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And We Rise, Martin's evocative book-in-verse addressing the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, began as a series of poems about the Jim Crow era.
 

The NCTE Excellence in Children’s Poetry Award Committee has recognized 21 exceptional books of poetry and nine novels in verse in their annual list. Read and evaluated by each member of the committee, these books published in 2021 are notable for their use of language, poetic devices, and their application to children ages three to 13.

Middle grade and YA authors including  Joy McCullough, Reem Faruqi,  and others discuss the power of verse to address emotional topics and craft innovative narratives.

Here are 21 recent YA and middle grade titles that favor poetry over prose, perfect for sharing during National Poetry Month.

The author of Honey, I Love died last week, leaving a lasting impact on generations of readers and Black authors. 

I Talk Like a River, A Sitting in St. James, and From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry won this year's Boston Globe-Horn Book awards for excellence in children's and YA literature.

Photographs and poems can help students explore perspective and specific moments in time.

Featuring poets from Amanda Gorman to Kenn Nesbitt and offering inspiring writing prompts, these shows have something for every student.

With gorgeous words with affecting narratives, these middle grade and YA #OwnVoices titles provide excellent listening for National Poetry Month and beyond.

Having two books released during the pandemic wasn't a disaster for the author, as Nye found the "positive contagion" of books and poetry was not only still there, it was connecting more young readers and writers from different places around the world.

Black History Month is in February, but celebrating the accomplishments and talents of Black people in America and across the diaspora shouldn’t be restricted to the shortest month of the year. These poetry books are written and/or illustrated by Black creatives. This small sampling is by no means an exhaustive list but could be used as a jumping-off point to spark further exploration. 

Sophia Thakur, a performance poet and author of Somebody Give This Heart a Pen (Candlewick; Gr 9 Up), discusses the power of poetry, her artistic journey, and the five #OwnVoices works that have inspired her. 

This year, members of the NCTE Excellence in Children's Poetry Award Committee are pleased to recognize 28 outstanding books of poetry and 11 novels in verse. These titles were deemed notable for their use of language and poetic devices and their appropriateness for children ages three to 13.

Award-winning author, scholar, and activist Zetta Elliott (Say Her Name) explains the importance of representation, not just diversity, in literature, as well as the incredible contributions of Black women writers.

A middle school librarian and makerspace teacher planned a unit focused on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Perfect for both science and literacy classrooms, these recently published titles take a look at the natural world through verse, supported by detailed artwork and informative notes.

Accomplished poet and author Nikki Grimes dives headfirst into childhood memories for her memoir Ordinary Hazards. Having created a work that simultaneously shares trauma and moments of light, Grimes discusses the process of excavating her personal history.

Hopkins's impact on poetry for children went beyond his prolific creation of anthologies. He championed cross-curricular use of poetry and allowing children to read for enjoyment, while jump-starting the careers of many poets along the way.

The Palestinian-American writer becomes the first Arab-American to earn the honor.

The National Student Poets are a group of five high school juniors and seniors who act as literary ambassadors for a year. In honor of National Poetry Month, they recommend five books for their fellow high schoolers.

Twenty-eight titles to celebrate in April and throughout the year.

Sixty-four poems explore living between cultures, the pleasure and pain that memories can bring, and the power of poetry to express joy, loss, and pride.

A trio of recently published poetry titles evidence the power of poetry "to convey rich characterization, complex themes, and a reading experience that levels the field between struggling and skilled readers."

The author of Shout discusses family trauma, rape culture, and racism.

Nature, childhood, family, community, and dreamers are just some of the subjects honored in these titles to share all year long.

In anticipation of our coverage of Black History Month, add these selections about historical figures with big dreams, from board books to YA memoirs, to your collection and display year-round.

Check out these picture books that feature the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

In anticipation of the free August 15 event, here’s our interview with opening keynote speaker Elizabeth Acevedo.

An influential poet led workshops for these Newark, NJ teens, who competed in a national youth poetry slam competition in July.