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The Vulture by Gretchen Bishop (aged 12)
Dedicated to my evil old principal

The vulture hides behind its wings
Fooling others to think it's a graceful bird
They fly in formations high in the sky
Waiting for poor helpless animals to die
I will not join that vulture
I have broken free
And will become the true eagle
I was meant to be

Mountain Goat by William Coombs (aged 9)

Spiralling horns peep over an outcrop of rock,
White as the moon, his coat waves in the wind,
Eyes like bright stars sparkle as they swoop over the horizon,
He has hooves like carved stones that clatter over the mountain
playing the drum roll of the hills,
He leaps and runs, he scurries and hops over the heather and gorse,
The hilltop patrol that runs in every weather,
The rocks of granite shine like diamonds under the feet
of the dancing goat.

A howling cry, a piercing note.
Wolves on the march.
The mountain goat turns and flies like a bird in the heavens.
The wolf turns and gives up pursuit.
Meanwhile, the goat is still running, still jumping
over the outcrop of rocks.

My Horse by Siobhan Smith (aged 10)

I have a horse named Ted,
He loves to be fed.
He eats a lot of hay,
And his favourite sound is neigh.
He does not like mum's cat,
He'd like to squash it flat.
He loves to eat bread,
My beautiful horse,
Named Ted!

Why I Like Hyenas by Maya Gouw

Hyenas
I like them.
Ask me why?
Because they hold their self confidence way down low
Because they lean their heads down for some dough
Because they care so much less about their feelings
And a ton more about night stealing,
Because they are hungry for a savage life
Because they are strong enough to escape the knife
Because they are tough outside but soft deep down
Because they always laugh without a frown
Because.
Because.
Because.
That's why
I like Hyenas.

A Lion's Actions by Amila Keerthichandra (aged 10)

When a lion runs its hair waves
And in the long yellow grass its fur fades.
In the great jungle the lion is the king.
All through the valley the birds have to sing.

In the night sky its eyes shine
All through the day its sharp claws are used to climb.
When its thundering feet crashes the ground
Many animals get frightened from miles around.

A Dragonfly by Clara Lehmann (aged 9)

Once I saw something that flew past,
A shimmering emerald body
With lacy patterned wings;
A curly tongue going in and out,
Like a spiral whizzing about;
A pair of eyes bulging out
Like oval glossy stones.
She hums peacefully and quietly
Like a multi-coloured humming bird.
A dragonfly:
A beautiful shimmering dragonfly.

Live On by Dawn Rosenberg (aged 11)

Even though his body is no longer occupied
His soul lingers in his cage,
Waiting, watching for someone to come and open the gates to heaven.

I was told not to cry -
he held me back.
But the power of his fragile little paws
was easily breached.

His body was so heavy.
You never know dead until you have held it
in the palm of your hand.

You never know life until you squeeze just a little too hard,
and hear the cry that rips through your heart.
His tiny hamster soul lives on.
Forever and ever
Waiting
For an open door.

Alliterative Animals by Macy Wilson (aged 8)

Ben's badger bounced on the bed.
Jack's gerbil jumped on the jelly.
Harry's hedgehog hopped down a hole
Carl's cat climbed up the curtain.
Dave's donkey drove dad's car
Mark's mouse climbed the mountain.

Animals by Aminuz Zahman (aged 8)

Ben's badger bounced on the bed.
Jack's gerbil jumped on his journal.
Harry's hedgehog hopped over the house.
Carl'y cat caught a cannon ball.
Dave's donkey ditched Daniel
Mark's mouse mopped up macaroni cheese.

Who Am I? by Sadaf Tokhi (aged 11)

I am the biggest of all,
I run really fast,
and I am ferocious,
all my friends fear me!

I am an ant!

(I have the biggest temper.
Did I mention that?)

My Dogs by Emily Burgess (aged 8)

My dog Maddie is a Labrador,
she is bouncy, stupid and funny.
She lays down
when it's sunny.

My dog Milly is a border terrier.
She is shorter.
When we go to a park
she never goes into the water.

Ode To Daisy May by Alexandra Pakulski (aged 8)

I take horse lessons every Wednesday,
I used to ride a horse named Daisy May,
But now no one rides her anymore.

I remember when I rode her. She wasn't that bad.
Now she's dead, it's really sad.
I know where she is, she's up in the sky.

Now everyone knows her,
She was a flea-bitten gray.
Oh, that good ole Daisy May.

The Rabbit By The Roadside by Imogen Bond (aged 11)

Hopping along the roadside
Is a very good friend of mine.
The rabbit, a wonderful creature that's been
Around since the dawn of time.
Careful rabbit! Don't get squashed!
"Live life to the full," I say.
"Please! Don't get squashed, dear rabbit,
On this beautifully sunny day.
Rabbit, dear rabbit, have you many friends?
Have you a family too?
If my mum didn't strongly disagree,
You could be in my family too!
I'd take you home, place you in a hutch,
Made by my dad, oh yes.
And my dad is handy when it comes to his tools,
So your rabbit hutch would be the best!
Oh rabbit, with your coat of fluffy white.
When your sitting there,
I think and declare,
Will you even last the night?"

My Kitten Isabel by Emily Burgess (aged 8)

My Kitten Isabel is black and white,
she likes chasing bees.
She likes destroying plants
and she always scratches me!

Giraffe by Stella Hwang (aged 10)

What fun it would be
(I would jump up and down with glee)
If I had a giraffe as my pet.
It's better than a dog, far, far better than a cat.
Oh, how much fun it would be.

I'd name him Perry
Or if a girl, then Berry
I'd give him a pair of sunglasses
(If a girl I'd give her dresses)
Oh, how much fun it would be.

My giraffe would help me reach the cookie jar
And take me to places near and far.
I'd ride it to school.
Everyone would think it's cool.
Oh, how much fun it would be.

It will let me slide on its neck
All the way to its spotted back.
I'd knit the longest scarf
And give it to my giraffe - as long as he (or she) didin't barf.
Oh, how much fun it would be.

So you've heard all the reasons
How giraffe and I would have fun all the seasons
So please let me have a giraffe as a pet!
It'll never have to go to the vet!
Oh please, oh please, oh please!
Oh, how much fun it would be.

My Guinea-pig Daisy by Emily Burgess (aged 8)

My guinea-pig Daisy is light brown and white,
she is very fat.
She used to have a friend,
and she gets on really well with my cats.

Crazy Vet by Prasha Maithani (aged 8)

Once there was a vet,
Who didn't like animals as pets,
He ate the rat and killed one cat.
One day he bought an explorer's cap
And went to look for a treasure map.
Do you know what the treasure was?
It was the answer to why dogs wag their tails!
He got angry, but continued his job,
And cut off the tails of every dog.

(Oooh… what a not very nice ending, Prasha. -RS)

The Rabbit Who Knows How To Fly by Alicia Kumar (aged 8)

The Rabbit who knows how to fly,
is the rabbit who is really shy.
He would make himself jump,
when he does a stunt,
in the most marvellous sky.

He won't tell me how to fly,
so I think he is telling a lie.
Oh what a rabbit he is!
At twelve in the night,
he would go out for a ride,
and see the super stars,
maybe even Mars!

So have you ever
seen a rabbit fly?
If you haven't,
keep your eyes peeled.
You never know when one is passing by!

The Giraffe by Seana Callan

Oh dear giraffe, you are so tall
It must be hard to have such a long way to fall
You are taller than many tall trees
I don't think I'd even come up to your knees!

What do you and your friends do all day?
Do you sleep, and eat and laugh, and play?
I hope it's not too scary to be chased by lions a lot,
Running around that much must make you hot.

Then, when it gets cold and dark,
Do you sit under your tree and chew on its bark?
Finally, when you're very tired
You go to bed and dream about how much you're admired.

The Cat by Ethan Green

Cat's eye, cat's eye shining bright
In the secrecy of the night,
What immortal foe or friend,
Could dare demise thine own end?

In what sleepy nights did you,
Dare to wake and arise and who,
Ever ventured to call your defeat?
For you were a champion when first your heart beat.

You, O cat, who dared to dream,
Strived and worked under the sun's great beam,
For what reason did you aspire
To look upon the world with ire?

O great feline, who has done you wrong?
That causes you to sing your immortal night-time song
For what purpose do you strive
To look upon the world and despise?

Cat's eye, cat's eye shining bright
In the secrecy of the night
What immortal foe or friend,
Could dare demise thine own end?

The Rhyno by Diego Salazar

A big gray beast with tough gray hide
A horn enough to change a battle's tide
I would not want to be on his wrong side

This largish beast we call a Rhino
As big a beast as the feared Dino
They're not the same, this I know!

With big flat feet and slow walking
These werid creatures do no talking
Unless of course its you they're mocking!

Eyes so small and skin so gray
Even colossal when you lay
If you're by him, you'd better pray

Oh Rhyno you are so large
Roaming around like a sarge
Its clear to see that you're in charge!

Ants by Ujjwala Lakhanpal (aged 9)

Ants are tiny and hardworking
coloured red or black
If the way's blocked
They will never stop

They'll just make a new way
And get on with their work.
Working hard all day long
Saving for the winter
Knowing summer is all they have
For there is no food in winter.

Ants have six legs
And you would think they'd run
When we step on them
Just for having fun.

If they are saved
They still do some work
But we destroy their wishes
By breaking their legs at once.

Animal Mix by Lucy (aged 10)

Flamingos - what a funny bunch
Lounging around the muddy lake
On to donkeys in a field
Eayore, eayore they cry
What would happen if they mixed?
A pink donkey on one leg
Strange I know but there it is

Veterinarian by Makenna Hanifan (aged 9)

I'll study hard, I'll do my best,
to get good grades and pass the test

I'll help lions, tigers, and dogs too,
even yaks, iguanas, and kangaroos

Giraffes and dolphins I won't forget,
because that's my job, I'm a vet

If I can't become a veterinarian,
for sure, I'll end up in a sanitarium

My Pet Cockerel by Emanuel-Louis Flecken (aged 9)

Cosmos crowed at four
O'clock, just as the
Sun was rising in the
Morning
Oh Naughty Cockerel
Singing in the morning

Hamsters by Joanne Dumerand (aged 13)

Cute and furry, funny and sweet,
rolling around in dirt and hay,
smells funny as if in a petting zoo
but so playful and joyful too.
When sick, I take care of her, when hungry I feed her,
when happy I play with her then when bored I watch her fall asleep.
Her name is Joanna and I love her so much
she's my imaginary hamster
but she doesn't do much
she knows what my face looks like
and knows when I'm sad or mad
she calms me down when I feel so bad.
She help me calm down through the pain I got through
but I'm so happy to say this but Joanna I love you.

Elephants by Hollieann Mullings (aged 9)

Water Sprayer
Bamboo Eater
Mouse Hater
Human Treader
Huge Pooer
Tusks Picker
Nut Cruncher

Llamas by Lulu Pafett

Llamas, llamas, here and there
Llamas, llamas, everywhere
They like it in the spring
when everything is green
They like it when it's nice and sunny
They also like to eat honey
They go outside and play in mud
then come in and take a bath in the tub
Just kidding I am. First they eat jam,
they take baths in the pond
of which of they all are very fond
Llamas, llamas, here and there
Llamas, llamas, everywhere

Unpleasant Owl by Elizabeth Hyde (aged 12)

The silent owl swoops across the town
waiting for its prey
The shudder of the city below
as it flies around

Relying on its hearing
silently it swoops
straight to the mouse
in the quiet side alley

Doom and fear
as people are near
and the pain of the nearby animals
as its prey has already been caught

No echo to be heard
it flies away
to its lair
for another day

My Dog by Amy Tickner (aged 9)

My dog's name is Paddy
As he is a big laddy

My dog is very smelly
He has a big belly

He loves his food
When he is in the mood

He sometimes is a pig
As he eats my dad's figs !!!

Monkeys by Florence (aged 8)

Mad monkeys everywhere
Orang-utans swing from tree to tree
Nice little monkey
Kind sweet and caring
Even monkeys deserve a home
Your life is never the same without a monkey

I love monkeys

Tigers by Smriti Ramakrishnan (aged 9)

Tigers are graceful and majestic,
If you saw one it would strike you with awe,
Those jet-black stripes on orange,
Even a crow would stop its caw.

But now three types of tigers are extinct,
Yes it's an awful price,
The others are all endangered,
The other six to be precise.

So you see, we have to help the tigers,
We can't just sit and watch them die,
Let them breed - don't kill them,
We want to say hi to them, - not bye.

My Rabbit Blue by Georgia Ella Fearn (aged 10)

I've got a rabbit, its name is Blue,
We think it's a girl but we haven't got a clue

It's white, it's fluffy,
Crystal blue eyes,
It gets into small spaces because of its size

It's got long floppy ears,
A cute pink nose,
When we take a picture she will always pose

I love my rabbit,
She make's me so happy,
But sometimes my Dad wishes she had a
Nappy!!!!

The Much Loved Ram by Aimee (aged 13)

I wondered happily as a lamb,
New to the world,
When all at once I saw a ram,
It's horns nice and curled.
Stood on its own,
It was unhappy to be alone.

I approached it with extreme care,
My arms out in front of me,
It looked at me with a confused stare,
Then went all smiley.
It walked slowly over the muddy farm,
To show it meant me no harm.

We stared at each other for a while,
Sitting by the beautiful sunset,
I then gave it a great big smile,
It was obviously happy, I bet!
We watched as the sun went down,
The ram's eyes sparkling like a jewelled crown.

And ever since then, I have missed the ram,
But I try to stay as happy as I can.

Cat by Molly Murnaghan (aged 10)

I once bumped into a cat,
which was very fat,
it's name was Pat,
so I called Pat the fat cat!

The Lion by Aurel Belba (aged 12)

The lion in the jungle
Takes a nap on a tree
The giraffe walks gently
Carrying a big cup of tea
She sings him a song
To wake up the king

Bird by Marisa Cosslett (aged 11)

The bird teeters on the wire
Glancing left, right, left
As if it thought someone was following it
The wind rushes by
The wire shakes
The bird takes off

My Dog by Kristopher D'Alterio (aged 11)

My dog was a happy, young, vibrant one
but then
there was
a problem

One morning
my mother
told me
my dog might be "asleep"

When I returned
from soccer
my dog was.
gone.

Judy and Jess by Michael Sandys (aged 11)

Judy is the puppy, Jess is the mum.
When I whistle in the street, right away they come.

Judy can dance, when I get a treat, and move it around.
When I ask her to play dead, she falls straight to the ground.

Her mum just lies around, she is just a bore.
The only trick she can do, is to give you her paw.

My Bird by Karolina Janina (aged 11)

Really sad I am
That my bird Tam
Left me again

It was autumn that day
When Tam left with his friends
All happy that day

All alone I was, waiting for Tam to come
But I never saw Tam
My friend

I'll miss his white wings
His way of waking me up
In the morning and the night

I'll miss him
My fair bird Tam

Smokey the Dog by Jay (aged 11)

He is really cute
He is careful when he plays
He is very protective
My Mum and dad never chose Smokey
He chose them
He likes lying down beside you
When you are on the couch
I give him all the love in my body
When someone knocks on the door he goes wild
He was really funny when he was a pup
He gobbles down anyone's roast dinner
If someone comes into my mum's
That he does not see very often
He will jump all over them

My Big Black Woolly Bear by Mr. Smith

Ahhh,
You frothed all on your main,
why do you have such a small brain?
Woolly bear,
my big black woolly bear,
your hair… it's everywhere!
You lick my leg,
You shed the bed.
And of course,
You don't think ahead.
Your mind is full of fog, you silly deaf dog.
We got quite aquainted,
But my friend, you look so vacant!
Remember, what matters most, is that we heart each other both.

Animal Life by Greg and Lucy (Year 5)

Live in zoos
Can be loud and sad
Feed them every day

A Cat Called Daphne by Gabrielle (aged 8)

I have a cat called Daphne,
She is cute and all, but she's funny - look!
She invites her friends in without permission,
And runs around the house like she's on a mission.
She snuggles up on my bed,
But it really hurts my head.
She's had 4 kittens,
Which were born with no mittens,
She plays with my dog,
But ends up looking like a hog!

Polar Bears by Ciaran and Lucy (Year 5)

Artic warrior
Colossus of the North
Swims like a shark

Ferocious as a lion
Soft as a cuddly toy
Eats sea creatures

Part of an Arctic Landscape
Enormous like a mountain
Battle together

Cute Dogs by Anna and Melissa (Year 5)

Lovely natured
Playing cheerfully all the time
Cute as can be

Kitten by Chloe (aged 9)

My kitten Socks
likes to live in a box
with a few white hairs which she licks clean
and she's nowhere to be seen

We Hate Snakes
by Lucy Baker-Cresswell (9), Charlotte Bryden (9), Kathryn Davenport(8) and Rachael Atkinson-Moat (8)

They bite like a tiger
They are as sneaky as a fox
Their tongue is as long as a branch
They're as poisonous as a sting ray
They are as deadly as lion
They are as slimy as a frog
Their teeth are as sharp as razors
They are as vicious as buffalos
They can catch you and trap you like a Venus Fly Trap
They're as scaly as a fish

So now you know why
WE HATE SNAKES

We Love Snakes
by Hollie White (9), Kitty Robson (8), Kitty Ballantine (8) and Megan Fletcher (8)

They're
Luscious, long and luxurious
With
Slithery, smooth snake skin
They've
Interesting, exciting, golden eyes
They are our
Flexible, friends with friendly faces
They're
Colourful, camouflaged, covered creatures
With
Tubular tummies that turn and twist
They're always
Making slithery shapes in the Sahara sand
With
Fun faces and fantastic fiery eyes
They're our
Pretty, patterned, pest patrolmen.
WE LOVE SNAKES

My Dog by Claudia Taylor (aged 11)

The lonely king with his furry robe on
Rests on his enormous throne
And dreams about
What regal statement
He will decree next

Look out,
Here he comes,
The most celebrated
Kangaroo
In all history
Leaping about
To catch the big
Green bird
In the sky

3...
2...
1...
Blast off!
A yellow streak
Shoots across
the treacherous
Dirt and pine cones

A little blanket
Wakes up
Heads to your room
Creeps in the door
Flies onto the bed
Smothers you in its furry yellowness
And warms your body
From your toes to your chest...

My dog is the best!

My Horse by Sinead Quinn (aged 9)

I love the way my horse glides over the jumps,
the way her coat reflects on the shimmering moon and sun.
I love the way my horses eyes twinkle and shine in the twilight,
the way she always pulls on my jumper to make me come (I do!).
But then there is the way when she is in pain,
but the way she almost glows when she sees her new born.
And there is me always with her,
comforting her and never leaving her,
my treasure!

The Little Kid Wants A Dog by Claudia Taylor (aged 11)

If Mummy and Daddy don't like dogs,
I'll need another pet.

Maybe,
I'll adopt that little froggie
In the pond.

Today
I learned
Froggies can hop, hop, hop away.

Maybe
I'll adopt the lint
Underneath the carpet.
It's fun to play with.

Today
I learned
Lint gets vacuumed up.
Mummy says it's icky.

I know,
I'll adopt the monster in the closet.
He seems lonely in there.

Today
I learned
The monster in the closet
Is my fuzzy old sweater.

I wish I had a dog.

What's the Time, Mister Wolf? by Tiphany Cole (aged 10)

We run through the trees,
Jump over stumps,
Step heavily over fallen leaves,
Sit on rocks,
We are here,
At the wolf's den,
Sally knocks on the door,
The wolf comes out,
Everyone shouts,
What's the time mister wolf?
He replies,
I haven't got my watch on.

Fox Spells Trouble by Cornelia Rich (aged 9)

Fast runner,
Oh so scary,
X-ray vision,

LOOK OUT MISTER

Really cute,
Able runner,
Bouncy fluff
Ball,
Itchy nose,
Tiny feet,
Tidy fur.

I Wish I Had a Hippo by Kayley S. (aged 8)

Hippo please come here.
If not, I'll shed a tear.
I like to ride you everywhere
Just like you were my teddybear.

My Friend Kate by Niamh McCay (aged 9)

I know a horse called Kate
Who stands behind the gate
She stands tall and strong
To Uncle Hugh she does belong!

On Sundays we go see her
And help Hugh to feed her
Her favourite food is hay
Would I like a horse? I'll say!

She lives behind the shed
Her fur is rustic red
She stands 12 hands high
With ears that point to the sky

I've seen her gallop fast
Why does she do it? You might ask!
I think she likes it there
Sure Kate doesn't have a care

Now you've met Kate
My friend the horse
Would I like to own her?
Oh yes, of course.

The Girl Next Door by Seth S. (aged 10)

The girl with bright brown hair
Is running into a grizzly bear.
She will scream with fright.
I hope the bear will not bite.

Animals by Susie (age 10)

Animals are all sorts of shapes and sizes we love them all
Hamsters, dogs, horses and lots more!.

Some animals are furry some are slithery and some animals are cuddly.
We are there best friends!

When I cuddle them they make me feel that they love me
and they are not scared of me.
They all make me feel loveable to them.

When you are cleaning your pet out
you feel that you like them being in a safe and warm home.

Pets are patient, entertaining, trusting and sweet!
Pets are great!

The 9:00 fox by Billie Hale (aged 10)

Black fur,
Twitching in the breeze,
Four paws on the ground,
Legs bent,
Ready to pounce,
FOX.

What's for Lunch? by Phiona Littlewood (aged 9)

"What can I get you, mister fox?"
I'll have raw chicken,
With lamb chops
Beef jerky,
With sausages,
Pork slabs,
With whole meat gravy,
Sunday roast with all the meat,
A fry up,
Cut the eggs
"Anything else?"

Penguin Limerick by Hillary Smith (aged 9)

There was a young penguin from Maine,
Who didn't know from where he came,
He looks on the map,
His wings start to flap
'Cause everything there looks the same.

The Stressed Out Fox by Irma Lillist (aged 9)

The fox had ire,
Desire,
For a chicken,
He was in such distress,
He looked quite a mess,
His life wasn't the same
Since he moved to Maine.

Fox Royalty by Tyler Court (aged 9)

Foxes are big,
Foxes are small,
One thing you don't know,
Foxes will rule,
When you're dead,
Your great, great grandchildren roam,
Cars are so last century,
There's a new kind of phone,
And a beautiful fox
Sits on the throne.

Everybody Wants to be a Chicken by Maurice McDie (aged 10)

You may not know it,
You want to be a chicken,
You've wanted it all your life,
But because of this crazy craze,
You'll never have a husband or wife.

Bear by Salina Rose (aged 9)

Big brown fluffy thing,
Everybody loves him thing, but when
A predator comes
ROARR!

My Kitten Plays with the Moon by Sophie Pool (aged 10)

Dark at night,
The moon is bright,
Shining like a big balloon,
I stuck my head out the window,
And my kitten was playing with the moon.

A Bear Limerick by Tayler Tatiana (aged 9)

There once was a bear from Brazil,
Who felt incredibly ill,
He got off the train,
In agonizing pain,
So he took a Paracetamol pill.

Shark by Shenal Perera (aged 10)

Emperor of the Ocean torpedoes through the sea
Fins like blades slashing through the water
Preys on meat and gobbles with almighty snap
Its teeth are like razor-sharp knives
This almighty creature sits on the right-hand throne
Next to Neptune
It guards pirates' treasure
Lurking around its magnificent cave
Neptune's best knight

Horses by Yasmin (aged 8)

Horses, horses go on race courses.
Running and galloping away.
They neigh, neigh, neigh and eat sweet fresh yummy hay.
Gallop away, neigh, neigh yummy hay.

Mr Snail's Dream by Nathaniel Brisco (aged 8 ½)

I am a snail who had a dream
All of a sudden there were laser beams

I looked left, I looked right
Then I travelled at the speed of light

Lions, tigers, whatever you find
Don't ask me - I left them behind

I woke up found in Africa
Married to a girl called Jessica

Snake by Connor Fry (aged 10)

I am a long slithery sea snake,
wriggling from side to side,
I like to swim along the top,
while the waves leap over me,
but when i meet another snake, we always fight like bears,
but when we go to bed we always snore like hares!

Dog Poem by Buki Jones (aged 8)

Sometimes fierce,
Sometimes nice,
If you do not like it,
You might have a fight.

Bird by Ines (aged 8)

There is a bird that's called coo coo,
I think I know why, he's gone tu tu!
They are a real pest,
Make a tiny nest,
Then can't even go to the loo!

Otters by Tamsin Fluendy (aged 10)

Dancing, Prancing and running away,
Seeing an otter makes my day!
Hunting in the water deep,
Never flying, not even a leap.
But swimming far and swimming wide,
In and out, in time with the tide!
Forward and back the tide is lapping,
On the ocean bed, tiny otter feet are tapping.
When the moon comes to play,
The otters decide to rest for the day!
When the winter is gone and it's June,
Male otters go a little lune!
They want a home and they want wives,
When they've children their nests turn into busy beehives!
But come January every one's quiet,
No more noise like a back street riot!
Dancing, Prancing and running away,
Seeing an otter makes my day!

Monkey Kenning by Shanice Wright (aged 10)

Noise maker,
Tree swinger,
Banana lover,
Wild lingerer,
Hairy features,
Flexible bender,
Cute creatures,
Family defender.

Shark Poem by Matthew Hawes (aged 10)

Massive predator,
Ocean emperor,
Blood sensor,
Pace maker,
Fish scarer,
Dentist refuser,
Body shatterer,
Vicious killer.

Red Wolf by Manpreet Sodhi (aged 9)

Vicious killer
Good sensor
Midnight howler
Excellent runners
Jawbreaker
Quick thinker
Ultimate prowler
Human gobbler
Fierce killer

Lion by Shanaz Begum (aged 11)

Meat lover,
Fast eater,
Loud roarer,
Blood sipper,
Quick striker,
Wild creeper,
Sneaky peeker
Tight tripper,
Second best,
Hates the rest,
Found in east,
Like a beast.

Sharks by Usmaan Mukhtar (aged 9)

Lives deep,
Thick finned,
Vicious giants,
Twenty five foot,
Gilly neck,
Tubby body,
Blood thirsty,
Carnivorous wrestler,
Blood sensor,
Man-eater,
Dorsal diver,
Blood sucker,
Flesh ripper,
Bone breaker.

Lion by Gemma Pancutt (age 9)

Man eater,
Loud roarer,
Strong fighter,
Precious hunter,
Wide yawner,
Long sleeper,
Cub maker,
Claw scratcher,
Antelope killer,
Zebra lover.

Bees Kenning by Hollieann Mullings (aged 9)

Bee buzzer
Pollen lover
Hairy hummer
Hard stinger
Human hater

King Cobra Snake by Hollieann Mullings (aged 9)

Slimy slitherer,
Quick climber,
None chewer,
Colour keeper,
Skin shredder,
Fast prayer,
Venom fighter,
Egg eater.

Lion by Mike Musanu (aged 9)

Greedy Eater,
Loud Shouter,
Fast Runner,
Human Stretcher,
Crazy Cutter.
Blood Eater

Red Wolf by Halden Wilson (aged 11)

Vicious killer,
Fast runner,
Quick thinker,
Jaw breaker,
Quick striker,
Good swimmer,
Human gobbler,
Mouth chewer

Monkey Kenning by Nikita Allen (aged 9)

Tree swinger,
Flea flicker,
Mummy clinger,
Banana licker
Tree dweller
Fruit eater,
Nit picker,
Friendly greeter.

Dolphin by Gemma Batty (aged 10)

Water Splasher,
Synchronised Swimmer,
Fish Eater,
Blue Colour,
Human Lover,
Food Snatcher,
Smart Thinker,
High Jumper,
Water Liver.

Shark Bait by Ryan Riddell (aged 10)

Human chewer,
Blood sucker,
Strong fighter,
Sea liver,
Meat eater,
Blood smeller,
Human ripper,
Vicious lover,
Blood thirsty,
Monster eater,
Human murderer,
Bone destroyer.

Kenning by Regan Spence (aged 9)

Loud snorer,
Sloppy eater,
Mud hogger,
Slow runner,
Crazy roller.

Lion by Eleanor Michel (age 9)

Mane Shaker,
Loud Roarer,
Cub Maker,
Ground Prowler,
Meat Eater,
Wild Fighter,
Strong Slayer,
Long Sighter.

Cat Kenning by Katie Bunting (age 9)

Mouse chaser,
Drain-pipe creeper,
Sunshine roller,
Long sleeper,
Food begger,
Loud purrer,
People lover,
Soft furrer.

Dogs Kenning by Hollieann Mullings (aged 9)

Fluffy cuddler
Good sniffer
Mad thinker
Lips licker
Messy eater
Big hugger

Lost Kitten in the Snow by Molly Monger (nearly seven)

One snowy night, as stormy as a night on the sea,
A kitten no bigger than your hand, crept silently out of her house.
She itched to go hunting fat mice.
She walked on velvet toes until she found that she was lost.
She felt as cold as ice and snuggled under a bush with a leafy blanket.
She thought of the cosy house she had come from
And her kind owner Carry, as comforting as a teddy bear.

As the glassy shards of snow fell like leaves in autumn
Her black and grey fur now resembled a chocolate roll sprinkled with white icing.
Suddenly she saw lights like snakes' eyes go round the corner.
Houses towered above her as giants.
Meanwhile back in the house Carry woke to the sound of the church bells.
Carry lolloped downstairs still sleeping to feed the kitten, only to find her gone.

Carry as scared as a fox about to be eaten by a bear
Hurriedly pasted large posters all over the barbed city seeking her lost kitten.
Soon a caring little boy found the trembling kitten as thin as paper.
He gave her some warm and creamy milk as white as the moon.
The scared kitten scooped it up in a second, feeling happiness growing.
The kind boy returned the frisky kitten to eager Carry.
The kitten saw her loving friend and jumped into Carry's soft and welcoming arms.

Dragon Kenning by Jodie Fireson (aged 9)

Village wrecker,
Scary rider,
Dark shocker,
Cave liver,
Farm stealer,
Veg hater,
Great flyer,
Fire breather,
Tail swinger,
Bad swimmer,
Giant monster,
King killer,
Greedy eater,
House snapper,
Careful glider,
Metal bender.

Dog Kenning by Sam Pitman Poole (aged 10)

Spiky biter,
Meat eater,
Brave swimmer,
Speedy sprinter,
Ball chewer,
Bone breaker,
Strong sniffer,
Water drinker,
Happy walker,
Rabbit hunter,
Man lover,
Human protector,
Storm barker,
Grisly growly,
Raggy tailer,
Self cleaner,
Tree scratcher.

Rabbit by Amy Buckley (aged 9)

Hole maker,
Carrot cruncher,
Cat hater,
Long jumper,
Water drinker,
Birth giver,
Little nibbler,
Freedom lover,
Flowerpot hopper,
Grass enjoyer.

Monkey by Anna-May Mooney (aged 10)

Banana muncher,
Cheeky grinner,
Branch swinger,
Tree trunk climber,
Fabulous finder,
Flea picker,
Tree dweller,
Never sharer.

Crocodile by Ronak Vaghela (aged 10)

Flesh Discoverer
Hasty Snapper,
Swift Killer,
Moist Tearer,
Heart Breaker,
Man Eater,
Good Eyer,
Ultimate Swimmer,
Ginormous Gobbler,
Deer Preyer.

The Cat, the Mat, the Gnat, the Mouse
by Jennifer W. (aged 8)

The cat slept on the mat,
z... z... z... z... z...
He was awakened by the gnat,
He chased the gnat all over the house,
And then they ran into the mouse!
They all stumbled down onto the mat,
Woosh, Kappat!
They scrambled their letters into "Cartanttmag!"

(P.S. That's going to be pretty hard to spell!)

Monkey Kenning by Matthew Hasker (aged 10)

Hard Hitter,
Tree Climber,
Fruit Eater,
Silly Swinger,
Flea Picker,
Children Hater,
Monkey Lover,
Long Hairer.

Lion Kenning by Hapreet Sodhi (aged 9)

Meat eater,
Loud roarer,
Car growler,
Flesh eater,
Animal killer,
Nest hunter,
Human hater,
Blood liker.

Kangaroo by Sophie Taylor (aged 9)

Desert hopper,
Baby poucher,
Meat eater,
Hairy jumper,
Heat bearer,
Long pouncer,
Australian dweller.

Leopard by Jordan Webb (aged 10)

Deer hunter,
Deep sleeper,
Fast sprinter,
Meat muncher,
Water drinker,
Tree scratcher,
Fierce fighter,
Baby breeder.

Harris Hawk Kennings by Matthew Manning (aged11)

Low swooper,
High flyer,
Chick swallower,
Sharp clawer,
Food muncher,
Feathers loser,
Quick glider,
People attack,
Prey follower.

Shark by Brandon Bailey (aged 9)

Human eater,
Good swimmer,
Tail wager,
Blood drinker,
Fish lover,
Large creature,
Silent killer,
Great sniffer,
Hard biter,
Silver surfer.

Rabbit by Katie Vyse (age10)

Pink noser,
Fur cleaner,
Paw paddler,
Warm sleeper,
Person hider,
Fast runner,
Carrot gnawer,
Furry creature,
Bouncy hopper,
Big biter,
Flea piker,
Quick nibbler,
Lovely digger,
Cage escaper,
Carrot eater,
Smooth furrer,
Sharp scratcher,
High jumper,
Fluff tailer.

Wolf by Dana Craddock (aged 9)

Moon howler,
Rabbit eater,
Deep sleeper,
Slow walker,
Fox hater,
Fast runner,
Sharp clawer,
Bullet dodger.

Monkey by Scott McDonald

Poo thrower,
Good swimmer,
Good helper,
Powerful climber,
Nit picker,
Clown funnier,
Banana lover,
Car climber.

Kenning Poem by Mitchell Banning (age 9)

Teeth ripper,
Fast swimmer,
Blood sniffer,
Monkey eater,
Fast slasher,
Vicious attacker,
Scary looker,
Good sneaker.

Rabbit by Charlotte Aldridge (aged 9)

Hole digger
Carrot eater
Nose twitcher
Ear flopper
Home lover
Tail fluffer
Good hider
Home wrecker
Short sniffer
Good scratcher

Monkey Kenning by Kieren Westbury (aged 10)

Clumsy jumper
Crunchy eater
Brilliant swinger
Cosy lover
Cheeky joker
Determined fruit eater
Awful singer

Rabbit by Zak Wilkins (aged 9)

Fair hopper
Nose twitcher
Hole digger
Carrot eater
Good listener
Fun player
Short sniffer

Monkey by Chanpreet Sodhi (aged 9)

Tree swinger
Wee shooter
Banana eater
Bum itcher
High climber
Claw grabber
Big smeller
Cheeky hider
Bug licker
Furious runner

Snake Kenning by Mattie Clegg (aged 10)

Mouse devourer
Tight coiler
Speedy snapper
Master slitherer
Skin shedder
Gap crawler
Super hisser
Power biter
Human hater!

Tiger Kenning by Jake Hallam

Prey hunter
Strong runner
Flesh eater
Jaw snapper

Cat Kenning by Jack McEnroe (aged 9)

Vicious biter
Rat hunter
Dog fighter
Mice eater
Garden wrecker
Brilliant smeller
Animal eater

Cheetah Kenning by Cameron Harvey (aged 10)

Fast hunter
Meat eater
Fast runner
Black spots
Good listener

Dog Kenning by Lauren Burrows (aged 9)

Bone licker
Mud roller
Mad barker
Cat chaser
Big snorer
Fast runner
Garden digger
Messy eater
Good dreamer
Face licker
Good sniffer
Tail wagger

Dog Kenning by Claire Jones (aged 9)

Cat hater
Tale wagger
Bone lover
Messy eater
Shoe chewer
Loud barker
Lovely guider
Lead puller

Pig Kenning by Sophie Bouher (aged 9)

Mud dipper
Tail twister
Snout sniffer
Messy eater
Four legger
High heeler
Smart smeller
Farm dweller

Elephant by Harry McCarthy (aged 9)

Big stomper
Leaf eater
Water splurter
Big creature
Noisy eater
Grey creature

Jaguar Kenning by Ash Rowe (aged 10)

Fast runner
Meat eater
Fierce growler
High jumper
Prey hunter
High sensor
Vicious killer
Happy snozzer

My Elephant Beverly by Sharon Wilde

My elephant Beverly
Treads awfully heavily.

Her skin is rubbery
And her smile is lovely.

She's super gigantic
Her dreams are romantic.

Yes, as big as a house
But scared of a mouse!

A mouth big enough for trees
But only chews on leaves.

As tall as a tower
Her trunk for a shower.

She loves to rumble
Like a Queen of her jungle!

My Cat Noah by Luca Wilde (aged 8)

He is golden and brown
And always has a frown.

We always give him fish
In his shiny silver dish.

He sleeps on my bed
When he's been fully fed.

When he's by a tree
He scratches a flea.

The Cat by Maiya Stewart (aged nearly 9)

Spike has a cat called Slash
He creeps along the hall way silently trying not to be seen.
He hears a squeak, he spins round ferociously.
He says, "I am nasty, I will kill anything in my path, violently."
He carries on prowling, he hears a scuttle, he repeats, "I am nasty, I will kill anything in my path, violently."
The mouse jumps! The cat screas like a girl, he sprints away and never returns.
"Job well done," the mouse mutters, "thankfully!"

Why The Bee Doesn't Take A Bath? by Meghna K (aged 12)

Have you ever seen a bee
That never takes a bath?
I do terribly hate it
Because I found it on my path!

I was surprised
Because it didn't sting me
And I'm sure you would be too
If you know something about a bee!
I soon learnt about the strange mystery
It was because it couldn't hear a blink
When his mother told him he had to sting
He thought she told him to stink!!

The Hair Bear! by Paige Collins (aged 11)

It's a kind of bear covered in hair,
Here, there and everywhere,
Some of it's blonde,
Some of it's black,
And some of it's brown around the back

It even has some red and blue,
And a bit of bright pink too,
Both of it's feet are purple and green,
It's the hairiest bear you've ever seen.

The hair bear is very crazy,
And it is rather lazy,
All day long it sits in its cave,
And when someone walks past it starts to misbehave.

If you get touched by this kind of bear,
You'll wake up tomorrow covered in hair!!!

The Zoo by Aislinn Weir (aged 8)

I went to the zoo one day and saw all the animals,
I tried to attack them by using my amazing tools,
My amazing tools are a stick and a stone,
But my dog chewed them like a bone,
They didn't work so I went to bed,
Then I remembered my snugly Ted,
I followed my trails into the zoo,
Then I heard a loud BOO!
It was the night guard who scared me to death,
I said I wanted to find the chef,
I was starving you see,
But I still haven't found my teddy,
I looked all around and on the stairs,
Then I found him with the bears,
I took him back home,
Then I gave him ice-cream with a cone,
I'll come back and I will scare,
Goodnight little naughty bear.

Night Eyes by Kate Whinnett (aged 10)

My night eyes flash in the undergrowth,
As the trees they sway in rhythm so slow.

My night eyes scan the dark night sky,
Looking for food in the air up high.

My night eyes glint at the sight of prey,
A meal that will last me a whole day.

My night eys close after filling a meal
For I am a wolf and I got my kill

Let Me Live by Amy Carnes

The darkness is closing in
Soon I will be gone
Why do I deserve this?
I've done nothing wrong.
I'm thrown in to a crate
I feel so cold and alone
I wonder what's next
The future is unknown.

Hundreds of others around me
Screaming for their parents
I know they will not come
They've been shot protecting us.
Everyday this happens
Innocent animals killed for money
Another day, another kill
It's not the one bit funny.
Do your self a favour
If not for you, for your future kids
Save us endangered animals
Please just let us live!

Dogs! by Caitlin Rose Goddard (aged 10)

Some dogs are soft and fluffy
Some dogs are very rough
Some dogs like to play a lot
Others can be tough…

Some dogs have a bad temper
Some dogs are very nice
Some dogs are very silly
Other dogs hunt mice…

Some dogs are very playful
Other dogs can be dumb
Some dogs are very clever
Most dogs want to have fun…

Some dogs are very smelly
Some dogs are very clean
But most dogs that I know of
Smell somewhere in between…

Some dogs are very thin
Some dogs are very fat
Some dogs are sometimes stupid…
I'd rather have a cat!

My Puppy by Andrés Díaz Marrero

I have a puppy
That loves the sea.
And although teeny weeny
He likes to swim.

He dives sometimes,
He plays with the ball.
And on his belly,
like a fish, he floats.

Though he is teeny weeny,
He is a crafty pup!
I'm proud of my puppy!
Oh my! What a dog!

Dylan by Amelia Blencowe

Dylan my dog
Jumped like a frog
When he saw food in my hand

He sat, he said please,
I fell to my knees
For I couldn't be bothered to stand

When I gave him the food
He changed his mood
Jumped up and bit my finger

I was not best pleased
So his collar I seized
And near his crate I failed to linger

Dogs by Sydney Kirschner (aged 9)

Some dogs are fluffy
Some dogs are tall
Some dogs are long & hairy
and some are small.

Some dogs are black
Some dogs are brown
All dogs make you happy
When you are down.

My Puppy by Andrés Díaz Marrero

I have a puppy
That likes the sea
And although teeny-weeny
He likes to swim.

He dives sometimes,
He plays with the ball
And like the fish
On his belly he floats.

Though he is teeny-weeny
He is a crafty pup!
I'm proud of my puppy!
Oh my! What a dog!

The Peacock by Amelia Katz

The peacock stands elegant and tall
His feathers around him in and elegant shawl
He looks around with moist brown eyes
Then tilts his head towards the skies
He spreads his tail in an elaborate display
The colours gleaming in sunlight's ray
His tail sparkles with jewelled fires
filled with opals, emeralds and sapphires
His beauty flies like a dart
To my eye and to my heart
I know that this stunning creation
Did not come from imagination
But mother nature in her glory
Made the peacock, and wrote its story.

A Day at the Vets by Lauren Burpitt (aged 7)

There is...
a Porcupine with the mumps,
a Camel who has grown 3 humps,
an Iguana who lost his foot
an Elephant who is covered in soot.

Then there is...
a Giraffe with a sore neck,
oh heck!
An Ant with an illness,
a Hippo with a sickness,
a butterfly caught in pipes
and a tiger who has lost his stripes

Oh what a day at the Vets!

Butterflies and Dragonflies by Ellie Griffiths (aged 9)

Red, orange, yellow and green;
tropical butterflies explorers have seen;
silky, shiny, elegant and smooth;
as they fly past me, their wings gracefully move.
Rulers of the pond humming quietly;
Every time I see them they make me happy;
patterned wings flapping very fast;
I smile happily as they all whiz past.
Butterflies fly, they have six legs;
on small plants they lay their eggs;
wings of butterflies have colours to share;
beautiful colours you can never compare.
Dragonflies, butterflies, all very pretty;
shame people catch them, oh what a pity.

SNAKES by Harry Lowndes (aged 9)

Snakes are fragile

Not to be played with

Agile, and some can

Kill, like a King Cobra

Elegantly

Slithering...

The Last Clouded Leopard by Coral Bradford (aged 8)

The last Clouded Leopard, abandoned & cold
No more in sight forever & eternity,
All of them poached & caged,
When this one dies they will be forgotten ,
Only looked -back at in history.

Poachers will come & take her to their land,
Chopped down is her land,
Her land becoming oh so far away,
Her misery uncontrollable,
Her freedom lost.

She does not have a hope now,
As she roars in deep anger & frustration,
She leans back in her cage as the light of the cameras flash on her starving body,
But soon there will be a different light,
One that will lead her to a different but better life.

Butterfly by R..Ellis (aged 9)

A butterfly flitting through the wood,
Happily flying as a butterfly should,
It lazily lies upon a leaf,
On a bed of soft grass that lies beneath.

A clump of boots and a scream of delight,
Her dark green bed flies out of sight,
She's being picked up by massive hands,
Into a jar she roughly lands.

Bumping, thumping in the jar,
The person who's got her is running far,
Her world is turning upside-down,
Now they're arriving in the town.

Her wings are torn,
and sadness is born,
Dreaming of that golden leaf
And all that grass lay beneath.

Weaker and weaker,
Meeker and meeker,
She sighs,
And dies.

My Hamster by Owen Reeman (Y2)

My Hamster is called Doris
She has a friend called Morris
She went to the park
To have a bark

She went crazy so I called Maisy
She saw a cat wearing a hat
She went red and went to bed

The Busy Penguin by Grace Harrison (aged 12)

The penguin waddled across the ice
to find some dinner that was nice.
He found a fish, two and three,
and took them home for his tea.

He fed his kids, and his wife.
A hunter came with a knife.
He squeaked and squeaked and waddled away,
and went searching for fish again next day.

Pluto's Imagination by Oneeb bin Nauman (aged 9)

Pluto, my pet dog, has a bright imagination
When he barks it's time for transformation
He has given me a new resolution
If I were you and you were me
There would be a lot of fun, I guarantee.
You would have gold hair, I'd have black.
I'd be sober, you'd be a jumping jack.
I'd have two legs, you'd have four
Imagine what wonders you will explore
It will give your life a glittering spark,
I'd sleep in your bed, when it is dark.
While you will stay awake all night and bark.

To The Birds by McKenna (aged 12)

On their perch,
Above the church,
It's a bird's-eye view.
Looking down
To see you frown,
As your shoe starts to untie.
Slowly, the bound laces pull apart,
Turning a blind eye,
To the fortuity and abnormality,
Of this work of art.
The hubbub,
The fret,
The fright,
It's all seen through this marvellous sight.
Which makes one wonder,
What secrets occupy the mind of a bird?
Do they see the children wander,
Marvelling at the secrets they've heard?
Do they feel the burden of a thousand stones,
Upon their shoulders and aching bones,
When they undoubtedly receive,
The whispered secret of Christmas Eve,
And cannot tell the younger souls?
Or is the common notion true?
Birds are merely moving landscapes,
They mean nothing to me or you.

The Last Tasmanian Tiger by Celina Macdonald

It roared as it roamed the small cage
And people were hurrying to see
They pushed and shoved each other
While the tiger just wished it could flee.

The last Tasmanian tiger
Stared open-mouthed at me
I looked back through the museum cage
And imagined when it was free.

The search for another continues
And everyone's making a fuss
But maybe it's best we don't find it
Maybe it's hiding from us.

My Dog's Paws by Chloe Polson (aged 8)

My dog's paws
Splashing through the
Puddles

My dog's paws
Running around the
Coffee table

My dog's paws
Jumping in the
Backyard

My dog's paws
Walking in my warm
Bed

Is there anywhere my dog's paws'
Haven't been?

The Rainbow Pup by Ciara Branwen Turner (aged 7)

When I was staying at St Anne's
I found a creature on the sand.

Hello, get me back to sea,
Because my mum will be calling me.

Okay, I said as I picked it up
Then I realised it was a rainbow pup.

When I put it back to sea
It said thank you for helping me.

Goodbye, but is this the end?
Of course it's not because we will meet again.

Petrified Pandas by Dylan Baker (aged 11)

Ten Petrified Pandas, one of them hid in a mine, he died out,
Unfortunately there were nine.
Nine Petrified Pandas, one fell off a crate,
Unfortunately there are only eight.
Eight Petrified Pandas, one went to heaven,
Unfortunately there are only seven.
Seven petrified Pandas, one got hurt by sticks,
Unfortunately there are six.
Six Petrified Pandas, one got stuck in a hive.
Unfortunately, there's only five.
Five Petrified Pandas, one fell flat on the floor.
Unfortunately there's only four.
Four Petrified Pandas one of them wanted to flee
Unfortunately, there's only three
Three Petrified Pandas, one of them swallowed a shoe
It's your fault there's only two.
Please help the pandas or they will be extinct.

For more animal poems visit the Poetry Zoo

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