Welcome to the Read Manchester Connecting Stories online exhibition. We are thrilled to be supporting the National Literacy Trust with this Arts Council England funded project, Connecting Stories. Connecting Stories aims to increase children and young people’s interest in reading and writing, and to promote diverse voices and stories. Children and young people in Manchester, age 7 to 14, were invited to take part in a creative writing competition which has been judged by publishers, authors and community champions. The theme was ‘Local Heroes / Everyday Heroes’.

Take a look at the full gallery of entries from children age 7 to 11:

Make sure to also see the amazing work from our age 11 to 14 entrants:

Feeling inspired? Write a poem with Kate Wakeling
Hear the fastest possible reading of Kate’s poem ‘Moon Juice’ and exclusive performances of her other inspiring works. Take up the challenge to write your own list-poem. What little known facts about yourself could you put in your poem? Are your feet jet-powered? Can you secretly communicate with dogs and bats? Follow Kate’s tips to come up with your own super-powered poem. Recommended for KS2

Or Explore poetry and place with Pete Kalu
Learn three different techniques for writing place-poems and hear special performances of Pete’s poetry. Recommended for KS3.