February Artist of the Month – Kate Williams

Our February ‘Artist of the Month’ is poet Kate Williams.

About Kate Williams

Kate Williams is a children's poet with contributions to numerous anthologies, including acclaimed books such as Heroes & Villains (Macmillan, 2024), Wonder (Macmillan, 2021), Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright (Nosy Crow, 2020) and A World Full of Poems (Dorling Kindersley, 2020).

Kate’s debut collection, “Squeak! Squawk! Roar! Amazing Animal Poems” (9.1.25), is published by Otter-Barry Books and illustrated by Hannah Asen: recommended for age 6+.

Kate has been leading poetry workshops for schools for over 20 years, with more than 700 school visits across England and Wales, working with children of all abilities from Nursery to Year 6. She’s a member of the A.I.M. High team and also enjoys working with less confident young writers. Her warm-up intros are action-packed, with drama, discussion, language-stretching challenges, pictures and artefacts, not forgetting the odd rhyme with her ukulele, firing ideas galore for the poetry-crafting stage. All outcomes are celebrated.

What a visit from Kate entails

Kate provides multi-faceted, interactive workshops for Nursery to Year 6. Her aim - to bring poetry alive for children, whatever their age or ability and she can also offer visits on the following themes.

Dragons

Wild Woods

Autumn Leaves

Fireworks

Ocean/Seaside

Jungle

Animals

You can read more about Kate and her school visits he r e

Interview with Kate Williams

You have been visiting schools for a while, what do you enjoy most about school visits?

Seeing a sea of raised hands before me, waving for attention when I invite ideas or exciting words. Also the buzzing silence of busily writing children, now and then looking up, eyes far away.

You have a lot of themed visits for different times of year and events. Are there any topics that are particularly fun to run?

My animal theme, with my new book of animal poems, is proving to be enormous fun. Children love animals and jump straight into it. Any nerves about poetry-writing are gone with the first roar, woof or snort! There’s such a wealth of variety to impersonate, discuss and describe – so many moods and features to reflect – poetry flies from the word go! Dragons are a close runner up – highly popular with both staff and pupils – and with me! A dragon can be anything you like – friend or foe, scary or funny, cuddly or mysterious.

How do you feel poetry impacts our world?

Poetry speaks to everyone: it’s there for all to dip into and share. Thoughtful poetry can help us put things in perspective, to pause, consider, and even to deal with personal difficulties. A funny poem can bring a ray of sunshine on the darkest day, and all good poetry can bring people together in shared delight.

Do you prefer thought provoking or fun poems?

That’s a tricky one, but fun probably wins for me, most days. I love humour, and always have an eye out for the absurdities of life! Hence the crocodile at the dentist and the hippo with the shower gel in my book, for instance.

You mention a ukulele. How do you integrate music into your visits?

My ukulele plays a key role in sessions for younger children, with brief appearances in classes right up to Year 6, time permitting. With Infants, I set a simple verse to music, which we sing and clap to, also filling word gaps with volunteered ideas. This provides a format and launch pad for their own poems. With older classes, I often round off with a quick rhyme challenge, setting whatever they come up with to a simple tune. Now and again a child will be inspired to sing their poem at reading-out time. A big, strapping lad in football gear did that once in front of all his mates. No giggles. Just awed applause.

What benefits do poet and author visits have for schools?

Meeting an author or poet joins the dots for children. They’ve seen the books, read them perhaps, and suddenly, here’s the author – a human being – in the room with them! You even get to see them writing, when they sign their book for you. As for the book itself – I guess that comes alive too! Hopefully, the visit also sends the message to children that they, too, can fulfil their career dreams some day, whether as writers or something quite different. Teachers often tell me they’ve benefited too, witnessing new approaches to poetry, and different ways of getting reluctant writers enthused.

How do you encourage reluctant writers to get involved in your days?

Certain elements are key, like pitch, pace and fun, so I pay careful attention to those. I also offer plenty of praise and encouragement, especially to hesitant contributors. My policy is never to say ‘no’, showing appreciation for every offering, even if I also suggest an alternative. If a child is totally off the mark, they’ll usually work that out for themselves as I draw them in. Sometimes a tongue-tied youngster will whisper a word for me to share out loud or write on their sheet, and with a simple prompt for the next word, off they’ll go! Chances are they’ll be the child that won’t stop writing at the end!

Can you share a particularly memorable moment from a school visit?

There’s always a special, rather magical stage in a session when ideas seem to fizz and bounce round the walls and eyes are bright with imaginings, and another, when the children read out their draft poems, stunning me with their creations. But the memory that keeps coming back and making me smile is – from a boy heading to the door at the end: “I loved that, Miss, and I absolutely HATE poetry!”

The poetry community seems very supportive. Which poets’ work inspires you and any particularly talented or supportive poets you would like to give a shout out to?

Yes, you’re right – it’s a great little community! I’ve had wonderful support from fellow poets with my debut collection, for instance – often with practical matters like how to fill in a form or where to stay overnight for a school visit. In particular, I’d like to give a shout to Debra Bertulis and Sarah Ziman, while passing on thanks to the many others who have supported my work in one way or another. As for the work of other children’s poets, each has something unique and special to offer.

You have recently published your own collection of poems “Squeak! Squawk! Roar!”. What is it like to have a whole book dedicated to your work compared to featuring in anthologies?

Wonderful! It enables me to say clearly and simply: “This is what I do. Take it or leave it.”

What can people expect from your debut book?

In a nutshell, entertainment, laughs, food for thought, and new worlds to float off to, as well as a whirl of poetic word play. The book comprises 54 short, accessible poems about animals from all over the world, and just like the animals, the poems come in every sort of variety. They bring different environments and atmospheres to the book too, so you’ll be shivering through one poem and sweltering in the next, stroking one creature and fleeing another. There are funny, daft rhymes full of nonsense, and calm, reflective verses, not forgetting the occasional goose-bump-creepy one too. There are gentle, light-touch references to big issues like endangered species and animal welfare, offering triggers for class discussion, as well as examples of various poetic forms such as kennings, limericks, similes, metaphors, alliteration, shape poems, and rhymes to clap to. The poems are brought to life by my wonderful illustrator, Hannah Asen.

Where did the inspiration for “Squeak! Squawk! Roar!” come from?

All sorts of places in my past, from childhood (our lovable dachshund, Maxie) and teenage years (pony-riding on countryside holidays), to nowadays (sheep and rabbits in the fields beyond my back gate in south Wales). As for the more exotic animals, I used to live near a zoo and would often hear the eerie nocturnal shrieks and howls of those captive creatures, perhaps kindling ideas for future poems. Animals offer a boundless wealth of opportunities to a writer, and they don’t care what you say about them! What’s more, children love animals too!

What is your favourite animal to write about?

That depends what mood I’m in. Perhaps butterflies for calm feelings and pretty images, penguins for their absurdly prim, gormless demeanour, or prowling jungle creatures for thrill.

Is it ever too late to develop a love of poetry?

No. I’ve heard of people finding new solace or entertainment in poetry in their twilight years.

Why are libraries so important?

Because many children have next to no books at home, and tight school budgets put limits on what can be provided in classrooms. Library books come free, and if the one you want isn’t there, it can be ordered for you! Libraries also offer havens – calm places to rest, browse and dream.

Do you have a book that you have re-read and returned to multiple times? Or are you always on the lookout for the next book to read?

A bit of both. I have some old favourites – Jane Austin’s lighter novels, Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, and Allan Ahlberg’s Please Mrs Butler poems, all lip-curlingly humorous, to name a few, but also like venturing into new novels and collections for bedtime reading.

What was the last thing that made you giggle?

My two year old grandson, seeing my picture in the back of my book, asking if he could have one of him in there too. (Good idea actually – much more appealing!)

What are you currently working on?

Poems about school life, ready for a second collection - should the opportunity arise.

Quick Fire

Sunshine or snow? Sunshine (on snow for extra sparkle!).

Early bird or night owl? Night owl… then early bird if a poem pops up in the small hours.

Would you rather be able to explore the deep ocean or deep space? Deep ocean (heated please).

Trip to the museum or the theatre? Putting ‘free’ versus ‘extortionate’ to one side, and with a not too depressing storyline, theatre.

Best cartoon dog – Snoopy, Scooby Doo or Pluto? Snoopy, but that’s probably a sad reflection of my age.

If you were Prime Minister for the day, what law would you introduce? I would order all closed libraries to be reopened, and bigger library budgets.