30th Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize for schools - the winners

The winners of the thirtieth annual Keats-Shelley House Poetry Prize for Schools were announced on 3th June, 2021 at the Non-Catholic Cemetery by this year's guest judge, American children's author and illustrator Brian Selznick who was introduced by the Keats-Shelley House Curator, Giuseppe Albano. Brian is the author and illustrator of several books for young people including The Invention of Hugo Cabret (inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese), Wonderstruck, and The Marvels. He is the winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration recognizing The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

You can watch the presentation and hear Brian's presentation and his favourite twelve poems in English and Italian here.

The texts of all the winning poems may be read here.

This year's competition themes were:

"Butterfly" or "Waves" for students between the ages of 5 and 9;
"Voyage" or "Friendship" for students between the ages of 10 and 13;
"Writ in Water" or "Adversity" for students between the ages of 14 and 18.

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in English), for students between the ages of 5 and 9, was won by Paolo Mattioli from St. Francis School, Rome, for 'Waves'. Precious Chidinma Chile, also, from St. Francis School, Rome, was specially commended for the namesake poem 'Waves.'

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in Italian), for students between the ages of 5 and 9, was won by Anthony Ottaviano from St. George's British International School, Rome, for 'Farfalla'. Elizabeth Sessa, also, from St. George's British International School, Rome, was specially commended for the namesake poem 'Farfalla.'

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in English), for students between the ages of 10 and 13, was won by Jacqueline Vallauri St. Francis School, Rome, for the poem 'Who’s the Captain?' Specially commended Hadrian Dunn from St. George's British International School, Rome, for the poem 'Voyage.'

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in Italian), for students between the ages of 10 and 13, was won by Sofia Celani from Scuola Media Fiuggi (FR), for the poem 'Il viaggio: desiderio di un’anima'. Specially commended Simone Viezzoli from IC Poggiali Spizzichino, Roma, for the poem 'La mia alba infinita.'

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in English), for students between the ages of 14 and 18, was won by Tatiana Ella Kerr Russell Kneale from St. Stephen’s School, Rome, for the poem 'Thorned Remembrances'. Jacqueline Cataldo, St. Francis School, Rome, was specially commended for the poem 'The Immortal Scent of the Lily.'

The Poetry Prize for Schools (poems in Italian), for students between the ages of 14 and 18 was won by Claudia Bellisari from IS Lucio Lombardo Radice, Roma, for the poem 'Come acqua statica in un lago'. Specially commended for the poem 'Scritto nell’acqua' Alessandro Palasciano from Liceo Scientifico Siciliani, Catanzaro.

Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up in the thirtieth annual Keats-Shelley House Poetry Prize, and special thanks to this year’s guest judge Brian Selznick, who attended our virtual ceremony at the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome.

Photo: Children's author and illustrator and KSH Poetry Prize Judge Brian Selznick with American Academy in Rome Prize fellow David Serlin at the Non-Catholic Cemetery.