Top Poetry Treat
7 April 2009
Primary school pupils in Knowsley were treated to a live
poetry session to celebrate the borough’s Top Ten Reads
Competition. 
The competition, launched last November, was organised by
Knowsley Library Service, in conjunction with Knowsley Learning and
Teaching Team and Knowsley Arts Service. School children were asked
to nominate their favourite book, there were four age categories.
Teachers and support staff were given the opportunity to nominate
the book they most enjoyed reading with the children in an adult
category. Each school that took part in the nomination process
received a free set of the winning books.
To support the initiative, Knowsley School Library Service
organised for two poets, Paul Cookson and Terry Caffrey, to visit
the schools that took part in the nomination process. The children
were fascinated by the live poetry performances and enjoyed taking
part. Music was also incorporated into the performances, as Paul
treated the children to poetry renditions on his ukulele.
Cllr Graham Wright, Cabinet Member for Children and Family
Services, said:
“It is wonderful to see children taking pleasure in reading and
choosing a favourite book. It is vital that we instil in children
that reading is enjoyable as well as an important part of their
education.”
“The live poetry performances helped bring literature to life
and will hopefully persuade more children to read for pleasure. We
would also like to encourage parents to read to their children, as
this plays an essential part in the child’s development and their
attitude towards reading books.”
To further celebrate the competition, Knowsley Arts Service ran
a series of workshops for children, encouraging them to bring out
their creative side by reproducing images of favourite book
characters through artwork. Well-known book characters including
Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood were amongst the colourful
and imaginative designs, which were later displayed in an
exhibition in Prescot Museum.
PHOTO: Poet Paul Cookson in Park View Primary School
with pupils (Left to right): Chloe Jones, 10; Kieran Murray, 11;
Ben Massey, 10 and Holly Dono, 11.
For more photos,
visit Knowsley’s Flickr account.
The winners of the competition were announced on World Book Day,
5 March 2009. The categories and winners of the competition
were:
Early Years
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Eat your peas by Kes Grey
We’re going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen
Key Stage 1
Esio Trot by Roald Dahl
Whatever Next by Jill Murphy
The orchard book of fairy tales
Key Stage 2
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Horrid Henry rules the world by Francesca Simon
Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson
Adult choice for children
The Lion the
witch and the wardrobe by C.S Lewis
For more information, please contact:
Emma
Duvall
Graduate Communications Officer
Knowsley Council
0151 443 3675