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Previous winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize
2022 | Pry'vit by Carole Bromley
‘In these tragic times of invasion and horror for the people of Ukraine and
peace-loving people worldwide, a calm and seemingly simple poem which expresses
(with no fanfare) an act of humanity ‒ meeting ‒ acknowledgement. I have
thought about it every day since I first read it. Hello. There you
are. You need a pencil too. We may not speak the same language or know one
another’s history exactly, but I recognize you. As a caterpillar in a garden
recognizes a leaf ‒ as a child recognizes the moon ‒ hello. This is what we do
together.’ Naomi Shihab Nye
Naomi also commended poems by R. W. Kelly, Ciara O'Connor, Robert Schechter and
Sarah Ziman
‘It’s a powerful piece of writing, a poem that everyone
should read. That good, that important, to us, and to hermit crabs.’ Michael
Morpurgo
‘I was astonished and delighted to hear that I had won The Caterpillar
Poetry Prize. I hope, with this huge encouragement from Michael Morpurgo, to
spend a lot more time writing for children in the future.’ Christine
McBeth
Michael Morpurgo also commended poems by Stephen Comerford, Latorial
Faison, Mhairi Helme, Emma Hill, Sophie Lewis, Jonathan Sellars and Sarah Ziman
Watch Christine read
'Herman the Hermit Crab'2020 | The Zebra with the Leopardskin
Pants by Fergal McNally
‘I knew I was in good hands when I set off on the journey with a zebra who felt
like an outsider in his community, through no fault of his own. There was a
happy conclusion to the poem that will appeal to any young reader who may
sometimes feel out-of-step with the world. Should we need it, there is a
Zaggeldy Creek waiting somewhere for all of us.’ Roger McGough
Roger McGough also commended poems by Brian Cooke, Jackie Hosking, Joseph
Moorwood, Kate O’Brien, Coral Rumble, Robert Schechter and Sarah Ziman.
Read Fergal's winning poem here
2019 | Wonder-pudderful by Andrew Weale
‘I was hooked from the moment I read “a hyphen had swept between them/like a
bird/and joined them with its wings”. I love the way that the word existed only
for a brief moment in time, but it reminded me of something that the French
writer Montaigne once said: a rose blooms once and then dies, but for anyone
who saw the rose, it blooms forever. This poem has such potential and children
will love the idea behind it.’ Brian Moses
Read Andrew's winning poem here
2018 | Dear Mustafa by Coral Rumble
‘The Caterpillar is such a unique and inspired magazine. Winning
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is all shades of wonderful! So honoured, and a
little dazed.’ Coral Rumble
Read Coral's winning poem here.
2017 | Auntie Aggie by Janet Turner
‘There were many happinesses in the poetry I read, but "Auntie Aggie"
won out in the end. The opening is very strong and in-drawing. The story flies
straight and trusted and there are many incidents of delight – and
"bum" and "pants" seemed necessary, not merely
decorative.’ John Hegley
Read Janet's winning poem here.
2016 | Dear Ugly Sisters by Laura Mucha
‘I love writing poetry for children, and believe it’s one of the best ways of
getting young people interested in language, reading and performance. I think
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an important award, particularly as there are
so few outlets for children’s poets, and it’s a huge honour to have won
it.’ Laura Mucha
Read Laura's winning poem here. 2015 | Don't Think of an Elephant by Louise Greig
‘I am quite stunned and absolutely thrilled that my poem has won the inaugural
Caterpillar Poetry Prize!’ says Louise. ‘I am a huge fan of The
Caterpillar and was delighted and inspired by the competition.’ Louise
Greig
Read Louise's winning poem here.
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