In Celebration: Verse That Sparks Joy
For each Spotlight blog post, the CBC curates a themed selection from recent booklists, helping parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and children’s book enthusiasts discover standout titles from our member publishers.
It’s easy to feel mired in the daily grind of life, overwhelmed by forces beyond our control. Finding space to shift perspective and see the world anew is vital—and often, the things that inspire us most are close at hand, waiting to be discovered in the rhythm of a poem.
To help find that spark, these selections from our In Full Bloom: Poetry & Verse booklist lift us up with joyful images and sentiments that leap off the page. These books encourage readers of all ages to look both inward and outward, celebrating the wonder that exists both in the world around them and deep within themselves—all brought to life through the magic of poetry.
Awe!, by Chana Stiefel; illustrated by Susan Gal (Scholastic / Scholastic Press) — Social Emotional Learning, Science / Nature, Kindness / Generosity / Support, Places / Travel, ages 5–7, 7–9.
Introducing A. W. E., an
Awesome
Wondrous
Empowering
Emotion!
When chills travel down your spine,
and sudden tears surprise your eyes.
When your heart exclaims, “Ooh! Ahh! Whoaaa!”
That’s when you know
you’ve found AWE.
This breathtaking journey will take you to the Grand Canyon and the deepest reaches of the sea. It will invite you to share moments of giving and to feel the joy of family and community. It will lift you to the highest heights and make your spirit soar. Experiencing awe has been scientifically proven to spark wonder, improve thinking, and open us up to new ideas. For children living through these turbulent times, Awe! is the perfect book to foster positivity, comfort, joy, and empowerment.
Black Boy, Rise, by Brynne Barnes; illustrated by Bryan Collier (Chronicle Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Art / Performing Arts, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 3–5, 5–7.
A bold anthem that celebrates the power and potential of young Black boys by the award-winning creative team of author Brynne Barnes and superstar illustrator Bryan Collier.
From the celebrated author of Black Girl Rising and Colors of Me and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and multiple-award-winning illustrator of Trombone Shorty, Rosa, and many more, this is a picture book to read, share, and cherish across generations. Black Boy, Rise combines gorgeous, moving text filled with lyrical references to poets and writers whose voices have lifted and defined the Black experience, including Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, W. E. B. Du Bois, and James Weldon Johnson with vibrant, beautifully rendered watercolor images that powerfully reflect the soul and gloriousness of Black boys in all their brilliance: the rich legacy of their past, the grit and grace of their present, and the divine promise of their future.
A Black Girl and Her Braids, by Jaylene Clark Owens; illustrated by Brittney Bond (Penguin Random House / Penguin Workshop) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Cultural Diversity, Social Emotional Learning, ages 3–5, 5–7.
Based on the viral poem, braids of all lengths, looks, parts, and styles are explored and cheered on in this vibrant picture book celebrating the versatility of Black hair.
Join author Jaylene Clark Owens as she pens an ode to Black girls and braids, a dynamic duo. This empowering picture book shines a light on what braids mean to Black girls of all ages and shows how Black communities have managed to continuously make space for braids, paying homage to their origins while making fun and futuristic styles, despite rules and regulations attempting to condemn them. Braids of all lengths, colors, and styles are brought to life with detailed illustrations from Brittney Bond, crafting a timeless book that honors creativity, encourages confidence, and calls for Black girls to proudly show off their braids no matter what!
Black Girl Rising, by Brynne Barnes; illustrated by Bryan Collier (Chronicle Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Social Emotional Learning, ages 5–7, 7–9.
This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world.
You are a thousand curls
unfurling in your hair.
You are a thousand fists
standing proudly in air.
You are the song of swallows,
lifting sun as they sing—
breaking light with their beaks,
breaking sky with their wings . . .
Black girlhood is beautiful! In this deeply moving celebration and rallying cry, and in the face of the many messages that still work to convince Black girls that they should shrink themselves, hide their light, know their place, Brynne Barnes and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh reclaim that narrative: A Black girl’s place is everywhere, and her selfhood is everything she can dream it to be. With poignant, poetic prose and striking, color-drenched illustrations, this empowering picture book centers the inherent worthiness and radiance of Black girls that is still far too often denied. A love letter to and for Black girls everywhere, Black Girl Rising alchemizes the sorrow and strength of the past into the brilliant gold of the future, sweeping young readers of all backgrounds into a lyrical exploration of what it means to be Black, female, and glorious.
Celebrate We Gullah Geechee: A Kids’ Look at the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, by Yvette R. Murray; illustrated by Tonya Engel (Free Spirit Publishing) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Places / Travel, Cultural Diversity, Family / Community, ages 5–7, 3–5.
Celebrate We Gullah Geechee invites the reader along on a dynamic exploration of Gullah culture.
With rhythm and repetition to engage children, five narrators take turns highlighting what they notice in their world, each focusing on one of the five senses. We are there with them: A girl sees a “haint blue door at Grandma’s house / Rocking chairs waiting on the porch.” On special days, we hear the marching band play—ba-da-dum-bum. Our hands explore the prickly bark of Palmetto tree trunks. Through these sensory experiences, readers will honor and learn about the culture and traditions of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
With love that shines through every line, Celebrate We Gullah Geechee:
- Uplifts Gullah Geechee history and contemporary culture
- Spotlights the importance of family, community, and place
- Engages children with rhythmic writing and lots of onomatopoeia
- Includes a section for adults with additional background information
Written by award-winning poet Yvette R. Murray, this book invites children to explore their own worlds—whether near or far from the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor—through sense and celebration.
The Celebration Place: God’s Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church, by Dorena Williamson; illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks (InterVarsity Press / IVP Kids) — Religion / Spirituality, Cultural Diversity, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Family / Community, ages 5–7, 3–5, 7–9.
No longer is church a divided space
Now it’s a celebration place!
Church is more than just a building—it’s a gathering of God’s people to celebrate who he is and all that he has done. Welcome to The Celebration Place, a beautifully illustrated book that invites children to envision God’s dream for a delightfully diverse church. Authored by Dorena Williamson and brought to life with vibrant illustrations by Erin Bennett Banks, this book inspires kids to see the beauty of community, unity, and justice in God’s kingdom.
The Celebration Place helps kids and families explore themes of inclusivity and belonging, emphasizing that church is a place where God’s people celebrate diversity, work together, and learn about God’s vision for justice and unity. That was the message that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared, and it’s an important message for us today. Because of God’s great love, church should be the best celebration place!
This delightful rhyme, accompanied by colorful illustrations, will be enjoyed by children and the adults who read with them. Also included is a note from the author to encourage further conversation about the content.
Climbing, by Amy Lowell; illustrated by Paolo Domeniconi (The Creative Company / Creative Editions) — Imagination / Play, Science / Nature, Social Emotional Learning, ages 7–9, 5–7.
Twentieth-century poet Amy Lowell was known for her relatively straightforward verse and command of imagery—stylistic strengths that also make her work highly accessible, even to the youngest readers. As the speaker climbs an apple tree, the theme of persisting during a challenge seems clear enough; but then we discover that she is climbing toward a “sparkling” town above, and the scene changes from simple to metaphorical. Paolo Domeniconi’s enchanting, reality-bending art is the perfect complement to the scenes described by Lowell, and children will eagerly imagine themselves to be in the protagonist’s shoes.
How Do You Make a Rainbow?, by Caroline Crowe; illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs (Kane Miller Books) — Family / Community, Social Emotional Learning, Concepts, ages 3–5, 5–7.
How do you make a rainbow? This joyful story reveals how to find color and hope when days seem dim and gray: celebrating love, positivity, and the precious relationship between a child and her grandad. Stuck inside on a cloudy day, a little girl asks her grandad to help her paint a rainbow in the sky. But as Grandad tells her, rainbows aren’t painted on the sky, they grow out of kindness, hope, and helping other people. How Do You Make a Rainbow? It is a reassuring, heartwarming story of colors, kindness, community, and nature that shows that brighter times are always around the corner.
I am Monster Magnificent, by Raven Howell; illustrated by Sarah Gledhill (Story Monsters Press / Story Monsters LLC) — Magical Realism, Art / Performing Arts, Friendships, Coming of Age, ages 7–9, 9–12, Teen (12+).
What makes you monster magnificent?
This vibrant showcase of poetry and artwork by young students celebrates their joyous nature and magnificence. The collection of poems, varying in form, features fun subjects such as baseball, dragons, classroom Zooming, and friendships. An art gallery of whimsical self-portraits and “magnificent” images rounds out the anthology. Writers and artists are elementary-aged children from diverse backgrounds, including special education classrooms.
A delightful reminder to celebrate days with cheer and gratitude, and prompt the question: What makes YOU monster magnificent?
In My Skin, by Morgan Christie; illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger (Lantana Publishing) — Cultural Diversity, Imagination / Play, Social Emotional Learning, Mental / Physical Health, ages 3–5, 5–7.
In my skin, I move. I spin like crinkly leaves on a windy day. I dance to my very own rhythm. In my skin, I hope. I dust myself off so I can take on tomorrow. I chase the rainbow that shines after the storm.
Told by many different children as they sing, rise, reach, move, learn, hope, laugh, rest, remember, and love, this gorgeous poem shows us that when you embrace the skin you’re in, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities.
My Language is a Garden, by E.G. Alaraj; illustrated by Rachel Wada (Orca Book Publishers) — Non-English Languages, Family / Community, Cultural Diversity, Places / Travel, ages 3–5.
Do you know my language? Have you heard the sounds it makes?
Has it rocked you in its rhythms? Have you seen the roads it takes?
A parent invites a child to get to know their language. In a driving rhythm, they speak about the language blossoming in deserts and plains, building castles and forts and motoring over roadways. Not hemmed in by borders, this language holds ancient knowledge, medicines, and nourishment within it, and has explored the farthest reaches of the universe. The parent realizes that teaching their heritage language to their child will always connect them and allow them to grow a garden of language together.
For the parents and caregivers who want to share their heritage language with the children in their lives, E.G. Alaraj has crafted this celebratory and inspiring poem in hopes it will get more conversations started and encourage kids to see the joy in discovering their roots. Exploring the links between language, culture, and the natural world, this book is a heartfelt celebration of the vitality and importance of our languages and how they bind us together.
One Can Be, by Pat Zietlow Miller; illustrated by Annie Cron (Beaming Books) — Social Emotional Learning, Friendships, Books / Reading, ages 3–5, 5–7.
An ode to introverts and quiet leaders.
Sometimes you need to be alone—to think and breathe. Other times you need to be with friends—those you know and those you’ve only just met. And sometimes everyone works together to create something wonderful.
What can one person do all alone? Quite a lot, actually. Even so, there are times it helps to work with others. With spare, lyrical text, bestselling author Pat Zietlow Miller celebrates the power of being alone—and of coming together with others—centered on the love of reading and creating community around books. This is a book about trusting yourself and your ideas, seeing a need, and connecting with others to meet it.
Perfect for introverts, quiet leaders, and anyone who loves books and little libraries.
This Is Not a Small Voice, by Traci N. Todd; illustrated by Jade Orlando (Nosy Crow Inc.) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Family / Community, History, ages 9–12.
Discover classic favorites and new stars. This gorgeously illustrated children’s anthology is the perfect introduction to poets such as Lucille Clifton, Langston Hughes, Benjamin Zephaniah, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, Caleb Femi, and Joseph Coelho, and also features brand-new work by poets Nikki Grimes, Carole Boston Weatherford, and others.
Lovingly compiled by award-winning picture book writer and editor Traci N. Todd, this collection touches on a wide range of themes-hope and struggle, joy and pride, home and food, music and family. Each poem is paired with vibrant, inviting illustrations by Jade Orlando.
This beautiful gift book is a remarkable and moving tribute to the rich literary history and bright future of Black writing.
You Don’t Have to Be Everything, by Diana Whitney (Hachette Book Group / Workman Kids) — Coming of Age, Social Emotional Learning, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Teen (12+).
Poems to Turn to Again and Again—from Amanda Gorman, Sharon Olds, Kate Baer, and More
Created and compiled just for young women, You Don’t Have to Be Everything is filled with works by a wide range of poets who are honest, unafraid, and skilled at addressing the complex feelings of coming-of-age, from loneliness to joy, longing to solace, and attitude to humor. These unintimidating poems offer girls a message of self-acceptance and strength, giving them permission to let go of shame and perfectionism.
The cast of 68 poets is extraordinary: Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate, who read at Joe Biden’s inauguration; bestselling authors like Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Acevedo, Sharon Olds, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Mary Oliver; Instagram-famous poets including Kate Baer, Melody Lee, and Andrea Gibson; poets who are LGBTQ, poets of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, poets who sing of human experience in ways that are free from conventional ideas of femininity. Illustrated in full color with work by three diverse artists, this book is an inspired gift for daughters and granddaughters—and anyone on the path to becoming themselves.
Looking for more great reads? Check out all of our Spotlight blog posts!
