In honor of National Poetry Month this April, and finding ourselves in a most unique situation, the Novel Neighbor is creating a poetry collection that features the work of children in the St. Louis community. We are calling it the “St. Louis Shelter In / Share Out Poetry Collection”.

Educators and parents—feel free to work this into your distance learning curricula, or it can be a fun way to pass the time…we are sure that your kids all have a lot to say at this moment! While they are more than welcome to write about sheltering in place/current events, we are accepting poetry on any topic. They are free to write about anything they’d like.

It is our intent to bind and print the poems in June. The poetry collection will be sold as a fundraiser for the Novel Neighbor so that we can remain here, doing what we love to do, for our community.

Guidelines

Kids in grades K-12 can submit one (1) poem, no longer than one (1) page. Illustrations are welcome, but not required. All topics/subject matter are accepted. All poetry must be submitted by May 26. 

Entry Fee

The cost to enter is $5. Once you hit “Submit” you will be taken to PayPal to complete payment. If you are unable to cover the cost of the entry fee, please email hello[at]thenovelneighbor.com.

Poetry Resources

• Poetry Out Loud
• Poetry Foundation 

Children’s Poetry Books

To order any of these titles through the Novel Neighbor, click here.

• Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets – Kwame Alexander
• Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat – Nikki Giovanni
• This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness – Joyce Sidman
•  UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings – Douglas Florian
• The Ghostly Carousel – Calef Brown
• Scranimals – Jack Prelutsky
• No More Poems! A Book in Verse that Just Gets Worse – Rhett Miler
• Step Gently Out – Helen Frost
• Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature – Joyce Sidman
• This Place I know: Poems of Comfort – Georgia Heard (Editor)
• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems – Paul B. Janeczko
• If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries: Poems for Children and Their Parents – Judith Viorst
• The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems – Paul B. Janeczko
• I’m Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups – Chris Harris
• Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems – Bob Raczka

If you have issues or questions about submitting this form, please email stephanie[at]thenovelneighbor.com