Colette Hiller wins the 2025 CLiPPA children's poetry award

Colette Hiller has been announced as the winner of the 2025 CLiPPA children's poetry award for her collection Colossal Words for Kids, illustrated by Tor Freeman (Frances Lincoln Children's Books). 

In Colossal Words for Kids, Hiller defines in rhyme 75 'colossal' words that children can use in their everyday lives, from capacious to voracious, procrastinate to zest.

The announcement was made following performances by children of the shortlisted poems during a poetry-rich event at the National Theatre, organised by CLPE which runs the award.

A former actor and BBC producer, Hiller believes that children are natural wordsmiths, who love knowing and using big words. Her aim with Colossal Words for Kids is, she says, "to spark a lasting joy of language". "When we teach young children ambitious words, we show them that they are not intruders and that the English language is theirs for the taking."

Read Colette Hiller's tips for using Colossal Words for Kids in the classroom

Poet Roger McGough, chair of this year's judges, said Colossal Words for Kids was a favourite with all the judges. "It's indisputably original and ambitious, with rhymes that demand to be spoken aloud. It's also proof that learning big words needn't be even faintly... soporific!"

Wells Primary School pupils join winning poet Colette Hiller to collect her CLiPPA award

Colossal Words for Kids was one of five books on the CLiPPA 2025 Shortlist, reflecting the vitality of the UK's poetry publishing for children. Also shortlisted were a playful joint collection from John Agard and JonArno Lawson, pet poems by Brian Bilston, rhymes for the very young by previously shortlisted Jane Newberry, and a debut collection by Oliver Sykes describing his own childhood experiences.

The CLiPPA Poetry Show at the Lyttelton Theatre featured performances from Colette Hiller as well as John Agard, Brian Bilston, Jane Newberry and Oliver Sykes and, via video link from his home in Toronto, JonArno Lawson. Former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell illustrated proceedings live.

Shadowing CLiPPA

As well as spotlighting the best new poetry for children, the CLiPPA encourages schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils through its Shadowing Scheme and over 400 schools took part this year. Primary school children from Birmingham, Bradford, Croydon, Woodford Green and Bishop's Stortford, winners in the CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme, also performed live at the ceremony on the Lyttleton Theatre stage alongside the poets. An audience of 800 watched the event live in the Lyttelton Theatre, while hundreds of schools across the country joined in watching the CLiPPA Award Ceremony via Livestream.

Children from the Miriam Lord Primary School perform at the CLiPPA ceremony

Darren Matthews, Primary Advisory Teacher at CLPE said, "Congratulations to Colette Hiller, whose effervescent, scintillating and riveting verse has prompted poetry performances by thousands of children in hundreds of classrooms across the UK via our Shadowing scheme, while introducing them to the delights of onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole and many other colossal words. Like Colette, at CLPE we believe that poetry is fundamental to children's love of language and are delighted to celebrate her book and all our shortlist today in such gregarious, jovial style!"

CLiPPA 2025 Poetry Award Shortlist

Wise Up! Wise Down by John Agard and JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura, Walker Books (9+)
Two extremely accomplished poets have a conversation in poems, riffing off on one another's thoughts, going off at tangents and throwing their own new shapes. A boundary pushing collection that feels really different say the judges.

Let Sleeping Cats Lie, Brian Bilston, Macmillan (9+)
From a haiku composed by the poet's dog to an experimental poem written by his cat, and an ode to scamster ‘Arry the ‘Amster, Brian Bilston's collection will amuse (and sometimes move) all readers. This collection made the judges laugh out loud and they know it will have the same effect on children.

Big Red Dragon by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei, Otter-Barry Books (3+)
There are poems for every season of the year in this liveliest of collections for youngsters, and lots of encouragement to join in. Bring your hands, your feet and your faces, say the judges and get ready to roar these poems off the page.

Colossal Words for Kids by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Tor Freeman, Frances Lincoln (7+)
Indisputably original and ambitious, say the judges, this riveting collection introduces 75 tremendous words in clever rhymes that shout out to be read aloud.

We Are Family by Oliver Skyes, illustrated by Ian Morris, Otter-Barry Books (9+)
In a first and deeply personal collection, Oliver Sykes presents poems about growing up poor in a busy, loving single parent family, delivered with sustained energy and insight, and clear joy in rhyme. Authentic and convincing, this gives voice to children not heard enough, say the judges.

 

Colette Hiller receives a trophy and a cheque for £1000. The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Arts Council England. The Week Junior are media partner.