Oxfordshire libraries publishes e-book of award-winning children’s poetry

Library service users across Oxfordshire can now enjoy a new e-book of award-winning poetry from local children.

Oxfordshire Libraries is thrilled to publish “Now is the time to rhyme!” – an art and poetry collection written by local children aged 6 to 17 in a competition held in the Spring.

In April, in response to the Covid-19 crisis, when lockdown was in force and schools were closing – Oxfordshire Libraries launched an art and poetry competition for children and young people. It was launched as a chance to let young people escape through art or poetry and express their feelings at this challenging time.

Oxfordshire County Council librarians were thrilled to receive masses of brilliantly creative entries and enjoyed selecting those to be published for the final e-book.

Young people in Oxfordshire sent in drawings, designs and poems in all sorts of styles and forms – from funny limericks to wistful haikus, romantic rhyming couplets to political polemics.

Favourite subjects for poetry were nature, animals, the environment, emotions, seasons and life in lockdown. The artwork also reflected a child’s view of the world – delighting in the intricate details of animals, books, toys and playful cartoons.

Oxfordshire Libraries also asked Oxfordshire poet James Carter to read through the final anthology and write a foreword. He said: “Now Is The Time To Rhyme does so much more than its title promises: it dazzles, intrigues and enchants.”

The e-book poetry collection is just published and is available now for all Oxfordshire library users to borrow from the Oxfordshire Libraries e-book site: https://oxfordshire.overdrive.com/

Contact: librarydigitalservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Facebook: @oxfordshirelibraries

Twitter: @oxonlibraries