The new UK Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, is to chair the judging of a poetry competition organised by the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf, a poetry book club for young people run by the Poetry Book Society. To link with the UK’s National Poetry Day on Thursday 4 October, children from across the world will be asked to write a poem in English no longer than 25 lines on the theme of ‘Dreams’.

Schools and individuals will be able to enter the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf Competition via the CPB website www.childrenspoetrybookshelf.co.uk or by post. Entry is free.

The Competition, which is supported by Old Possums Practical Trust, is open to both individual children and schools, with cash prizes and books being awarded in two age groups, 7- 8 year olds and 9 -11 year olds (with £250 for the first prize winner, £100 for the second prize winner and £50 for the third prize winner). The winning children’s schools will also receive CPB memberships.

A teachers’ guide to accompany the competition is available to download from the Children’s Poetry Bookshelf website www.childrenspoetrybookshelf.co.uk

The winners will be announced at a gala celebration at the Unicorn Theatre in London in December, hosted by Michael Rosen.

Michael Rosen was appointed to the prestigious post of Children’s Laureate on 11 June, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to children’s literature. On accepting the two-year post, he said: ‘I think poetry for children needs to be saved from the cold dissection table of right and wrong answers and put back into rooms and halls full of wonder, compassion, haunting, laughter, music and rhythm. We need to hear its many voices, many cultures, many sounds.’

The Children’s Poetry Bookshelf is a unique children’s poetry book club for 7-11 year-olds run by the Poetry Book Society www.poetrybooks.co.uk. Aimed at 7-11 year olds, their parents, grandparents, schools and libraries, it encourages young people to read more poetry by selecting and sending to members the best children’s poetry books which are being published in the UK and Ireland. A gift membership is available, sent straight to the child. www.childrenspoetrybookshelf.co.uk

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