Alex Wharton Inspires Young Minds With Poetry

Quick Smiles:

• Alex Wharton, Children’s Laureate for Wales, celebrates the magic of language and rhythm to engage young readers.
• His own love of words began with comics, global culture books, and exploring rap lyrics as a teen.
• Wharton believes poetry builds strong connections, helps brain development, and inspires creativity in children and adults alike.

Growing up in Pontypool, south Wales, Alex Wharton discovered new worlds through comics, cultural books, and maps, sparking a lifelong curiosity. His fascination with language deepened as a teen, memorizing lyrics from artists like Outkast and Lauryn Hill, blending poetry and rhythm in unexpected ways.

“That was my self-directed method of finding language I enjoyed,” he shares.

Now, as Children’s Laureate for Wales, Wharton brings poetry to libraries, classrooms, and events across the UK, weaving musicality and stories that delight both kids and adults. His playful approach to writing, as seen in his work ‘I Don’t Want to Write a Poem,’ highlights how well-chosen words create joy and build lasting connections.

“It’s not always about having a big, bold message,” he says.

Wharton believes reading is a key indicator of success for children. He encourages adults to make reading enjoyable, knowing that fostering positive early connections inspires a love for books that lasts into adulthood.

Finding a joyful entry point into reading is vital, especially since research shows many parents struggle to find reading aloud fun. Wharton champions perseverance, confident that introducing children to the pleasure of reading can transform their outlook for life.

“If you build positive connections to reading with a child when they are young, they’re more likely to become a teenager who reads for pleasure and then also an adult who may recognise the importance of reading to their children,” he explains.

When creating poetry collections like ‘Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees,’ Wharton writes for everyone—not just young readers—so that families, teachers, and children all feel included and entertained.

“I don’t write for children, I write for a whole audience, excluding no one,” he says.

Through reading and writing poetry, Wharton witnesses children’s imaginations ignite as they discover new ways to express themselves. He is inspired by the transformative effect that words and creativity have on learners of all ages.

“You can see it in their eyes, and their cogs turning, because you transport them into a world where anything is possible. You’ve shown them a positive connection to literature and language and that they can write about absolutely anything. And that realisation? It’s really powerful.”

Discover more inspiring stories and let the beauty of language uplift you today!

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