Jackie Kay, winner 2008 with John Agard, winner 2009

The CLPE Poetry Award for a book of poetry for children was launched by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education in 2003. Previous winners have included John Agard, Grace Nichols, Roger McGough and Jackie Kay.

In establishing this award we wanted to highlight an important branch of children’s literature and ensure that it receives proper recognition. The award is presented annually for a book of poetry published in the preceding year.

The Poetry Book Society said, “ The annual CLPE Prize for Children’s Poetry is a most welcome initiative and deserves the support of all organisations and individuals concerned with the promotion of poetry. Celebrating the best new work produced for young readers and drawing the public and media focus towards the winning book, the Prize will place children’s poetry firmly in the literary limelight, imbuing it with some long overdue prestige and encouraging the growth of a knowledgeable, critical, enthusiastic poetry readership of the future”.