Chiswick Book Festival has launched a new Young People’s Poetry competition for children and teens aged 8 to 13 years.

Young people are invited to set their imaginations free and write a poem at home, or at school, about whatever appeals to them. Those who would like a theme can write about ‘Summer Time’.

Michael Morpurgo will open The Chiswick Book Festival on Friday 16th September 2011. The six Young People’s Poetry Competition prize winners (one for each year group) will be awarded their prizes at the festival, after the author's talk to children at 5pm on Friday 16th September.

Just Write It!

The Competition is free and open to young people aged between 8-13 years on the closing date 31st August 2011. You can enter via your school or individually – see www.chiswickbookfestival.org for details and entry forms. (Please note: the closing date for school entries is 31st July 2011).

A Children’s Laureate (2003-2005), and writer of over one hundred books including War Horse, Kensuke’s Kingdom and Private Peaceful, Michael Morpurgo is one of the nation’s favourite authors.

A former teacher, Michael has long been a champion of children’s writing and literacy. Last month he joined with sixteen other well-loved writers, including Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett and Jilly Cooper, to raise money for the National Literacy Trust.

July 7, 2011