published on Australian Children’s Poetry June 13th 2017