FIVE LITTLE FRIENDS SHORTLISTED FOR CLPE POETRY AWARD (aka the CLiPPA)

Posted on 20th April 2026

The shortlist for the 2026 CLPE Poetry Award (aka the CLiPPA) has been announced, and my collection of finger rhymes, FIVE LITTLE FRIENDS, is one of the shortlisted books.

Here’s the shortlist in full:

A FIRST BOOK OF BUGS by Simon Mole, illustrated by Adam Ming, Walker Books

THE POETRY WORLD OF JOHN AGARD by John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, Otter-Barry Books

PRESS START TO PLAY by Sam Gayton, illustrated by Jack Noel, Andersen Press

THIS IS NOT A SMALL VOICE: POEMS BY BLACK POETS edited by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Jade Orlando, Nosy Crow

FIVE LITTLE FRIENDS: A COLLECTION OF FINGER RHYMES by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock, Walker Books

The CLiPPA is a unique award which does the valuable, and much-needed, job of raising the profile of poetry for children in the UK.

On the back of the shortlisting, CLPE had me into their London base to record a sequence of videos about various aspects of writing poetry. We also recorded films of me performing poems from FIVE LITTLE FRIENDS. Click here to see the videos. And this content is part of an absolute treasure box of videos featuring an array of children’s poets from recent decades performing and talking about their work. Follow this link. If you’re interested in poetry for children, you won’t be disappointed.

Also – in response to the shortlisting – I’ve written a piece about poetry and its importance for children. It’s published on CHILDREN’S POETRY SUMMIT here.

So hat raised to the CLiPPA organisers for making the award happen each year, and for giving poetry for young readers a great big boost!