Congratulations Kate Wakeling! Winner of CLiPPA 2017
August 1, 2017
Congratulations Kate Wakeling, winner of the CLiPPA 2017 (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) for her first collection for children, Moon Juice, illustrated by Elīna Brasliņa, published by The Emma Press.
Rachel Rooney, Poet and Chair of the CLiPPA 2017 judges praised the winning book; ‘Moon Juice is a book brimming with surprises. Some of the poems are playful, some are more thoughtful but all of them draw the reader into worlds that both delight and convince. Kate Wakeling tunes us into the musicality of words, the pauses between, and the white space on the page – making the poems equally pleasing to the eye as to the ear. This is a skilled and confident debut collection that demonstrates the power and breadth of poetry for children. Yes, Moon Juice is infused with subtle and unusual tastes and it refreshes – exactly as the title suggests.’
Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive, CLPE said: ‘At CLPE we know poetry offers a path to literacy learning for all children whatever their age, cultural background or personal experience. This is the 15th Anniversary of CLiPPA, our annual Poetry Award and I am thrilled to say that children’s poetry is thriving.’
Booked by Kwame Alexander, published by Andersen Press, was highly commended.
More than 1000 children took part in the 15th anniversary celebration for the award some of them performing on stage alongside the shortlisted poets at the National Theatre.
Thank you to the Emma Press who have created this teaching special resource for National Poetry Day based on Kate’s poem I Found a Dinosaur Under the Shed.