Children invited to record themselves reading a poem

Littlenonsense, Geraldine

Little Nonsense, launching this winter, is a collection of children's verse from established poet and illustrator Colin West - with a difference. The app (available for tablets and smartphones) will contain hilarious nonsense poems and beautiful illustrations and also features games inspired by the verse - and will include recordings of children from all over the UK reading the rhymes aloud.

Apptoonz, the creators of the app, want to make sure that voices and accents from across the country are represented, so every child who sends in a recording of themselves reading one of the poems from the collection will be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new iPad Mini. The best recordings will all be made into part of the Little Nonsense app (listed only by first name and city/town) so children around the world will hear your voice as they enjoy the poems.

Colin West, the author and illustrator, said: "I can't wait to hear the recordings you send in! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished app; there's nothing else out there quite like this with poetry, games and audio, and it'll be so exciting to include your voices from all over the country."

There will also be lots of copies of The Big Book Of Nonsense available as runner-up prizes: theTimes Educational Supplement wrote "Colin West's The Big Book Of Nonsense will surely enhance his reputation as one of our most consistently witty children's poets. Liberally illustrated in colour by West himself, this book should be in every teacher's personal library, on hand should an opportunity for five minutes of off-message, anarchic laughter present itself."

Send in your recordings on the website www.littlenonsense.co.uk by 16 November to be entered into the prize draw.