CLiPPA 2025 – Shortlist Announced!
23 April, 2025The shortlist for this year’s CLiPPA (The CLPE Poetry Award) was announced today, Wednesday 23rd April, at a live, online event that was watched by thousands of school children from across the UK.
Now in its third decade, the CLiPPA was set up to highlight the best contemporary poetry for children and to ensure that poetry has a recognised place within children’s literature. Past winners of the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children include Valerie Bloom, Joseph Coelho, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay and Michael Rosen.
From effervescent rhymes for the very young to poetry adventures with a family of six and a boundary-pushing poetry dialogue, this year’s CLiPPA shortlist is rich and varied, featuring well-established poets as well as new voices in children’s poetry.
The five shortlisted titles were selected by an expert judging panel that included poet Roger McGough and Matt Goodfellow, author of last year’s CLiPPA-winning verse novel The Final Year.
Commenting on this year’s shortlist, Chair of Judges Roger McGough said: “I and my fellow judges had so many wonderful books to choose from and this year’s shortlist features beautifully illustrated books to fascinate and inspire young readers (or listeners), an important new voice, as well as old friends with new books. These five collections each have their own magic.”
The CLiPPA encourages schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils through its Shadowing Scheme, prompting poetry performances in classrooms across the country. Participating schools can download the free teaching resources and can also submit videos of their pupils performing their favourite poem for the chance to be part of the CLiPPA Award ceremony later this year.
Rebecca Eaves, Chief Executive of CLPE, said: “Poetry is part of every child’s life from their earliest days – whether they realise it or not – and it is a gateway to literacy for so many young readers and writers. Our judges have selected another magical shortlist for them. We know these collections will inspire wonderful Shadowing performances, and no doubt some superb writing too. We can’t wait to celebrate the shortlisted poets and the many children and teachers who love their work at this year’s CLiPPA Award ceremony at the National Theatre in June.”
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets!
The 2025 CLiPPA shortlist:
Wise Up! Wise Down! by John Agard and JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura (Walker Books). 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. (9+)
Let Sleeping Cats Lie by Brian Bilston (Macmillan Children’s Books). 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. (9+)
Big Red Dragon: Play-Rhymes Through the Year by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei (Otter-Barry Books). 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. (3+)
We Are Family: Six Kids and A Super-Dad by Oliver Sykes, illustrated by Ian Morris (Otter-Barry Books). Judges’ comments: 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. (9+)
Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Tor Freeman (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books). Indisputably original and ambitious, say the judges, this riveting collection introduces 75 tremendous words in clever rhymes that shout out to be read aloud. (7+)
The winner of the CLiPPA 2025 will be revealed at a special live-streamed award ceremony at the National Theatre on 20th June, where the young winners of the Shadowing Scheme competition will have the opportunity to perform alongside all the shortlisted poets.
