All Things Weird and Wonderful

By Stewart Henderson

Another collection of quirky, thought-provoking and highly entertaining poems from a performance poet with an increasing fan base.

In this collection Stewart Henderson takes a sideways look at creation - from the depths of the sea, to the breadth of the earth, and the realms of space and sky - and featuring many aspects of the animal world. The poems are often shown from the perspective of a child (answering curious questions, or helping children to understand more about their place in the universe). 

Poems include short humorous verses, longer narrative poems and the poet's inimitable 'wry thoughts'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lion Children's Bks
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9780745978697

Stewart Henderson

Stewart Henderson is a poet, broadcaster and songwriter. The Sunday Times described his children's poetry as 'essential reading'. He presented 'Questions Questions' for ten years for BBC Radio 4, and has originated and presented many social history documentaries for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, and BBC World Service. Stewart has also presented, and contributed to some of the BBC Radio 4's 'crown jewels' such as From Our Own Correspondent, Pick Of The Week, Something Understood, Broadcasting House, Saturday Live, PM, iPM and Four Thought. His documentary,'The Holy Fire', made on location in Israel, won the Jerusalem Radio Award for Best Feature. Stewart also received a Sony Radio Award nomination for his documentary, 'From Hairnets To Goalnets', about the first ever women's football team formed during the First World War - The Dick, Kerr Ladies. As a songwriter, Bob Harris of BBC Radio 2, praised the "lyrical intelligence" of Stewart's lyrics.

Book preview

Always making things

I made the splash,

the whirlpool, the surf,

the wonder of thunder,

the sounds of the earth.

I formed the egg,

the armpit, the pear,

the parrot, the carrot,

the goat’s glassy stare.

I shaped the twig,

the walrus, the stoat,

the leopard, the shepherd,

the toad’s puffing throat.

I breathed the bud,

the iris, the haze,

the tiger, the Eiger,

the ticking of days.

I thought the sprout,

the cactus, the deep,

the blossom, the possum,

the donkey asleep.

I grew the sap,

the desert, the dawn,

the eagle, the beagle,

the mown summer lawn.

I dreamt the wren,

Orion, the kiss,

the moose and the goose and

the cat’s arch-backed hiss.

I made the ant,

the vastness, the dew –

But the best of my heart

and the height of my heart

and the light of my heart

was

when I made you.

Above us…

Space is ace

Space is ace

mysterious

above

beyond

around

the universe is singing

this huge, galactic sound

as Venus, Neptune, Jupiter

in three-part harmony

read stars as crochets, quavers,

arranged by Mercury.

Space is ace

astonishing

expanding

going on

to who knows where.

The later place?

The birth room of the sun?

Up there

are many guesses

of untamed territory,

a stellar census we can’t count,

a wild tranquillity.

Moon message

New,

First Quarter,

Full,

Last Quarter,

torch,

reflective

flare,

in the twinkling ink

of winter

breathing

without

air.

Changing places

The day is disappearing,

she’s off to meet the night

where she will share with darkness

the present that is light,

like sunrise, sparkling oceans,

the middle of July,

the oak tree and the blue jay,