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With beautiful language and imagery, these eight poems teach children everything from animal facts to how to write a poem, while also allowing readers to sit back and have a good laugh.
The concept may be a little complicated for younger children to understand completely, but this thought-provoking book will help readers gain mindful insight and inspire a greater awareness of self.
Likely to be most useful in the hands of creative teachers.
Recommended for libraries serving young adults who are 15 and up, and especially for fans of Gill’s work.
A timely and spirited, if uneven, celebration of American women’s soccer.
An ideal big book of ebullient resources sure to promote confidence while young imaginations run wild discovering the art of writing poetry.
The perfect book for families to read aloud.
A book of poems that asks philosophical questions to provoke thought, encourage curiosity, and inspire young readers with a new appreciation and understanding about the world around them.
A wonderful addition to any collection, particularly for classrooms or libraries where a focus on social-emotional well-being and community are topics of focus.
A great introduction to dinosaurs for young children. The lively text and colorful illustrations make it a wonderful read-aloud that will engage young readers and ignite their curiosity about these prehistoric creatures. A welcome addition for homes, schools, and libraries.
Simple, inviting town visits by “wild” animals offer pleasant read-aloud and conversation possibilities.
Engle’s thoughtful, lovely collection is a gift to anyone who has an interest in the breadth of women’s artistic achievements. Much to savor. Highly recommended.
A poetic gem for oversized collections that circulate well. Purchase this title to share daily poems at the reference desk or other display areas.
This collection will resonate with readers who enjoy the poems of Naomi Shihab Nye and the works of Elizabeth Acevedo and will appeal to the poet’s many social media followers.
This unique and accessible volume deserves a place in religious sections or collections with a demonstrated demand for Biblical stories.
Every library shelf should have this poetry book of animals wearing pants, which is a triumph of rhythmic language, vibrant visuals, and hilarious laugh-out-loud illustrations. It’s sure to please any reader.
A unique book that will be appreciated by the right readers, especially those familiar with Kwame Alexander’s The Door of No Return.
An appealingly ridiculous book, recommended for poetry and humor fans.
This delightful and idiosyncratic collection will need booktalking to find its audience.
An offering for larger libraries that will “let there be” creativity, innovation, and ideation among readers who enjoy more abstract concepts and movement-inspired illustrations.
Funny, fact-filled, and succinct, this title will have broad appeal beyond the elementary aged audience it is intended for. A recommended first purchase.
A lovely book with a specific purpose that will be welcome as an addition where there is a need for Biblical stories for young children. Pair with Marie-Helene Delval’s Psalms for Young Children and Dandi Daley Mackall’s Psalms for Little Hearts.
Thoughtful readers will relish the figurative language and imagery, and pore over the well-crafted illustrations. An excellent resource for teachers looking to inspire students in an array of topics, from science and nature studies to creative writing.
A lovely picture book that mixes poetry and history about the moon.
Highly recommended for those looking to freshen up their collections of silly poetry.
A powerful, humanistic look at the aftermath of a national tragedy, and an important purchase for modern collections.
With minor tics, an otherwise ideal selection for libraries servicing young children, with a bonus appeal for storytellers.
The titles by Jack Wong, Angeline Boulley, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka earned the annual award in the picture book, fiction and poetry, and nonfiction categories, respectively.
Titles in verse are an especially welcoming genre, blending poetry and storytelling to create immersive experiences for any type of narrative, including fiction, history, memoir, and more. The audiobook format presents these works the way poetry is meant to be enjoyed—out loud.
These works of poetry will inspire children to fight climate change, prepare them for a new sibling, teach them to be courageous and compassionate, and make them think as well as laugh.
This year, members of the committee recognized 12 excellent books of poetry and six novels in verse as 2023 Notable Books. Picks include a range of formats—lively nonfiction, reflective verse, and moving verse novels—written by familiar poets and debut authors.
This collection of 25 poems would make an excellent addition to schools and classroom poetry units, and will encourage and inspire students to try their hand at poetry themselves.
With appealing digital illustrations and a reassuring message, this may be a good option for larger public libraries seeking new books on this ever-popular topic, as well as for Christian caregivers and preschools.
A fun illustrated book for elementary libraries to expand their poetry collections. Perfect where National Poetry Month is regularly celebrated, or for use in units of study on poetry.
Not essential but a highly recommended addition to both school and public library collections.
A welcome addition to school and public libraries.
A beautiful picture book about acceptance with a flow that would make it perfect for read-alouds; a must-purchase where fun and colorful depictions of these themes are needed.
A fine edition of general poetry for the younger set, enlivened by some especially lovely illustrations.
A great title to introduce curious readers and budding environmentalists to what youth are doing around the world right now to fight global climate change.
Put this multifaceted package on the science shelves, and use it often and variously.
A significant work of children’s literature, this paean to nature and Indigenous culture belongs in every school and public library collection for years to come.
A first purchase for poetry collections, and for environmental collections as well.
A first purchase for all libraries serving young children, this is an outstanding poetry compilation about the meaning of home.
With an enticing mix of playful whimsy and quiet moments, this well-crafted collection of accessible verse and lovely illustrations should appeal to a wide audience.
Both a teaching tool for writing poetry as well as an ode to poetry itself. Highly recommended.
Poetry fans and educators alike will enjoy this bright and cheery collection of floral-focused haiku.
A compelling and thoughtful read, and a great introduction to blackout poetry. A strong first purchase for libraries.
A robust addition to general poetry collections, sure to appeal to a wide range of poetry lovers.
A STEAM-themed poetry collection that should have broad appeal for young readers and will be a welcome addition to the shelves. Recommended.
The dual thrust should interest fans of Peters’s many other books and may invite or challenge pet lovers, as well as readers and teachers of poetry or science.
This attractive and educational poetry book will be a great addition to poetry and nature study collections.
This edition is an excellent choice for senior high school and undergraduate curriculum that includes educator-assisted lessons on Modernist poetry, but the assertion that it is somehow more comprehensible to all readers is overstated and unconvincing.
The quirky illustrations cannot save this clumsily written collection. Stick with Silverstein.
Visually stunning artwork combined with character sketches reveal the depth of Native American history in an intriguing way. A good first purchase for libraries.
Secondary schools where there is interest in STEM projects, poetry studies, and women’s issues will benefit by adding this multifaceted title to their library or classroom collection.
This short and refreshing collection of the love of family is a worthy purchase for poetry and family-focused collections, due to the diversity of grandfathers and experiences depicted.
A must-purchase for all YA nonfiction collections, Ogle’s work speaks directly to what so many young people experience and offers them hope.
A worthy purchase for poetry and family-focused collections because of the fun way family love and diversity are depicted with grandmas at the heart.
Admirable introductions to poetry in general and to these poets in particular.
This unusual and striking double portrayal will appeal to nascent nature-lovers and embryo entrepreneurs.
Admirable introductions to poetry in general and to these poets in particular.
A delightful book that amuses and educates. Strong first purchase recommendation.
A delightful introduction to poetry; a valuable potential bonding experience for young children and their caregivers.
School librarians looking for STEAM titles that pair silliness with educational topics in the style of Douglas Florian will love this fun, math-themed poetry collection that joins English language arts and mathematics as a dynamic duo.
A supplementary purchase to invigorate the A in STEAM.
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.
With humor, sadness, and a bit of irony, this book invites fun and thoughtful uses for readers, classes, and library programs.
Limited appeal. An additional purchase for larger libraries.
This insipid and uneven collection falls short as an introduction to poetry for primary grade audiences.
A mixed bag of poetry with very few gems worth keeping. Not recommended.
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.
A powerful proclamation of resistance and resilience over cultural oppression. Purchase for YA poetry collections, especially where spoken word is in demand.
A charming collection of poetry for budding gardeners. Recommended.
A pleasant book for animal and poetry fans of varied ages.
While the poetry and illustrations are artistically appealing, the content and structure may require scaffolding and further explanation. Still, this book could be appreciated by the right audience for one-on-one sharing.
This unique collection will serve as an appealing introduction to poetry for children: reflecting their daily experience to them, bolstering their appreciation of the written word, and perhaps inspiring them to construct poems of their own.
A great introduction for reluctant readers who want to learn more about poetry. The interactive elements will work in classrooms and bring an amusing spice to story times.
A strong first purchase. This book will have very broad appeal to a variety of ages.
A must purchase for all libraries.
This fun, lyrical free verse poem pays homage to the joy a pair of new shoes can bring, and its colorful illustrations work well to enhance the joy of the experience. A recommended purchase for most collections, especially where poetry is popular or supports the curriculum.
An optional purchase for large poetry collections or schools and libraries with strong poetry or spoken word programs.
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.
These touching poems are important today and any day that requires people to think about war, family, and refugees.
A worthy purchase for elementary libraries needing nonfiction texts for the Juneteenth holiday.
This creative, beautiful, and educational book will find a home on library shelves. Purchase to bring more STEM to poetry collections.
This beautifully illustrated rhyming text will make a good read-aloud and can be used to spark conversations about sounds in the world.
The impact of the poems in this powerful, necessary book is strengthened by the layout of the text and drives home the struggle for civil rights. A strong first purchase.
An excellent first choice for public libraries; schools that select religious materials as part of their collection.
The mixed quality of the poems and the difficulty in determining the audience makes this a questionable purchase.
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.
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