Win the books shortlisted for the 2025 CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award)
Now in its third decade, the CLiPPA is the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children and highlights the year’s best new poetry for children. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, Michael Rosen and Valerie Bloom as well as former Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho. Matt Goodfellow won the 2024 CLiPPA with the highly regarded verse novel, The Final Year, and is on this year’s judging panel.
Colossal words; effervescent rhymes for the very young; poetry adventures with a family of six; funny, touching poems about our pets; and a boundary-pushing poetry dialogue, this year’s CLiPPA shortlist is typically rich and varied, and “full of magic” says poet Roger McGough, Chair of Judges.
The five books are:
Wise Up! Wise Down by John Agard and JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura, Walker Books (9+)
Two extremely accomplished poets have a conversation in poems, riffing off on one another’s thoughts, going off at tangents and throwing their own new shapes. A boundary pushing collection that feels really different say the judges.
Let Sleeping Cats Lie, Brian Bilston, Macmillan (9+)
From a haiku composed by the poet’s dog to an experimental poem written by his cat, and an ode to scamster ‘Arry the ‘Amster, Brian Bilston’s collection will amuse (and sometimes move) all readers. This collection made the judges laugh out loud and they know it will have the same effect on children.
Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Tor Freeman, Frances Lincoln (7+)
Indisputably original and ambitious, say the judges, this riveting collection introduces 75 tremendous words in clever rhymes that shout out to be read aloud.
Big Red Dragon by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei, Otter-Barry Books (3+)
There are poems for every season of the year in this liveliest of collections for youngsters, and lots of encouragement to join in. Bring your hands, your feet and your faces, say the judges and get ready to roar these poems off the page.
We Are Family by Oliver Skyes, illustrated by Ian Morris, Otter-Barry Books (9+)
In a first and deeply personal collection, Oliver Sykes presents poems about growing up poor in a busy, loving single parent family, delivered with sustained energy and insight, and clear joy in rhyme. Authentic and convincing, this gives voice to children not heard enough, say the judges.
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 open now. Find out more and sign up!
Plus, to win a set of the five shortlisted books, simply email [email protected] with your name and address. Include World Book Day 2025 CLiPPA Competition in the title of your email.
The closing date is Tuesday 3rd June 2025.
Good luck!
The winner of this year’s CLiPPA will be announced at the CLiPPA Poetry Show, live onstage at the National Theatre, London on Friday 20 June.
The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Arts Council England.
The CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (clpe.org.uk)
