Poem-a-Day - Summer Reading List for Young Readers

Amber and Clay 
by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by 
Julia Iredale
Candlewick Press
March 2021
Hardcover, $22.99

Newbery Medal–winning author Laura Amy Schlitz gives readers a virtuoso performance in verse in Amber and Clay, a profoundly original epic pitched just right for fans of poetry, history, mythology, and fantasy.

Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast
by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by
Ruth Chan
Greenwillow Books
January 2021 
Hardcover, $18.99

A new collection from the celebrated first Young People’s Poet Laureate and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky, featuring more than one hundred original poems guaranteed to make readers laugh, imagine, write, and dream!

The One Thing You’d Save
by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by
Robert Sae-Heng
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
March 2021
Hardcover, $16.99

If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save? Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park explores answers to this provocative question in poems that capture the diverse voices of a middle school class.

Rebound
by Kwame Alexander
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
May 2021
Paperback & e-Book, $9.99

In this dynamic prequel to The Crossover, Chuck Bell takes center stage as we get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

Papa’s Free Day Party
by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by 
Wayne Anthony Still
Just Us Books
April 2021
Hardcover, $17.95

How do you celebrate your birthday when you don’t know when it is? Have a Free Day party! From award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson and based on her grandfather’s amazing life, an inspiring story about freedom and the power of family.

Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space
by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Sija Hong
Lerner Books
April 2021
Hardcover & e-Book, $19.99

Venture far beyond our solar system and discover the marvels of interstellar space. This wonder-filled poem explores cosmic phenomena ranging from dwarf planets and black holes to dark matter and brand-new stars.

The Shape of Home
by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Levine Querido
August 2021 
Hardcover, $17.99

True to her signature vibrant and ebullient style, award-winning author and illustrator, Rashin Khieriyeh shares the story about her first day of school in a new country and discovering the true shape of home.

Home is Not a Country 
by Safia Elhillo
Make Me a World (an imprint of Random House Children's Books)
March 2021
Hardcover, $17.99

A mesmerizing novel in verse about family, identity, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places—for fans of The Poet X, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, and Jason Reynolds.

A Hatful of Dragons
by Vikram Madan
Wordsong
March 2020 
Hardcover, $17.99

Ideal for fans of Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein, this collection of hilarious poems is perfect for any young reader who likes to read — and laugh!

This Poem is a Nest
by Irene Latham, illustrated by
Johanna Wright
Wordsong
September 2020
Hardcover, $17.99

What can you find in a poem about a robin’s nest? Irene Latham masterfully discovers “nestlings” or smaller poems about an astonishing variety of subjects–emotions, wild animals, natural landmarks on all seven continents, even planets and constellations.