Hello Balloonists!

Hello Balloonists!

As many of you know, in November 2022, Chasing Clouds: Adventures in a Poetry Balloon was printed and released by Yorkshire Times Publishing.

Consisting of over eighty poems by sixty poets from around the world and illustrated by Em Humble, the book was launched to promote poetry for children, highlight the creative talents of poets (some well-known, others just beginning their poetic careers) and to raise money for the National Literacy Trust through the profit generated.

Approaching the anniversary of the publication, we have news of our first donation and would also like to announce a limited promotion over the autumn term in time for Christmas.

The background to our poetry project comes from the launch of the Dirigible Balloon poetry site (the DB) over two years ago. The Balloon’s enormous success with a worldwide audience, which now attracts over 50,000 reads per month, resulted in a suggestion from contributing poets that a printed anthology might be the next step in the promotion of poetry written for children by those talented poets who allow the DB to showcase their work. Yorkshire Times Publishing kindly agreed to fund the production, with the idea that profit generated from sales would be donated to the National Literacy Trust.

Over two runs, 400 books were printed by Inky Little Fingers and went on sale via the Dirigible Balloon website shop. Over 100 were donated to contributors, schools, libraries, reviewers and the CLPE. The sale of around 140 books covered the printing costs and other sales have resulted in a £500 donation which will be made to the National Literacy Trust in September.

This leaves Yorkshire Times Publishing with just over 100 books, which we will now use in a final promotion in the autumn term up to Christmas:

We’re looking to give away books to schools nominated by folks buying Chasing Clouds in the autumn term. I’m afraid this offer will only be open to purchasers in the UK, as postage abroad is too expensive to make the promotion viable.

Simply buy one book from the website shop between now and Christmas, and via e-mail to the editor, nominate a primary school within the UK, preferably one you have a link with (eg. in your community, attended by kids of friends or relatives, worked in by teachers you know or taught in by yourselves etc.), and we will send, free of any other charge, four copies of our anthology to that school. It would be preferable for the school to be aware of your gift (and within the package sent to the school, we will be letting them know of your involvement with the donation). This promotion ('Buy One, Get Four Free') will be available until we get down to our last 50 books or until the end of the autumn term. It will, of course, still be possible to buy Chasing Clouds without being involved in the autumn promotion should you wish.

As we then move into 2024, the Dirigible Balloon will be looking to continue providing a platform for poets who write for children and to spread the love and enjoyment of poetry amongst kids of all ages.

We thank you for all the support around the world in our adventures within this poetry balloon. Our endeavours only succeed because of your encouragement.