Today, CLPE (the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) announced postponement of its CLIPPA (Poetry Award process. As the press release below explains, the award is very dependent upon the participation of schools via its shadowing scheme and the decision has therefore been taken to postpone the process until the autumn, by which time it’s hoped that schools will have reopened. 

Press release:

The CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award) is one of the highlights of the year for CLPE, a uniquely important part of our work to promote literacy. What’s more, thanks to support from our sponsors Arts Council England (ACE) and ALCS; the backing of publishers, poetry organisations, poets, illustrators and our friends at the National Theatre; and the enthusiasm of schools and teachers, it has become the UK’s most high profile celebration of poetry for children. We are very aware of just how much schools value and enjoy the shadowing scheme and the opportunity to be involved, which is why the shadowing and the special ceremony at the National Theatre have become such a key part of CLiPPA.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to make changes to the announcement of the 2020 shortlist and the launch of this year’s shadowing.  Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive of the CLPE, explains: “Unlike most awards, the CLiPPA is very much a team project, bringing poets and their audience together to explore and celebrate poetry.  We want to wait therefore until children and teachers are back together in their classrooms before launching the 2020 award. By then too the National Theatre will be open again to host another rousing and inspirational CLiPPA award ceremony.

There’s one other equally important reason for our delay: Michael Rosen is chair of the 2020 judging panel and as most people know, Michael is currently ill with suspected coronavirus.  We wish him a full recovery and know that everyone will agree with our decision to wait before proceeding with this year’s CLiPPA.”

CLPE’s commitment to poetry is unchanged and there are a wealth of resources for schools to use on the Poetryline pages of the CLPE website.

For further information about the award and the shadowing scheme please visit https://www.clpe.org.uk/poetry or contact Sarah James sarah@clpe.org.uk / 020 7401 3382

 

These are the only national book awards which are judged by teachers, and this year the selections reflect newly-introduced  judging criteria that called for the selection to be from a “wide and inclusive range” of publishers and for books which “recognise a broad range of perspectives, experiences and voices”. Small imprints dominating the selections in each of the four categories.

There is a new category of Information Books 3- 14+.

12 teachers nominated from the 70 involved in the shortlisting will now form the final judging panel and have the challenging task of reading all the shortlisted books in all categories. Plans for the final judging meeting have had to adapt to the constraints imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic and the winner’s announcement will be postponed until later in the year. 

The Shortlists in full

3-6

Mixed  written and illustrated by Arree Chung (Macmillan)

The Suitcase    written and illustrated by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros (Nosy Crow)

Lubna and Pebble written by Wendy Meddour illustrated by Daniel Egnéus (OUP)

Julian is a Mermaid written and illustrated by Jessica Love (Walker Books)

If All the World Were.. written by Joseph Coelho illustrated by Allison Colpoys (Frances Lincoln)

The Visitor written and illustrated by Antje Damm translated by Sally-Anne Spencer (Gecko Press)

 

7-10+

Slick written by M.M.Vaughan ( Alma Books)

The Eleventh Trade written by Alyssa Hollingsworth (Piccadilly Press)

Race to the Frozen North written by Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickie (Barrington Stoke)

The Legend of Kevin written and illustrated by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (OUP)

The Middler written by Kirsty Applebaum(Nosy Crow)

Armistice Runner written by  Tom Palmer (Barrington Stoke)

 

11-14+

No Fixed Address written by  Susin Nielsen (Andersen Press)

Toffee written by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

Catching Teller Crow  written by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullin ( Penguin)

Lenny’s Book of Everything written by Karen Foxlee (Pushkin Press)

The Skylark’s War written by Hilary McKay (Macmillan)

Pay Attention Carter Jones written by Gary D. Schmidt (Andersen Press)

 

Information Books 3 -14+

Mary and Frankenstein written by             Linda Bailey and illustrated by Jũlia Sardὰ, (Andersen Press)

A Book of Bears written and illustrated by   Katie Viggers (Laurence King)

A Child of St.  Kilda written and illustrated by Beth Waters (Child’s Play)

Counting on Katherine written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Dow Phumiruck   (Macmillan)

Questions I am asked about the Holocaust        written by Heidi Fried   ( Scribe)

Once Upon a Raindrop written by James Carter and illustrated by Nomoco(Caterpillar Books)