An invitation to make friends with poetry – shortlist for the CLiPPA 2024
At a live online event starring shortlisted poets and watched by thousands of school children across the UK, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) has announced the shortlist for the 2024 CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award), the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children.
Established 21 years ago, each year the CLiPPA highlights the best contemporary poetry for children. This year’s shortlist is particularly exciting, featuring outstanding new collections from both a past winner and frequently shortlisted poet; a carefully compiled anthology exploring the world of feelings; poems describing the everyday lives of young siblings in Guatemala, translated from Spanish; and an emotionally intense collection drawing on the poet’s experience as a wheelchair user after becoming paralysed following an accident.
The shortlisted collections are:
A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop by Kate Wakeling, illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon, Otter-Barry Books
My Heart is a Poem, various poets, various illustrators, Little Tiger Press
Balam and Lluvia’s House by Julio Serrano Echeverria, illustrated by Tolanda Mosquera, translated by Lawrence Schimel, The Emma Press
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, Otter-Barry Books
And I Climbed And I Climbed by Stephen Lightbown, illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin, Troika Books
Poet Liz Berry is chair of the 2024 judges and says, ‘We’re so excited to share this year’s CLiPPA shortlist with the world: five brilliant and very different books to enchant and transport young readers, listeners and dreamers. Each book on the shortlist is unique and offers something special: there are poems full of feeling, poems to make us laugh and dance, poems to help us see into the hearts and lives of others and feel changed. It’s wonderful to see poetry for children flourishing and to discover such diverse and inspiring voices at work. Here, children are equals and collaborators in the poetry magic-making, invited to keep poems as friends for the rest of their lives.’
With the announcement of the shortlist, the CLiPPA Shadowing opens too. Now a highlight on the calendar for many schools, the CLiPPA encourages classes to read shortlisted collections and choose a favourite poem to learn and work into a performance. CLPE create support materials for schools including videos with the poets. Over 40,000 children are expected to participate in the Shadowing this year.
The Shadowing Scheme is free and schools can register their interest to take part now.
The CLiPPA winner will be announced at the CLiPPA Poetry Show, live onstage at the National Theatre, Friday 12 July and receives £1,000. The award ceremony will also feature live poet readings from each shortlisted collection and the winning Shadowing performances too. Long-time CLiPPA supporter, former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell will live draw the event.
