Alexander and Rooney shortlisted for CLiPPA poetry prize

Five poets, including Kwame Alexander and Rachel Rooney, are shortlisted for this year’s CLiPPA Poetry Award, given annually by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE).

Alexander is shortlisted for the coming-of-age verse novel Rebound (Andersen Press), and Rooney for her school-based poetry collection A Kid in My Class (Otter-Barry Books). Also on the shortlist are Steven Camden’s Everything All At Once (Macmillan Children’s Books), Philip Gross’ latest collection, Dark Sky Park (Otter-Barry Books), and Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me (Tiny Owl) by Eloise Greenfield.

Author A F Harrold, who chaired this year’s judging panel, said: ““For five judges, coming at this from five different directions, it was a relief to see that there was some crossover and agreement on what ‘a good book of poetry for kids’ looked like. The shortlist we came up with pleased us for its range, both of writers, intended age groups and subject matter.”

The judges also gave special mention to England Poems From A School (Picador), edited by Kate Clanchy, written by girls at a comprehensive school in Oxford.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the National Theatre in central London on Wednesday 3rd July 2019.

Louise Johns-Shepherd, chief executive at CLPE said: “At CLPE we want to make poetry integral to the school curriculum and for it to be in every school, classroom, library, corridor and book bag. This shortlist – selected from the biggest number of submissions in the award’s history - shows such a range and breadth of what poetry for children is and can be and recognises a real variety of voices and styles.  We look forward to more children, teachers and schools discovering these works through our shadowing scheme.”

The winner of CLiPPA 2019 will be announced at a ceremony at the National Theatre in central London on Wednesday 3rd July 2019.