National Poetry Day is the biggest mass celebration of poetry in the UK and a chance for all of us to share in the pleasure of poetry. This year it took place on Thursday 2nd October and it was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm for poetry for children being celebrated within the online community. It would be a shame if this joyful participation was confined to just one day or even the one week in which the day falls. Now while poems are fresh in our minds is the time to build on this interest.

Poetry By Heart, the nation’s poetry speaking competition opened on National Poetry Day with a call to all schools in England to sign up and a preview of Poetry By Heart: the Movie, the inspiring new feature film documentary following schools as they enter the competition. Founded in 2013 by former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and Dr Julie Blake, Poetry By Heart is open to all schools and colleges in England. It invites young people to choose a poem they love, learn it by heart, and perform it out loud. Schools hold internal competitions to select their own winners, with the best from each region invited to a Grand Finale at Shakespeare’s Globe, London to compete for the title of national champion. There is a website for teaching and learning about poetry – by heart and out loud, and with plenty of choice for young people to explore poems and find the ones they love. Taking part in Poetry By Heart is all about developing confidence with poetry in an enjoyable, accessible and engaging way. Registration, participation and competition entry are free for schools and colleges in England. This year’s competition closes on Thursday 2 April 2026 with the finalist announcement on Thursday 30 April and the Grand Finale on 6th July 2026.  

Poetry By Heart The Movie is an uplifting film celebrating poetry for everyone and has been filmed in schools up and down the country, from Newcastle to the Scilly Isles, Dorset to the Wirral, Great Yarmouth to Barrow. It features fabulous freestyle entries, and moving classic performances; it records pupils staying after school on Fridays just to be a part of poetry club. It stars teachers and pupils as they practise their poems, run competitions and perfect their video submissions.

If you are looking for further inspiration for poems to share in the classroom or at home with your family I have some suggestions of recent poetry books for children that may interest you. Colossal Words for Kids (Frances Lincoln) written by Colette Hiller and illustrated by Tor Freeman is this year’s winner of the CLiPPA, the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children. Each of the 75 words in this entertaining book, from acquiesce to zest, are defined with a simple rhyme accompanied by jolly illustrations. Colossal Words for Kids would be best shared with an adult and this is a clever blend of fun and learning that brings language to life in the classroom. Colette Hiller’s lively verse, paired with quirky illustrations, engages children’s curiosity and creativity while naturally expanding their vocabulary. Many of the poems are accompanied by a text box providing either a related quote or interesting fact. Teachers could use this collection to support spelling, comprehension and literacy skills, while pupils will simply enjoy the rhythm and humour. Perfect for reading aloud, class discussions or creative writing prompts, this book turns word-learning into a happy, memorable adventure.

Former CLiPPA winners Zaro Weil and Junli Song have a new illustrated anthology of poems about mother nature that will encourage children to explore the natural world around them. I Hear the Trees (Hachette Children’s Books) is a lovely collection full of joyful appreciation of nature inviting readers to live in the moment and savour the sensory experiences to be found if we pay attention to the world around us. The subject matter is wide ranging including space and dinosaurs alongside seasons, butterflies and birds and the emotions described and evoked vary from the sad and poignant to the merry and joyful. There is something here for everyone and for every occasion. The differing styles include story like poems and even a play that may prompt classroom involvement. The simply wonderful illustrations complement the poetry style perfectly and add to the accessibility and enjoyment for younger readers. The publishers’ guidance suggests an audience of 5-7 however I think this would be appreciated by older primary children too.

I Hear the Trees is an invitation to adults and children to share their experience of the world, language and poetry together and the closing pages of the book include an excellent range of engaging ways to do this created by the Centre for Primary School Literacy (CLPE). There are discussion points, performance ideas, creative writing suggestions and more ensuring that this book would be wonderful to use in the classroom. You may also like to try When Poems Fall From the Sky another beautiful collection by Weil and Song.

Scallywag Press is a children’s publisher I admire for offering their readers something different, sometimes quirky, but always memorable. Simon Lamb’s debut poetry collection, A Passing on of Shells, was a wining mix of wisdom and insight, hope and humour so when I learned that he had created a reimagining of the famous Robert Burns poem, Tam O’Shanter, I was intrigued. Once I had read it I was both impressed and moved. Simon Lamb opens his book with an introduction to the original poem without which the re-working would lose some of its impact. Mat O’Shanter – A Cautionary Tale is set in the poet’s home town of Prestwick, and, unlike the original featuring an old man in a pub, Lamb’s version is about a young boy hanging out with his pals on the beach, his trusty stead is not a horse but a bike. So the original becomes a poem with a relevance for today’s young readers. The illustrations by Scottish muralist Ross McCrae are bold and dramatic, just perfect for the increasingly dark tone of the narrative. This would be perfect to share in the build up to Halloween and throughout the dark winter evenings ahead.

The poem itself is extremely well done and I had to go back to re-read when I finished the first time. There also a helpful glossary of the Scottish vocabulary. However, it the extensive author’s note which, for me, increased both the impact and the importance of the poem. The relevance to Simon Lamb’s own childhood is explained and his comments, his wise advice and thoughtful understanding provide a valuable addition to this book’s use with young people. Covering well being, mental health, bullying and resilience this would be well placed within a PSHE context too. Highly recommended for Upper KS2 and I think for KS3 too.