It’s National Poetry Day on Thursday but here on the Guardian children’s books site we love poetry so much we thought, why spend just a day celebrating it? Let’s dedicate a whole week to the joy of verse and rhyme and rhythm!
We’ve got all sorts in store - watch poets reading poems, listen to a performance poet podcast and get tips on how to perform poetry yourself. More into writing it? We’ve got tips for that too. How about discussing it? Yep, we’ve got that covered with blogposts from poets, authors and, of course, site members on all aspects of poetry from loving it to hating it (and then discovering that you love it, really, of course). Are you a poet knowitall? We’ve a quiz to test for that... And there’s news this week too, with the announcement of the Foyles’ Young Poet of the Year (we’ll be featuring the winner and their poem) and the new Young Poet Laureate...
To keep track of all the exciting stuff coming up this week here’s an overview of what’s planned. We’ll be adding live links to this list as features are published so keep checking back.
Happy versing!
Monday 5 October
Watch Michael Rosen read his poem We Can from A Great Big Cuddle
Read this! Nick Sharratt’s poem Posh Paint from Vikings in the Supermarket
Book Doctor recommends the best poetry for a 10 year-old who has grown out of poetic picture books and is too young for teen and adult poetry (and asks for your recommendations by Twitter @GdnChildrensBks or by email childrens.books@theguardian.com for the best poetry books for all ages!)
Blog post: why is there so much poetry in YA/teen lit?
Tuesday 6 October
Watch Michael Rosen read Angry, a poem from A Great Big Cuddle
James Dawson How I stopped hating poetry and became a poet
Read poems from Sally Gardner and Ros Asquith on dyslexia (as it’s dyslexia week as well!)
Wednesday 7 October
Watch Michael Rosen read I Am Hungry, a poem from A Great Big Cuddle
Poet Roger Stevens gives his tips for writing a poet on a theme
Find out who the new Young Poet Laureate London is - and what they’ll be doing
Discover Liz Brownlee’s “light poems” project - watch a fire dancer read a fire poem!
Thursday 8 October - National Poetry Day!
Watch Michael Rosen read his poem Boing Boing! from A Great Big Cuddle
Test your knowledge of classic children’s poetry in our quiz
Listen to a podcast with amazing performance poet Joseph Coelho
Announcement: Foyles’ Young Poet of the year winners!
Find out the National Poetry Day Ambassadors’ top 10 poems about light
Friday 9 October
Watch Michael Rosen read a poem from A Great Big Cuddle
Blog post: discovering poems in unexpected places
Poet Paul Cookson’s tips for reading poetry aloud
Competition: win a set of Puffin Poetry books
Remember keep checking back on this page as live links will be added as the poems, blogs, galleries etc go live!