Children will express their creativity, win prizes and present their writing to the community during the sixth annual Wake Up to Poetry contest.

Young poets may submit entries by 6 p.m. April 1. to Buckley Pierce County Library, 123 S. River Ave.

“Writing poetry helps children improve their reading skills,” said Judy Nelson, youth services director for Pierce County Library System. “Poems nurture a love of language and literacy through rhythm, rhyme and meaning.”

Kids may get contest entry forms at Buckley Library, or online at www.piercecountylibrary.org, search site: poetry contest.

Any fourth, fifth or sixth-grader living within the White River School District is eligible to enter the contest.

Judges designated by Library staff will evaluate poems based on originality of ideas, creative images, correct spelling and grammar.

Friends of the Buckley Library will give the winning poets a new poetry book. The winners will present their poems to friends, family and the community at 7 p.m. April 28 at the Elk Ridge Elementary School Library, 340 River Road, Buckley.

The contest celebrates April as National Poetry Month, established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996.