One lucky reader can win a set of the five books shortlisted for the 2023 CLiPPA Award.
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the CLiPPA is the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard, Jackie Kay and Michael Rosen. Valerie Bloom won in 2022 with her collection Stars with Flaming Tails.
The 2023 shortlist epitomises the best in poetry publishing for children. Here are books to share as gifts, to explore in class, for families to enjoy together, for young people to take to their hearts; and all containing poems that will become lifelong companions.
Current Waterstones Children’s Laureate and former CLiPPA winner, Joseph Coelho, is included with his collection for the very young, Blow a Kiss, Catch a Kiss, alongside celebrated US poets Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek with Marshmallow Clouds, illustrated by Richard Jones. Matt Goodfellow makes his third consecutive appearance on the CLiPPA shortlist with Let’s Chase Stars Together, and Nikita Gill features for the second time in three years, this time for her collection These are the Words. Nicola Davies’ powerful examination of the refugee experience, Choose Love has also been selected.
The five books are:
Blow a Kiss, Catch a Kiss by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Nicola Killen, Andersen Press.
Choose Love by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horáček, Graffeg.
These are the Words by Nikita Gill, Macmillan Children’s Books.
Let’s Chase Stars Together, by Matt Goodfellow, Bloomsbury Education.
Marshmallow Clouds by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, illustrated by Richard Jones, Walker Books.
Illustrator, former Children’s Laureate and poetry anthologist Chris Riddell, who is chair of the judges, said, ‘Judging the CLIPPA this year was both fascinating and uplifting. The submissions reflected the wealth of talent in the field of children’s poetry and an increasing quality in design and production.’
As well as celebrating outstanding poetry, the CLiPPA encourages schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils through its unique Shadowing Scheme, which each year prompts poetry performances in hundreds of classrooms. The Shadowing Scheme is free for schools and launches on 15 May 2023. Schools can register their interest to take part now.
The winner of the award will be announced at the CLiPPA Poetry Show, live onstage at the Olivier, the largest of the National Theatre’s three theatres, on Monday 10 July.
To win a set of the five shortlisted books, simply email poetry@clpe.org.uk with your name and address. Include World Book Day 2023 CLiPPA Competition in the title of your email.
The closing date is Monday 12 June 2023.
Good luck!
The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Arts Council England.
