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Kathryn Apel is an Aussie children’s author who writes too much. She paints pictures with words, because much as she’d love to, Kat can’t draw. Kat’s goal is to find the perfect word for every situation. Sometimes that’s a lot harder than you think!

Click the tabs above to find out more about The Kat’s Whiskers and her words. Read about Kat’s Books, with links to reviews & activities. Check out Kat’s Blog about life and writing – with emphasis on picture books & poetry. Under the Kid’s Stuff tab you’ll find activities to download for home & classroom use. Or you can Buy Books.

Kathryn presents poetry workshops for kids and adults – and staff professional development sessions across grades and curriculum areas. Book now for 2018!

Information and images on this website are copyright Kathryn Apel.

Abecedarian – Tree to be…

Each month, Michelle puts out a poetry challenge on Today’s Little Ditty. And this month was no exception. Write an Abecedarian poem, which is an acrostic-type poem working through the alphabet – in alphabetical order. Usually life is so busy, the month has whisked past before I get to try the challenge – but this … Continue reading →

Calling Home – Calling Memories

Adrienne Williams is an artist in the Bundaberg-region who I met recently through my involvement in the Text as Art project – a part of WriteFest and the 2017 Crush Festival. Adrienne is in fact going to be creating the art from a portion of the text I have written – but that’s another story! (Click … Continue reading →

Quoting the Kids

A little child shall lead them – up the garden path! I toyed with posting these poems for last week’s play-based learning post… until I remembered my dress-ups poem and Soapy Sid. But these were too cute to keep – so why not share them this week, instead? Poems inspired by gorgeous things my boys … Continue reading →

Poetry Friday – Child’s Play

Welcome to the Poetry Friday Round-up. This is my first time hosting the Poetry Friday crew – and using a linky widget – so I sure am hoping it’s going to work first go! Last week I posted some pics and collages from my experiences of Book Week in Australia. I mentioned that I was … Continue reading →

Going Places With Books

It’s Book Week in Australia. A celebration of children’s books and children INTO books, as we ‘Escape to Everywhere’. Here are some things that had me smiling this week. I’m sure I’ve missed something – but I’ve probably consumed enough of your time (and megs!) already. Hoping that you’ve enjoyed a snippet of my week … Continue reading →

Book Week Costumes

Book Week is this week – and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably just starting to think about costumes. Don’t panic! I’ve got your covered, with quick and EASY ideas for each of my verse novels. That gives you more time to do what we all love best, right? READ!! Enjoy! 😀 SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave … Continue reading →

Mr Ferris Wheel – National Science Week

Inspired by National Science Week, I’m sharing a found poem, taken from the picture book, ‘Mr Ferris and His Wheel’ – a book that I borrowed as much for my late-teenaged sons as for myself. They’re both so busy with studies at the moment that a picture book is about all they have time for! … Continue reading →