Little Thoughts Press Issue Fourteen: Traditions and Rituals featuring the poem "Dhol Drums" by Kerenza Peugniez. Kerenza Peugniez is a primary school music teacher in East London. She loves reading, writing, crisps, walks, quirky clothing and of course, music, singing and playing flute, gamelan and many other instruments. She first had a piece of music published at age 12 but is delighted, some 30 years later, to have poems published in Tyger, Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible

Little Thoughts Press Issue Fourteen: Traditions and Rituals featuring the poem "Peppers in His Pockets" by Diane Gonzales Bertrand. A quick glance at any book written by Diane Gonzales Bertrand shows a writer who grabs inspiration from her family life in San Antonio, Texas. She captured her experiences in her short story collection Upside Down and Backwards, in her novel The Ruiz Street Kids, and in her poetry book, The Taco Magician/El Mago de los Tacos. She is the auth

Little Thoughts Press Issue Fourteen: Traditions and Rituals featuring the poem "Raise the Rainbow Flag" by Mary E. Cronin Mary E. Cronin lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Her books include Trucks, Boots, and Bells, a poetry collection set in a busy city firehouse, and Like a Mother Bear, a picture book biography of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford. Mary’s poems have appeared in numerous children’s anthologies and in The New York Times. www.maryecronin.com. Little Thoughts Pre

Family Breakfast a half piece or whole piece of fat fluffy waffle drenched in golden syrup a slither of crispy bacon a couple of fat pork sausages a parent and grandparent laughing uncontrollably with the server My tummy rumbling with anticipation I wonder how long until breakfast will be here William Holmes is 8 years old and is a year 4 student at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. So many traditions and celebrations involve enjoying a meal with peopl

My Family and I When Eid arrives my family and I celebrate with our amazing friends Sometimes my mum invites friends to our home Other times, we gather up in a hall filled with many people We eat flavourful biryani and creamy sweet sheer khurma I wear a purple gharara stitched with delicate floral embroidery feeling bright and new But, sometimes I wonder will there be a year I will spend Eid alone? and will the generations after me celebrate Eid? and will my descendants celeb

Easter At Easter we go to the beach My family and I Mum tells me of when she did the cold plunge in Antarctica I wonder if the sea in New Brighton is as cold as Antarctica Jessica Pollard is 10 years old and is a student at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Visiting the beach sounds like such a fun and unique Easter tradition! Why does your family choose to celebrate the holiday this way? What kinds of things do you do at the beach together? How cold i

The Warmth of the Diya The vibrant diya It’s light flickers from the winds trying to extinguish it My hands shields it from the harsh winds coming for it It’s light shines in the cold darkness of the night Signifying the warmth of my loved ones Helping me through the darkness of my life I set it down outside my doorstep Luring good luck and love towards my house It’s light shines brighter now I think it’s gained strength And can now handle the cruel winds tormenting it Holi F

on the last day of school on the last day of school me, my brother and my dad go out to the scrumptious avonhead tavern I smell lovely fish’n’chips floating to my mouth I feel drool s l i d i n g down my chin I see people gobbling delicious doughnuts I hear people yapping as

there’s always something to do at a hockey game a crowd full of loud cheering a ball getting hit hard into a goal a team of speeding players a coach who encourages us to play like professionals on the field team mates running like 100 gazelles with me Kieran Beckingham is 8 years old and in year 4 at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Your poem wonderfully captures the energy and collaboration of a team sport. Why did you choose this topic as the focus

Chinese New Year a festival in spring the start of the year everyone celebrating people from around the world come back home to eat and share delicious beef dumplings happy children hopping away with red pockets from the elders filled with money and their best wishes Everyone laughing Everyone having a splendid time Ryan Cui is 8 years old and in year 4 at Te Paritō Kōwhai Russley School in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Your poem wonderfully demonstrates the way traditions bring joy

Little Thoughts Press Issue Thirteen: Head, Shoulders, Spleen and Nose with a sneak peek of the poem "Bald Lady" by Annelies Judson Annelies Judson is a children's author and poet from Aotearoa New Zealand. She loves cooking, cricket and her kids (not in that order). She also has alopecia, but that is neither hair nor there. Her debut picture book, Turkey Hurly-Burly, was released in 2025. You can find her at anneliesjudson.wordpress.com. Little Thoughts Press: Your poem "Bal

Reviewed by Jennifer Thomas Some people collect shells, comic books, or keychains. Shaun Jex collects tales about American creatures that most of us have never seen, “the type that people tell stories about while sitting around a campfire, or just before bedtime,” as he says at the start of his new poetry collection, A Catalog of Curious Creatures. He has written poems about 81 of these creatures, from the agropelter to the whirling whimpus. They lurk in just about every corn

Little Thoughts Press Issue Thirteen: Head, Shoulders, Spleen and Nose with a sneak peek of the story "Benny's Bellybutton" by Rachel Burrows. Rachel Burrows' writing for children can be found in Northern Gravy, The Toy, Tyger Tyger, Little Thoughts Press and The Dirigible Balloon. She is an Undiscovered Voices 2026 Winner and was also shortlisted for the Cheshire Novel Kids Prize 2025 and the Write Mentor Picture Book Writing Competition 2023. Her work was recently selected

Little Thoughts Press Issue Thirteen: Head, Shoulders, Spleen and Nose with a sneak peek of the poem "Esophagus" by Janice Scully. Janice Scully is a physician and loves to write for young people. Her stories have appeared in Highlights Magazine. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies including Thanku: Poems of Gratitude (Millbrook 2019) and If I Could Choose a Best Day (Candlewick 2025) and online, including, The Dirigible Balloon. Janice Lives in Upstate New York. L

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the story "The Perfect Collection" by Mary Munson. Mary Munson is a children’s author and early childhood special education teacher who believes the best stories make children laugh while helping them grow. Inspired by many years working with young children, she writes stories that nurture kindness, resilience, and joy while inviting readers to feel a sense of wonder about the world around them. Her boo

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the poem "Recycled Fashion" by Sarah Hetu. Sarah (Sezza) Hetu loves thunderstorms, beaches, rockhounding, and finding just the right word. Her poems and other writings may be found in several magazines, with a publication forthcoming in High Five . She won a young authors award for her story, “The Avocado Seed,” in elementary school, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She is grateful for her two magical c

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the story "Newsgirl" by Lauren N. Simmons Lauren N. Simmons is a writer who lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and daughter. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Cadet Quest , Deaf Devo , Focus on the Family (as a Hacks & Facts contributor), Keys for Kids/ Unlocked , Kosmeo , Pure in Heart Stories , and The Old Schoolhouse . Little Thoughts Press: Your story “Newsgirl” is

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the poem "Not One More Acre" by Melinda Szymanik Melinda Szymanik writes all sorts of things for children and most of them are poems and picture books. Her picture books are usually published in Aotearoa New Zealand where she lives, but a couple have appeared in the USA, including My Elephant is Blue (Flyaway Books, 2023). Her poems have been published in anthologies, and by The Toy , Paddler Press , The

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the poem Eli's House by Amanda McKenzie Amanda McKenzie is a children’s writer and poet, mother of two and library fanatic. Her poetry has been published in The School Magazine, Little Thoughts Press and The Dirigible Balloon . Her poem ‘Peacock Mantis Shrimp’ was joint winner of The Poets XYZ 'Big Things, Little Things' Poetry for Children competition in 2025. You can find her playing with words and

Little Thoughts Press Issue Twelve: Better Together with a sneak peek of the poem "Before My School" by Jenn Gaulding. Jenn Gaulding is a math and science educator and a picture book writer who believes even small exchanges of empathy and kindness make the world a better place. Jenn lives near Atlanta, GA, and is a member of the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge and SCBWI. In 2025, her short stories and poems were selected as finalists or runners-up in several kidlit writing comp