The Caterpillar Magazine
@thecaterpillarmag.bsky.social
Annual Caterpillar Poetry Prize and art & lit mag for children (2013-2023), still available online. Younger sibling of @themothmagazine.
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Hi #kidlit writers and illustrators!
We're The Caterpillar Magazine - younger sibling of @themothmagazine.bsky.social and home to the annual Caterpillar Poetry Prize, which has been judged in the past by the likes of Roger McGough, Michael Morpurgo & Michael Rosen...
Follow us for updates! 🐛
We're The Caterpillar Magazine - younger sibling of @themothmagazine.bsky.social and home to the annual Caterpillar Poetry Prize, which has been judged in the past by the likes of Roger McGough, Michael Morpurgo & Michael Rosen...
Follow us for updates! 🐛
The Caterpillar archive is full of SO MUCH good stuff –– haunted houses, circus acts, monsters, banjos, even excuses for not doing your homework (but we didn't tell you those, if anyone asks).
Grab one here (from only €7 with p&p)...
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
Grab one here (from only €7 with p&p)...
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
October 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM
The Caterpillar archive is full of SO MUCH good stuff –– haunted houses, circus acts, monsters, banjos, even excuses for not doing your homework (but we didn't tell you those, if anyone asks).
Grab one here (from only €7 with p&p)...
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
Grab one here (from only €7 with p&p)...
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
❛ One of the reasons I love writing children’s books is that children’s books only deal with the important stuff... All children’s books are about death. All about what is a human? What is life for?
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, born #OTD in 1959.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, born #OTD in 1959.
September 23, 2026 at 8:10 PM
❛ One of the reasons I love writing children’s books is that children’s books only deal with the important stuff... All children’s books are about death. All about what is a human? What is life for?
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, born #OTD in 1959.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, born #OTD in 1959.
Summer might be over but the fun doesn't have to stop!
Looking for a way to convince them that reading isn't boring? We've got long words and funny ones, poems about adventure and stories about monsters, and more – all in the Caterpillar Archives.
www.themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
Looking for a way to convince them that reading isn't boring? We've got long words and funny ones, poems about adventure and stories about monsters, and more – all in the Caterpillar Archives.
www.themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
September 14, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Summer might be over but the fun doesn't have to stop!
Looking for a way to convince them that reading isn't boring? We've got long words and funny ones, poems about adventure and stories about monsters, and more – all in the Caterpillar Archives.
www.themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
Looking for a way to convince them that reading isn't boring? We've got long words and funny ones, poems about adventure and stories about monsters, and more – all in the Caterpillar Archives.
www.themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
❛ The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
Author Madeleine L'Engle, who died #OTD in 2007.
Author Madeleine L'Engle, who died #OTD in 2007.
September 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
❛ The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
Author Madeleine L'Engle, who died #OTD in 2007.
Author Madeleine L'Engle, who died #OTD in 2007.
❛ Most people seem to be interested in turning their dreams into reality. Then there are those who turn reality into dreams. I belong to the latter group.
Illustrator Allen Say, born #OTD in 1937.
Illustrator Allen Say, born #OTD in 1937.
August 28, 2026 at 5:58 PM
❛ Most people seem to be interested in turning their dreams into reality. Then there are those who turn reality into dreams. I belong to the latter group.
Illustrator Allen Say, born #OTD in 1937.
Illustrator Allen Say, born #OTD in 1937.
❛When you grow up to be an author and write books, you’ll think you’re making the books up, but they’ll all really be true, somewhere.
Diana Wynne Jones, born #OTD in 1934.
Diana Wynne Jones, born #OTD in 1934.
August 16, 2026 at 7:19 PM
❛When you grow up to be an author and write books, you’ll think you’re making the books up, but they’ll all really be true, somewhere.
Diana Wynne Jones, born #OTD in 1934.
Diana Wynne Jones, born #OTD in 1934.
How magical is this piece by Gabriella Barouch, who we featured in Issue 12. #kidlitillustrators ✨️
August 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
How magical is this piece by Gabriella Barouch, who we featured in Issue 12. #kidlitillustrators ✨️
❛ There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.
Beatrix Potter, born #OTD in 1866.
Beatrix Potter, born #OTD in 1866.
July 28, 2026 at 9:20 PM
❛ There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.
Beatrix Potter, born #OTD in 1866.
Beatrix Potter, born #OTD in 1866.
From Issue 19, a good life lesson to take into your week.
'You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Cannot Make it Drink', by Alys Jackson 🫧
'You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Cannot Make it Drink', by Alys Jackson 🫧
July 26, 2026 at 8:28 PM
From Issue 19, a good life lesson to take into your week.
'You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Cannot Make it Drink', by Alys Jackson 🫧
'You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Cannot Make it Drink', by Alys Jackson 🫧
Today's #ThrowbackThursday, 'Joy', Maria Pace Wynter (Issue 36) 🦋
July 16, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Today's #ThrowbackThursday, 'Joy', Maria Pace Wynter (Issue 36) 🦋
Fun-sized and won't weigh down your bags – for summer holidays, The Caterpillar is a bit of a no-brainer!
Where will you take your copy on tour? 🌞 themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
Where will you take your copy on tour? 🌞 themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
July 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Fun-sized and won't weigh down your bags – for summer holidays, The Caterpillar is a bit of a no-brainer!
Where will you take your copy on tour? 🌞 themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
Where will you take your copy on tour? 🌞 themothmagazine.com/moth-shop
Our third place Caterpillar Poetry Prize winner: 'Maybe Call Me Baby' by Laura Schulkind, which judge Robert Schechter commended 'not just for what it says, but for making me feel as though I were being addressed by a real kid ‒ and a likeable one at that'....
July 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Our third place Caterpillar Poetry Prize winner: 'Maybe Call Me Baby' by Laura Schulkind, which judge Robert Schechter commended 'not just for what it says, but for making me feel as though I were being addressed by a real kid ‒ and a likeable one at that'....
Our second place Caterpillar Poetry Prize winner: 'Someone Left a Moon' by Kao-Cheng Huang, inspired by the poet's memories of his childhood in rural China...
Read all the winners here: themothmagazine.com/directory/20...
Read all the winners here: themothmagazine.com/directory/20...
June 26, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Our second place Caterpillar Poetry Prize winner: 'Someone Left a Moon' by Kao-Cheng Huang, inspired by the poet's memories of his childhood in rural China...
Read all the winners here: themothmagazine.com/directory/20...
Read all the winners here: themothmagazine.com/directory/20...
In case you missed it...
This week we announced this year's winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize - including our first-prize winner, Anna Llewellyn's 'The Whistler of Muldoon'.
Check out her beautiful winning poem below.
🪶✨
This week we announced this year's winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize - including our first-prize winner, Anna Llewellyn's 'The Whistler of Muldoon'.
Check out her beautiful winning poem below.
🪶✨
June 20, 2026 at 8:25 PM
In case you missed it...
This week we announced this year's winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize - including our first-prize winner, Anna Llewellyn's 'The Whistler of Muldoon'.
Check out her beautiful winning poem below.
🪶✨
This week we announced this year's winners of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize - including our first-prize winner, Anna Llewellyn's 'The Whistler of Muldoon'.
Check out her beautiful winning poem below.
🪶✨
Reposted by The Caterpillar Magazine
🚨 FINAL CHANCE TO ENTER 🚨
This year's Moth Short Story Prize closes for entries midnight, your time, on the 15 June – don't miss the chance to submit.
There's up to €3,000 up for grabs, if Wendy Erskine chooses your story...
themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
This year's Moth Short Story Prize closes for entries midnight, your time, on the 15 June – don't miss the chance to submit.
There's up to €3,000 up for grabs, if Wendy Erskine chooses your story...
themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
June 14, 2026 at 8:56 PM
🚨 FINAL CHANCE TO ENTER 🚨
This year's Moth Short Story Prize closes for entries midnight, your time, on the 15 June – don't miss the chance to submit.
There's up to €3,000 up for grabs, if Wendy Erskine chooses your story...
themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
This year's Moth Short Story Prize closes for entries midnight, your time, on the 15 June – don't miss the chance to submit.
There's up to €3,000 up for grabs, if Wendy Erskine chooses your story...
themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
❛ I really do these books for myself. It’s something I have to do, and it’s the only thing I want to do. Reaching the kids is important, but secondary. First, always, I have to reach and keep hold of the child in me.
Maurice Sendak, born #OTD in 1928.
Maurice Sendak, born #OTD in 1928.
June 10, 2026 at 6:23 PM
❛ I really do these books for myself. It’s something I have to do, and it’s the only thing I want to do. Reaching the kids is important, but secondary. First, always, I have to reach and keep hold of the child in me.
Maurice Sendak, born #OTD in 1928.
Maurice Sendak, born #OTD in 1928.
The Moth Short Story Prize (for adults!) is still open for entries – but not for long...
🌟 1st prize €3,000
🌟 2nd prize €1,000
🌟 3rd prize a week at The Moth Retreat
Judged by the brilliant Wendy Erskine. Closing 15 June.
More info at: themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
🌟 1st prize €3,000
🌟 2nd prize €1,000
🌟 3rd prize a week at The Moth Retreat
Judged by the brilliant Wendy Erskine. Closing 15 June.
More info at: themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
June 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
The Moth Short Story Prize (for adults!) is still open for entries – but not for long...
🌟 1st prize €3,000
🌟 2nd prize €1,000
🌟 3rd prize a week at The Moth Retreat
Judged by the brilliant Wendy Erskine. Closing 15 June.
More info at: themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
🌟 1st prize €3,000
🌟 2nd prize €1,000
🌟 3rd prize a week at The Moth Retreat
Judged by the brilliant Wendy Erskine. Closing 15 June.
More info at: themothmagazine.com/directory/th...
A cold plunge for a heatwave...
Claire Fletcher's 'Shelly' from The Caterpillar Archives 🐚
Claire Fletcher's 'Shelly' from The Caterpillar Archives 🐚
May 28, 2026 at 6:57 PM
A cold plunge for a heatwave...
Claire Fletcher's 'Shelly' from The Caterpillar Archives 🐚
Claire Fletcher's 'Shelly' from The Caterpillar Archives 🐚
❛ I don't think I'm essentially interested in children's books. I'm interested in writing, and in pictures. I'm interested in people and in children because they are people.
Margaret Wise Brown, born #OTD in 1910.
Margaret Wise Brown, born #OTD in 1910.
May 23, 2026 at 6:30 PM
❛ I don't think I'm essentially interested in children's books. I'm interested in writing, and in pictures. I'm interested in people and in children because they are people.
Margaret Wise Brown, born #OTD in 1910.
Margaret Wise Brown, born #OTD in 1910.
Weekend wardrobes at the ready...
🐺
Poem by Carol Shank, which originally appeared in Issue 33.
🐺
Poem by Carol Shank, which originally appeared in Issue 33.
May 15, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Weekend wardrobes at the ready...
🐺
Poem by Carol Shank, which originally appeared in Issue 33.
🐺
Poem by Carol Shank, which originally appeared in Issue 33.
❛ My main motive for going into children's literature was to recreate the helpless giggling that infected me in my childhood. In some ways, I imagine I'm returning the favour.
Happy birthday to former Caterpillar Poetry judge Michael Rosen! 🎈
Happy birthday to former Caterpillar Poetry judge Michael Rosen! 🎈
May 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
❛ My main motive for going into children's literature was to recreate the helpless giggling that infected me in my childhood. In some ways, I imagine I'm returning the favour.
Happy birthday to former Caterpillar Poetry judge Michael Rosen! 🎈
Happy birthday to former Caterpillar Poetry judge Michael Rosen! 🎈
Looking for the perfect antidote to mid-week blues? 🦋
There's so many swashbuckling adventures, rude jokes, funny creatures, weird rhymes and new worlds in old issues of The Caterpillar.
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
There's so many swashbuckling adventures, rude jokes, funny creatures, weird rhymes and new worlds in old issues of The Caterpillar.
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
May 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Looking for the perfect antidote to mid-week blues? 🦋
There's so many swashbuckling adventures, rude jokes, funny creatures, weird rhymes and new worlds in old issues of The Caterpillar.
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
There's so many swashbuckling adventures, rude jokes, funny creatures, weird rhymes and new worlds in old issues of The Caterpillar.
themothmagazine.com/caterpillar-...
Happy May 1st! 💐 We can't wait to see what treats this spring has in store...
🎨 'Gathering Flowers', Hannah Lock (Issue 32)
🎨 'Gathering Flowers', Hannah Lock (Issue 32)
May 1, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Happy May 1st! 💐 We can't wait to see what treats this spring has in store...
🎨 'Gathering Flowers', Hannah Lock (Issue 32)
🎨 'Gathering Flowers', Hannah Lock (Issue 32)
A poem for anyone hitting the road this weekend – Carol L. MacKay's 'Moving Day Villanelle', which appeared in Issue 25 of The Caterpillar...
April 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM
A poem for anyone hitting the road this weekend – Carol L. MacKay's 'Moving Day Villanelle', which appeared in Issue 25 of The Caterpillar...