Collected Animal Poems Volume 1: The Iron Wolf

Author: Hughes, Ted

Published by Faber & Faber, 1995

Illustrated by Chris Riddell

The collection is dedicated to Hughes's sister and brother, Olwyn and Gerald.

Typical for collections by Ted Hughes, some poems originally published in collections for adults drift into collections of poems for children and vice versa. The books come with a subject index which will be useful for teachers and parents looking for poems about particular animals.

Volume 1, The Iron Wolf collects poems from:

• The Mermaid's Purse (22 out of 28 from the original collection),
• The Cat and the Cuckoo (26 out of 28),
• Moon-Bells,
• Under the North Star,
• River,
• Flowers and Insects and
• Crow ("Crow's Elephant Totem Song").

Two poems are previously uncollected.

It is a very good and enjoyable collection. This volume aims specifically at children.

The Iron Wolf is also available on the Faber/Penguin Audio Tape Nessie the Mannerless Monster and The Iron Wolf.

Contents:

Note: The poems listed as uncollected are actually from The Mermaid's Purse and Moon-Bells ("Ants", 1986 ed.); "Spider" is the only 'new' poem.

• Amulet
• The Mermaid's Purse
• Limpet
• Whale
• Conger Eel
• Lobster
• Sandflea
• Cormorant
• Whelk
• Heron
• Starfish
• Sea Anemone
• Crab
• Jellyfish
• Ragworm
• Octopus
• Blenny
• Flounder
• Shrimp
• Gull
• Hermit Crab
• Mussel
• Seal
• The Osprey
• Fantails
• Worm
• Thrush
• Otter
• Owl
• Dragonfly
• Snail
• The Red Admiral
• Ram
• Stickleback
• Toad
• Robin
• Cow
• Peacock
• Pig/ 39 Sparrow
• Mole
• Donkey
• Goat
• Pike
• Squirrel
• Crow
• Hen
• Shrew
• Cat
• Cuckoo
• The Heron
• The Wolverine
• Brooktrout
• The Snow-shoe Hare
• Ants
• The Arctic Fox
• Woodpecker
• The Moorhen
• Wolf
• Eagle
• Mooses
• Puma
• Phoenix
• The Musk Ox
• Goose
• The Honey Bee
• Grizzly
• In the Likeness of a Grasshopper
• Spider
• Crow's Elephant Totem Song [Crow poem]