Poetry

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.

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.