Poetry

Renae has poems in the collections below.

If I Could Eat The Stars

Edited by Rebecca Newman and Sally Murphy; illustrated by Briony Stewart

Published by Fremantle Press and Alphabet Soup Books, May 2026
ISBN: 9781760996482

For age 6-11 years

Featuring poems by Renae Hayward

Illustrated by Briony Stewart, this is a collection of fun and relatable Australian poetry for middle readers, featuring poems by a mix of award-winning, established and brand new writers.

Defend a Goal with Sally Murphy, rocket through space with Amber Moffat or get radioactive with Cristy Burne. Walk the dog with Deb Fitzpatrick and play with your food with James Foley. Then … Barlay! (Watch out!) with Cheryl Kickett-Tucker.

With stellar illustrations by Briony Stewart and featuring shape poems, haiku, cinquain and free verse … these are poems to tickle your funny bone, make your belly rumble and keep you up at night.

Buy ‘If I Could Eat The Stars’

Right Way Down

Edited by Rebecca Newman and Sally Murphy; illustrated by Briony Stewart

Published by Fremantle Press and Alphabet Soup Books, March 2024
ISBN: 9781760993429

For age 9-12 years

Featuring the poems ‘Flight’ and ‘Sick’ by Renae Hayward

Stand on your head with Sally Murphy, explode some dynamite with Cristy Burne or shoot some hoops with Cheryl Kickett-Tucker. Grow a poet-tree with Meg McKinlay or curl up next to your cat with Amber Moffat and watch a bit of Stink-o-Vision with James Foley. These and loads more poems by Australian poets are there to discover in Right Way Down. With striking illustrations by Briony Stewart, these poems will have you laughing, thinking, and playing with words – whichever way up you read them.

Download free Teaching Notes (pdf)