'Leap' Poetry for Children Competiton

Posted: Tuesday Jul 16, 2024

The nationwide competition is for adults who write poetry for children. Entries close Friday 2nd August 2024

A national competition for adults who write poetry for primary school-aged children. The competition theme is “leap” and can be interpreted as widely as contestants like. Judge is renowned children’s writer, Bill Nagelkerke.

• First prize: $50 and a digital poster of the winning poem designed by award winning illustrator Vasanti Unka.

• Second prize: $35 book voucher.

• Third Prize: $20 book voucher.

The competition is run by The Poets XYZ—a trio of New Zealand writers, Elena de Roo, Kathryn Dove, and Melinda Szymanik, who are keen to see poetry for children flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand and to develop a network of children’s poets.

Entry Details:

• Free entry.

• Open to anyone in New Zealand aged 18 years and over.

• Poems should be aimed at 5-12 year olds.

• Up to three poems can be submitted on the theme of “leap”.

• Limit of 25 lines per poem.

• Entries can be emailed to thepoetsxyz@gmail.com with ‘Leap Poetry Competition Entry’ in the subject line.

• Poems should be in a single, unnamed Word document. In the body of your email please include an author bio (up to 100 words) and 2-3 sentences about why you write poetry for children.

• Please read the full entry criteria on The Poets XYZ Facebook page before submitting (link in Further Info).

Submission Dates: 29 June 2024 – 2nd August 2024. Winning poem announced on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, 23rd August 2024.

Contact: thepoetsxyz@gmail.com

Further Info: see The Poets XYZ on Facebook