On the surface, writing poetry for children might seem like an uphill battle.

Local poet, author and performer Harry Laing, however, has made a career out of it. He’s made his craft appealing to younger audiences by following a golden rule.

“The secret is I’m channelling my inner big kid,” he told Canberra Daily.

“I’m just writing about what delights me, what makes me laugh, and what makes me reflect with that excitement, energy, and enthusiasm.”

His third book of poetry for children aged 6-12, titled Rapper Bee, is slated for release on 1 October.

Filled with 65 offerings and “fabulous” black and white illustrations completed by Anne Ryan, Laing said that withs lots of different sounds and rhythms, the works have been written to be heard and performed.

“That’s really important for me,” he said. “I do a lot of work in schools, particularly in Canberra, and that’s what the kids love hearing.

“They’re poems that give you a buzzing mixture of fun raps, chants and songs; it’s a lot of fun.”

The anthology has been assembled to engage with an array of themes and subjects designed to tap into the rich imaginations of children.

“I think that’s what’s special about poetry, you can engage with absolutely everything and anything,” Laing said.

“I’ve got some favourites like cheese, sausages, giant kelp, ‘I wanna be a wombat’, the life of a dollar coin … all kinds of stuff!”

Alongside Rapper Bee and his other children’s poetry anthologies, Laing is also an accomplished “adult” poet, with three published collections for grown-ups.

He first started writing children’s poetry around 20 years ago. Working he schools he accumulated poems over time before self-publishing his first book, Shoctopus – poems to grip you, in 2015.

He followed that up with 2019 release MoonFish, published by Ford St, a poetry picture book with art by sixteen Australian illustrators.

Based just outside the NSW village of Braidwood, Laing has been sharing his work with children throughout the Canberra region for years. The latest lockdown has forced him to shift his performances online.

“It is different,” he said, “facing the screen putting out a lot of energy, you’ve got to be extra strong to get it through the ether, but I enjoy doing it.”

An online launch event for Rapper Bee will take place Sunday 19 September, while the book will be available from 1 October; visit bookcow.com.au/rapper-bee for more.

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