Black Poetry Matters 2022

Once again, I'm so happy to see how many of the poetry books set to be published this year are by Black poets and authors. Some of the most compelling and award-winning writers of poetry and novels in verse for young people are by Black writers. I'm always so moved to see how many works of poetry are recognized by Coretta Scott King honors, for example. Black writers are bringing their own music, culture, and voices to creating powerful poetry for young readers. Here are some of the poetry books and novels in verse to look for authored by Black writers. (Currently available covers)

According to my notes, here are the forthcoming books of poetry and novels in verse by Black writers. Please notify me (in the comments), if you know of others. 

Poetry and Novels in Verse by Black Writers 2022

1. Acevedo, Elizabeth. 2022. Inheritance. Ill. by Andrea Pippins. Harpercollins/ Quill Tree.
2. Alexander, Kwame. 2022. The Door of No Return. Little, Brown. 
3. Brown, Tameka Fryer. 2022. Shirley Chisholm: Not Done Yet. Ill. by Nina Crews. Lerner/ Millbrook. 
4. Chapman, Ty. 2022. Sarah Rising. Ill. by DeAnn Wiley. Beaming Books. 
5. Comrie, Courtne. 2022. Rain Rising. HarperCollins.
6. Dawkins, Matthew. 2022. Until We Break. Wattpad. 
7. Duncan, Alice Faye. 2022. Yellow Dog Blues. Ill. by Chris Raschka. Eerdmans. 
8. Elliot, Zetta & Miller-Lachmann, Lyn. 2022. Moonwalking. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
9. Honoré, Leslé. 2022. Brown Girl, Brown Girl. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera. Little, Brown. 
10. Latham, Irene & Waters, Charles. 2022. African Town. Putnam.
11. Latham, Irene & Waters, Charles. 2022. Be a Bridge. Ill. by Nabila Adani. Lerner/ Carolrhoda.
12. Lockington, Mariama J. 2022. Forever is Now. FSG.
13. Martin, Erica. 2022. And We Rise. Philomel. 
14. Martin, Erica. 2022. Whites Only: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems. Philomel. 
15. Nelson, Marilyn. 2022. Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor's Life. Little, Brown/Ottaviano.
16. Pinkney, Andrea. 2022. Bright Brown Baby. Ill. by Brian Pinkney. Orchard. 
17. Reynolds, Jason and Griffin, Jason. 2022. Ain't Burned All the Bright. Atheneum.
18. Rodaah, Rahma. 2022. Dear Black Child. Ill. by Lydia Mba. HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray.
19. Rodash, Rahma. 2022. Dear Muslim Child. HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray. 
20. Rolle, Sojourner Kincaid. 2022. Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem. Ill. by Alex Bostic. Union Square Kids.
21. Rowe, Kelis. 2022. Finding Jupiter. Crown. 
22. Smith Jr., Charles R. 2022. What Makes Us Strong. Ill. by Evans, Shane W. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 
23. Watson, Renee. 2022. Maya’s Song. Ill. by Bryon Collier. HarperCollins.
24. Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2022. Call Me Miss Hamilton: One Woman’s Case for Equality and Respect. Ill by Jeffrey Boston Weatherford. Millbrook Press. 
25. Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2022. The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice. Random House.
26. Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2022. Standing in the Need of Prayer. Ill. by Frank Morrison.Crown/Random House.
27. Woodfolk, Ashley. 2022. Nothing Burns as Bright as You. HMH/ Versify. 
28. Woodson, Jacqueline. 2022. The Year We Learned to Fly. Ill. by Rafael Lòpez. Penguin/Paulsen.
29. Zoboi, Ibi. 2022. Star Child: A Constellation of Octavia E. Butler. Dutton.

Look for more Poetry Friday goodness over at Unexpected Intersections where Elisabeth is hosting our happenings!