Aardvark Day

Vicky Gatehouse is an awardwinning poet and children’s writer, based in Yorkshire. She originally trained as a zoologist and loves to write about animals and nature. Vicky’s poems for children have appeared in Tyger Tyger, The Toy, Little Thoughts Press, Northern Gravy, and various Pan Macmillan anthologies. She was Highly Commended for the Caterpillar Prize, 2025. A pamphlet of Vicky’s poetry for adults, The Mechanics of Love, published by Smith | Doorstop, was selected as a ‘Laureate’s Choice’ by Carol Ann Duffy in 2019, and her debut adult’s collection, The Hawthorn Bride was published by Indigo Dreams in 2024.

• Poem for a PebbleThe Tree and MeCreaturely CacophonyFairy ArmadilloA Rockpool is...Aardvark DayBeluga SongOctopus SkinHow to Be a DragonflySloth on Sports DayDog vs CatThe Butterfly LeavesThe Footprints of ElephantsPlanet Earth in ReversePlanet Earth In Reverse (mirror poem)My Litter-PickerA Weed in NeedInterview with a Leaf Sheep Sea SlugBaby RaysJelly Alarm!The Smallest Bird in the WorldWhite Egret and Black RhinoPoem for a Tear-Drinking MothTruly Strange Mushroom NamesI Have a Liking for Lichen BecauseBee PurpleBamboo StewPoem for PeatWhich Frog Superpower Would You Choose?A Lizard Has Two ModesHope is a HedgerowAdvice from the MinibeastsOtter PocketsWrite your own poems!AcknowledgementsAbout the authorAbout the illustrator