We’ve put together a roundup of titles to get you excited about National Poetry Month, including titles like What the Road Said, Woke: A Young Poet’s Guide to Justice, and Caldecott Honor Book A Place Inside of Me.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 – October 15. We’re celebrating our Hispanic authors, illustrators, and creators this month (and every month) and sharing Hispanic stories. Keep reading to discover new books and revisit your favorites!
Discover books for National Hispanic Heritage month here →
Poet and author Mahogany L. Browne spoke with TeachingBooks.Net about the creation process and backstory of her latest book, Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice. Click here to listen to Mahogany’s interview!
A great read-aloud for National Poetry Month! Author Mahogany L. Browne gives a read-aloud performance of WOKE: A YOUNG POET’S GUIDE TO JUSTICE, written by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III; foreword by Jason Reynolds.
Woke: A Young Poet’s Guide to Justice is a collection of poems to inspire kids to stay woke and become a new generation of activists.
Praise for WOKE:
★ “Read it; gift it; use it to challenge, protect, and grow.”—Kirkus, starred review
★ “An important book that demands to be seen. It adds to the conversation of #OwnVoices and speaks to a young person’s need for expression and social justice.”—School Library Journal, starred review
Dita Kraus grew up in Prague in an intellectual, middle-class Jewish family. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, fourteen-year-old Dita was one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. There, she met Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch, who put Dita in charge of protecting eight precious volumes that prisoners managed to sneak past the guards. And so, Dita became known as the Librarian of Auschwitz.
Dita shares her remarkable life story in her breathtaking new memoir for teens and adults, A DELAYED LIFE. Dita’s incredible story was also fictionalized in the outstanding young adult novel, THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ.
Read an interview with Dita Kraus and find more books to share with young readers for Holocaust Remembrance Day here.
A great read-aloud for National Poetry Month! Author Charles R. Smith Jr. gives a read-aloud performance of BLACK JACK: THE BALLAD OF JACK JOHNSON, giving readers and listeners some fascinating historical insight throughout his reading.
Jack Johnson was one of the most renowned Black boxers of the twentieth century. Through hard work and persistence, he climbed the ranks, taking a swing and a jab and eventually busting the color barrier. As the first black man to win the Heavyweight Championship, there was more than a title on the line.
This beautiful picture book is an extraordinary marriage of poetry and fabulous collage artwork by Shane W. Evans.
“Charles Smith’s poetry surges along, with a forceful rhythm that joins ballad and rap, as he follows ‘a mighty, fightin’ man,’ challenging the color line as well as individual opponents around the world. Shane Evans’ illustrations make Johnson’s body a monument to intelligence and power.” —Chicago Tribune
★ “This book is sure to be championed by reluctant readers with energy and restlessness just like Johnson’s, but it is a strong selection for library and classroom read-alouds as well.” —School Library Journal starred review
★ “The elegant simplicity and rat-a-tat rhythms land some stunners . . . enhanced by Evans’ lithe and swaggering artwork, which lends a tremendous visual charisma, grace, and grandeur.” —Booklist starred review
Download our new National Poetry Month poster, featuring WOKE written by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III; foreword by Jason Reynolds
Historically poets have been on the forefront of social movements. Woke is a collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out.
We’re celebrating all month long on social media with our favorite poems and poets–follow along at #mackidspoetry!
Add these picture books to your must-read list! The School & Library team shares more about these outstanding staff picks here.
Read our March newsletter for new releases, a spotlight on author Gene Luen Yang, and our sweepstakes for a chance to win our poetry kit! Sign up for the School & Library newsletter here.
The School & Library team shares some of our favorite upcoming middle grade books here.
