poetry

Rebecca M. Newman, Alphabet Soup’s managing editor and the co-editor of Right Way Down and Other Poems, will be at the Perth Festival Writers Weekend on Saturday 24 February 2024. You can catch Rebecca at two sessions.

For adults:

Presenters on the ‘Telling Tales’ panel at the 2024 Perth Festival Writers Weekend.

'Telling Tales' (panel session, 45 mins).
10am, 24 February 2024 at the State Library of WA. 
Price: Pay what you can. Suggested price, $24. Book tickets here!
Presented in association with Writing WA.

The creative minds of James Foley (Secret Agent Mole), Kylie Howarth (Crocs Stole My Socks) and Rebecca M Newman (Right Way Down) come together for an exhilarating conversation hosted by Writing WA Chair Lesley Reece AM. Join these writers and illustrators as they delve into the secrets of crafting engaging stories for young minds and celebrate the wonders of storytelling.

For children:

A flyer with two book covers and the text: Story Time with Tracey Dembo and Rebecca M Newman — Join Tracey Dembo & Rebecca M Newman for a live reading session at the State Library of WA

'Story Time with Tracey Dembo & Rebecca M. Newman'. (50 mins)
11am, 24 February 2024, Education Centre, State Library of WA.
Price: 'pay what you can' (even $0) but you will need to book to secure a spot. 
Book tickets here!
Presented in association with Writing WA.

Tracey Dembo and Rebecca M. Newman combine their picture book and poetry forces to bring you an exciting one hour live reading session for kids! This session is going to have everything from time machines to rockets, cricket, shoelaces, the alphabet, and dragon eggs.

View the full Writers Weekend festival program here.

See you at the library!

Book reviews by kids

Book review: It’s the Sound of the Thing

September 18, 2023September 15, 2023 Alphabet Soup

The cover of It's the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke

It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, ISBN 9781761212123

REVIEWED BY NINA, 10, NSW. Nina received a review copy of this book.

Maxine Beneba Clarke’s book It’s the Sound of the Thing is a stunning collection of 100 poems that features limericks, haikus, sonnets, tongue twisters, funny poems, serious poems any type of poem you could think of. The ideas for the poems are creative and fantastic! They are about all sorts of things (a messy room, your grannies dancing, phones, teenagers and more).

Good for readers of all ages but best suited for ages 8-12 years old. It makes you wonder what type of poem will come next.

I personally rate this book 10/10. I would highly recommend reading it.

This is Nina’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

The return of Alphabet Soup’s Poetry Festival!

October 22, 2014October 23, 2014 Alphabet Soup

Last year we held our first ever Poetry Festival, right here on the website. Hold onto your hats — it’s back! From 25 October when you visit our website you’ll find interviews, book reviews, tips and hints, interesting links, giveaways and of course … poems! (October is also our birthday month — what a fabulous month to celebrate poetry.)

And here’s a cheery poster to make it look official:

Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Tuesday Challenge – a 5-senses poem

July 16, 2013July 11, 2013 Alphabet Soup

Today’s challenge is to write a 5-line poem using your five senses — sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. You might like to write a poem describing apples, a season, or your favourite colour (or your least favourite colour!).

—

Here’s one our editor (Rebecca) wrote:

Autumn is orange, red and brown

It sounds like rice bubbles for breakfast

It tastes like apple pie

It smells like freshly dug earth

It feels like skipping into the wind

Perhaps you could write a 5-senses poem about a feeling or an idea. (Check out some interesting Senses Poems here.)

We’d love to read your 5-senses poems — if it’s OK with your parents or teacher, post yours in the comments below!

poetry, teachers' resources

Free poetry workshops in Fremantle, WA

May 21, 2010 Alphabet Soup

Who writes poetry these days? Aren’t poets just dead guys from the nineteenth century?

There are talented local poets, young and old, reading, writing and publishing their poetry right now – and you can meet them! Get stuck into writing your own poetry with Western Australian poets Caroline Caddy, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, J.P Quinton and A.J. Betts.

Age: Suitable for writers 12 years and up with a genuine interest in writing and an aptitude for creativity.
Where: Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre
When: Monday 26 July 2010. Morning workshop: 10:00-11:30am or Afternoon workshop: 12:30-2:00pm

Book now – places are limited!

Poetry collection available for purchase at the workshop ($24.95 each) – get it signed by a poet! Teachers must accompany students, and can count the session as professional development for WACOT.

For more info, email: admin@fremantlepress.com.au or phone: 08 9430 6331

competitions, poetry, teachers' resources

2010 poetry comp for South Australian students

May 5, 2010 Alphabet Soup

Have you heard about the 2010 Max Fatchen Literary Awards?

It’s a poetry competition for South Australian school students.

Entries close 30 July 2010, and first prize in each category is $50!

The poems will be judged by Australian writer, Katrina Germein. Visit her website for more information.

Get writing!

poetry, teachers' resources

A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms

April 25, 2010April 25, 2010 Alphabet Soup

As we mentioned earlier, April is National Poetry Month in the US, and we’ve borrowed the idea because we rather like poetry. Later in the week we hope to have a real live poet visiting the blog, so be sure to check back!

In the meantime, here is a fantastic book by Paul B. Janeczko (illustrated by Chris Raschka).

This book is a collection of poems with a brief explanation about the rules for each form included. 29 forms are covered – some of them are ones you might already recognise, like Haiku, Tanka, Cinquain, Villanelle and List Poem. Perhaps you can find a copy of A Kick in the Head at your library. Be inspired to write your own poem, and then you can carry it around with you on Thursday for Poem In Your Pocket Day! (Or leave a short poem in our comments, and we’ll pretend it’s an online pocket!)

Here’s a couplet I wrote after reading A Kick in the Head:

I wish that it were chocolate cake –
but CAULIFLOWER is in to bake.*

*Actually, I love cauliflower cheese. It’s just that sometimes I’d rather have cake …

This book was selected for review from the Editor’s own collection.

competitions, info

Autumn writing competition for children under 12

February 18, 2009February 18, 2009 Alphabet Soup

Win a $20 book voucher!

Write a poem or short story up to 200 words (shorter is fine). Your poem must include the word ‘float’ in it, and don’t forget to give your poem a title!

For competition rules, and to download an entry form, go to www.alphabetsoup.net.au and click on ‘competitions.’

Entries close 3 April 2009.

Happy writing!

Alphabet Soup kids

illustrator

What we’re reading: Can You Keep a Secret?

January 17, 2009October 13, 2009 Alphabet Soup

In our opinion, children just aren’t exposed to enough traditional rhymes anymore. Sharing them with your children aids memory, and encourages a love of rhythm, rhyme and poetry. It’s also FUN!

Can You Keep a Secret? (Timeless rhymes to share and treasure)

Can You Keep a Secret? is a selection of rhymes from a variety of cultures presented in a gorgeous hardback book. The illustrations, by Jobi Murphy, are appealing, colourful and simple.

The rhymes have been selected by Mark Carthew and are divided into sections: nursery rhymes, playtime rhymes, action rhymes, counting rhymes, finger plays, and lullabies and gentle rhymes.

Highly recommended!

Review copy provided by Random House

competitions, info

Wanted: writing by children

January 5, 2009 Alphabet Soup

Are you aged 12 or younger? Do you like to write stories, poems, plays, book reviews, or letters? Then we need you to pick up a pen and get writing!

We love reading kids’ writing and we are currently considering material for the ‘Write On!’ section of Alphabet Soup‘s May issue. If you’d like to see your work published in the magazine, you can visit the Alphabet Soup website www.alphabetsoup.net.au (click on the ‘writers wanted’ tab) and read the guidelines there.

As well as seeing your work in print, all children who have work published in an issue of the magazine receive an entry into a prize draw for that issue.

And we’ll be announcing our second writing competition in Issue 2 (due out in February 2009) so stay tuned!

Tag: poetry

Children’s Books at Perth Festival