NCTE Honors Top Poetry Books and Verse Novels for Young Readers

The annual list celebrates diverse voices and poetic forms in children's literature.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:18pm

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The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has announced its 2026 list of notable poetry picture books and verse novels, recognizing 10 outstanding poetry titles and 6 verse novels published in 2025. The selections showcase a rich variety of poetic approaches, from biographical narratives to explorations of the natural world, and feature both celebrated voices in children's poetry as well as compelling new contributors to the field.

Why it matters

The NCTE's annual poetry awards aim to highlight distinguished use of language, poetic craft, and meaningful engagement with young readers. By recognizing a diverse range of poetic forms and subject matter, the list helps introduce students to the depth and breadth of contemporary children's poetry and encourages educators to incorporate more poetry into their curriculum.

The details

The NCTE Excellence in Children's Poetry Award Committee carefully evaluated each work's use of form, structure, and language to deepen mood and meaning. The poetry selections include biographical accounts, environmental themes, sports histories, and personal coming-of-age stories, while the verse novels tackle issues of identity, racism, loss, and connection to nature. Many of the books also incorporate supplementary materials like scientific facts, writing tips, and historical context to enhance the reading experience.

  • The NCTE Excellence in Children's Poetry Award Committee was established in 1977 to recognize outstanding poets writing for children.
  • The committee now annually selects notable lists of poetry and verse novels, with the 2026 list featuring works published in 2025.

The players

NCTE Excellence in Children's Poetry Award Committee

The committee that annually selects notable lists of poetry and verse novels for young readers.

Hannah Barnaby

Author of the poetry picture book "The Pine Cone's Secret: A Life Cycle Poem."

Caroline Brewer

Author of the biographical poetry picture book "Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature."

Matt Forrest Esenwine

Author of the poetry picture book "A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World."

Douglas Florian

Author of the poetry picture book "Cows and Sheep and Chicks That Cheep."

Kirsten Hall

Author of the poetry picture book "A Forest Song."

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What they’re saying

“This year's selections showcase a rich variety of poetic approaches, including biographical and historical narratives, explorations of the natural world, concrete and letter poems, sports and cultural histories, environmental themes, and deeply personal coming-of-age stories.”

— Rebecca T. Miller, Author

“The NCTE's annual poetry awards aim to highlight distinguished use of language, poetic craft, and meaningful engagement with young readers.”

— Rebecca T. Miller, Author

What’s next

The NCTE will continue to annually recognize outstanding poetry and verse novels for young readers, shining a light on diverse voices and innovative approaches to the genre.

The takeaway

The NCTE's notable poetry and verse novel selections demonstrate the depth, creativity, and social relevance of contemporary children's literature, inspiring educators to incorporate more poetry into their curriculum and exposing young readers to the power of the written word.