Today the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) announced the shortlist for the 2025 CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award). Now in its third decade, CLiPPA is the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children and highlights the year’s best new poetry for children.
This year's judging panel included National Treasure Roger McGough, The Times children’s books editor, Lucy Bannerman; teacher Saira Bano; playwright and Marketing Manager at writing and educational charity First Story, Annette Brook; and former winner and poet, Matt Goodfellow.
Chair of the judges, poet 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. We are delighted now to hand these vibrant verses over to children and watch them make them their own through the CLiPPA Shadowing scheme.”
Matt Goodfellow, winner of the CLiPPA 2024 with The Final Year added: “The best children’s poetry allows children to explore their world, their feelings, their own emotions, but it also gives them space to be creative, to play with words and language. The collections we have chosen to shortlist do all of this brilliantly. There are poems that will speak to children directly about their lives, and others that are simply gloriously silly and rule breaking, or that will have children on their feet and joining in. I can’t wait to see the entries to this year’s Shadowing competition, and how children make the poetry on this list their own.”
We're delighted to reveal the CLiPPA shortlist 2025 is:
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.
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.
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.
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.
The winner will be announced on Friday 20th June at an event at The National Theatre, London.
Check out our Children's Poetry Corner for 25% off all these beautiful books.