READING CAMPAIGN: Deadline extended for Sheffield youngsters to enter our fun poetry competition

The deadline for an exciting and unique poetry competition has been extended for another week - to give you even more time to submit your entries.
The Off The Shelf organising committee.The Off The Shelf organising committee.
The Off The Shelf organising committee.

We have teamed up with the Off The Shelf literary festival to launch a new project designed to encourage youngsters across Sheffield to pick up their favourite book and have a good old read.

Our competition challenges primary and secondary school pupils up to the age of 16 to submit videos of themselves performing a recital of their favourite poem or piece of prose by Michael Rosen, one of the most well-known figures in the children’s book world.

Michael Rosen with his latest book.Michael Rosen with his latest book.
Michael Rosen with his latest book.
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Renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter, Michael has been involved with over 140 books and anthologies, and was selected as the Childrens’ Laureate between 2007 and 2009.

Some of his most celebrated works include 'Don't Put Mustard In The Custard', 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' and 'The Zoo At Night' – but you can pick any section from any of his children's books and poetry collections to perform.

Recitals can be made by individual students or a class as a whole.

We have already received some entries, but we are extending the deadline into next week to give you and your school the chance to win some top prizes.

Michael Rosen with his latest book.Michael Rosen with his latest book.
Michael Rosen with his latest book.
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Once all the entries are in a special judging panel from The Star and Off The Shelf will pick the top few candidates, and then Michael Rosen himself will choose the winner.

And the winner will have plenty of reasons to celebrate as they will earn up to 30 books worth around £200 for their school from the kind people at Off the Shelf.

Maria De Souza, one of the Off The Shelf festival organisers, said: “The festival is for everyone and wants to encourage a passion for the written and spoken word. “Young children love stories and this is great way into the wonderful world of imagination.

“We can’t wait to see the poems or text the children and schools choose to use as their competition entry.”

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The competition will be run alongside the 26th festival, which was launched in the city on October 7 and promises a whole host of fantastic events right through until early November.

Email your video performance of a Michael Rosen poem to offtheshelf17@sheffield.ac.uk by midnight on Tuesday, October 24.

The winner will be announced shortly afterwards and the judging panel will visit your school to present you with the prizes.

Terms and conditions

*Videos can be filmed on a professional video recorder or mobile phone.

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Please submit them as MP4 files and include your full name, age, class and school on the email.

It is the school's responsibility to ensure all children who submit performances have parental permission.

The content may be used both online and in print in The Star and associated titles. It could also be used at events held as part of the Off The Shelf festival. Any child and school submitting content must be available for interviews with The Star once the winner is announced.