Sneak Peek List 2025

It's time again for my "sneak peek" list of the poetry collections, poetry picture books, poetry anthologies, and novels in verse that are set to be published in 2025. This is my initial list, but I will be adding to it as I am able, so if I have missed a book due to be published this year, please let me know. I hope this continues to be a useful resource for poets, critics, educators, and all who seek out new poetry for young people. So many wonderful new books to look forward to! 

Sneak Peek List of Poetry for Young People 2025

1. Abbas, Marzieh. 2025. Aarzu All Around. S&S/Salaam Reads.
2. Ackerman, Sara Holly. 2025. Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver. Ill. by Naoko Stoop. Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane.
3. Adams, Kaua Māhoe. 2025. An Expanse of Blue. HarperCollins/Heartdrum. 
4. Agard, John and Lawson, Jonarno. 2025. Wise Up! Wise Down! A Poetic Conversation. Ill. by Satoshi Kitamura. Candlewick.
5. Águila, María Dolores. 2025. A Sea of Lemon Trees. Roaring Brook Press.
6. Alexander, Kwame and Craft, Jerry. 2025. J vs. K. Little, Brown. 
7. Angelberger, Tom. 2025. Dino Poet: A Graphic Novel. Abrams.
8. Arango, Andrea Beatriz. 2025. It’s All or Nothing, Vale. Random House.
9. Atkins, Jeannine. 2025. Green Promises: Girls Who Loved the Earth. Atheneum.
10. Atkins, Jeannine. 2025. Knocking on Windows. Atheneum.
11. Atkins, Marcie Flinchum. 2025. One Step Forward. Versify.
12. Baron, Chris. 2025. Spark. Feiwel & Friends.
13. Bird, Betsy. 2025. Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Ill. by Andrea Tsurumi.
14. Browne, Mahogany L. 2025. A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. Random House/Crown.
15. Burgess, Matthew. 2025. Words with Wings and Magic Things. Ill. by Doug Salati. Tundra.
16. Chewins, Hayley. 2025. I Am the Swarm. Penguin/Viking.
17. Cummings, E.E. 2025. When the World is Puddle Wonderful. Ill. by Blanca Gómez. Norton Young Readers.
18. Damluji, Mona. 2025. I Want You to Know. Ill. by Ishtar Bäcklund. Seven Stories/Triangle Square. 
19. Dashielle, Alegra. 2025. When a Book Begins. Ill. by Daniella Alarcon, Paw Prints.
20. DeChambeau, Rhonda. 2025. Top Heavy. Holiday House. 
21. de la Jara, Jovi. 2025. ¿Qué es un poema?/What Is a Poem? Arte Publica/Piñata.
22. Denise, Anika Aldamuy. 2025. La Bandera: Poems of Resistance and Pride. Ill. by Ericka Lugo. HarperCollins. 
23. Elliott, David. 2025. In the Desert. Ill. by Gordy Wright. Candlewick. 
24. Engle, Margarita. 2025. Friend of the Rainforest. Holt/Macmillan.
25. Engle, Margarita. 2025. Island Creatures. Atheneum. 
26. Esenwine, Matt Forrest. Ed. 2025. A Universe of Rainbows. Ill. by Jamey Christoph. Eerdmans.
27. Florian, Douglas. 2025. Cows and Sheep and Chicks That Cheep. Beach Lane Books.
28. Frankel, Erin. 2025. Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder. Ill. by Jasu Hu. Astra/Calkins Creek.
29. Freeman, Megan E. 2025. Away. Aladdin.
30. Fussner, Kate. 2025. 13 Ways to Say Goodbye. HarperCollins. 
31. Ghigna, Charles. 2025. Sweet Dreams: Moon Poems for Bedtime. Ill. by Jacqueline East. Schiffer Kids.
32. Gill, Nikita. 2025. Hekate: The Witch. Little, Brown. 
33. Goodwin, Idris. 2025. King of the Neuro Verse. Atheneum.
34. Gorman, Amanda. 2025. Girls on the Rise. Ill. by Loveis Wise. Viking.
35. Gow, Robin. 2025. Sabertooth. Amulet. 
36. Graham, Joan Bransfield. 2025. AWESOME EARTH: Concrete Poems Celebrate Caves, Canyons, and Other Fascinating Landforms. Ill. by Tania Garcia. Clarion/HarperCollins.
37. Griffin, Molly Beth. 2025. Rings of Heartwood: Poems on Growing. Ill. by Claudia McGehee. Minnesota Historical Society.
38. Grimes, Nikki. 2025. A Cup of Quiet. Ill. by Cathy Ann Johnson. 
39. Hall, Kirsten. 2025. A Forest Song. Ill. by Evan Turk. Random House Studio. 
40. Harjo, Joy. 2025. For a Girl Becoming. Ill. by Adriana M. Garcia. Norton Young Readers. 
41. Hewitt, Nicole M. 2025. The Song of Orphan’s Garden. Macmillan.
42. Himmelman, John. 2025. The Boy Who Lived in a Shell: Snippets for Wandering Minds. Holiday House.
43. Hoberman, Mary Ann. 2025. How Elegant the Elephant. Ill. by Marla Frazee. Little, Brown.
44. James, Nancy Johnson. 2025. Dream a Dress, Dream a Poem: Dressmaker and Poet, Myra Viola Wilds. Ill. by Diana Ejaita. Abrams.
45. Jensen, Cordelia. 2025. Lilac and the Switchback. Holiday House.
46. Keith, Toby Jr. 2025. Knucklehead. Quill Tree. 
47. Kooser, Ted. 2025. Seven Skies All at Once. Ill. by Matt Myers. Candlewick.
48. Kurtz, Jane. 2025. Oh Give Me a Home. Catalyst Press. 
49. Kuyatt, Meg Eden. 2025. The Girl in the Walls. Scholastic.
50. LaTulippe, Renée M. 2025. Limelight: Curtain Up on Poetry Comics! Ill. by Chuck Gonzalez. Charlesbridge.
51. Lee, Rev. Chris and Lee, Jenny. 2025. You Are Beloved. Ill. by Carlo Molinari. Tyndall House/Tyndale Kids. 
52. Levinson, Suzy. 2025. Dinos that Drive. Ill. by Dustin Harbin. Tundra Books. 
53. Levy, Debbie. 2025. Photo Ark 1-2-3: An Animal Counting book in Poetry and Pictures. National Geographic Kids.
54. Limón, Ada. 2025. And, Too, the Fox. Ill. by Gaby D’Alessandro. Lerner/Carolrhoda. 
55. Lukidis, Lydia. 2025. Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere. Ill. by Katie Rewse. Capstone.
56. Macfarlane, Robert. 2025. Glow Worm. Ill. by Luke Adam Hawker. Magic Cat Publishing. 
57. McCullough, Joy. 2025. Everything is Poison. Dutton.
58. Messner, Kate. 2025. The Trouble with Heroes. Bloomsbury.
59. Moore, Jessica Care. 2025. Your Crown Shines: For Ketanji Brown Jackson. Ill. by Dare Coulter. HarperCollins.
60. Muñoz, Gloria. 2025. This Is the Year. Holiday House.
61. Murray, Yvette, 2025. A Gullah Geechee Color Wheel. Ill. by Tonya Engel. Free Spirit.
62. Novesky, Amy. 2025. The Poet and the Bees. Ill. by Jessica Love. Viking.
63. O'Brien, Gráinne. 2025. Solo. Little Island.
64. Ogle, Rex. 2025. When We Ride. Norton Young Readers. 
65. Oet, Rainie. 2025. Glitch Girl! Kokila Books.
66. Paulino, Jasminne. 2025. The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez. Putnam. 
67. Pérez, Ashley Hope. Ed. 2025. Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights. Ill. by Debbie Fong. Holiday House. 
68. Perron, Lisa Varchol. 2025. Wonder Why. Ill. by Nik Henderson. HarperCollins.
69. Pixley, Marcella. 2025. Neshama. Candlewick. 
70. Pyron, Bobbie. 2025. Octopus Moon. Penguin/Paulsen Books.
71. Rose, Caroline Starr. 2025. The Burning Season. Nancy Paulsen Books. 
72. Salazar, Aida. 2025. Sing Me a Story: Latine Short Stories in Verse. Penguin.
73. Sawyerr, Hannah V. 2025. Truth Is.  Abrams/Amulet.
74. Schu, John. 2025. Ruthie Rose's Big Idea: A Poetry Story. Ill. by Holly Hatam. Candlewick.
75. Semmer, Lauren. 2025. The Night Before Christmas. Clarion Books. 
76. Singleton, Kimberly. 2025. I Love My People. Ill. by Kim Holt. Augsburg Fortress/Beaming Books. 
77. Smith, Colby Cedar. 2025. The Siren and the Star. Simon & Schuster.
78. Snyder, Laurel. 2025. The Book of Candles. Ill. by Leanne Hatch. HarperCollins. 
79. Steinberg, D. J. 2025. Father’s Day, Here I Come! Ill. by Laurie Stansfield. Penguin/Grosset & Dunlap. 
80. Stemple, Heidi E.Y. 2025. The Poetry of Car Mechanics. Astra/Wordsong.
81. Sumner, Jamie. 2025. Please Pay Attention. Simon & Schuster.
82. Tate, Don. 2025. A Poem for Dudley Randall. Ill. by Laura Freeman. Abrams. 
83. Taylor, Sean. 2025. You're a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems. Ill. by Sam Usher. Candlewick.
84. Tison, Ari and Chapman, Ty. 2025. All Power to the People: Poems to Address the Past, Present, and Future of Policing. Lerner/Zest.
85. Todd, Traci N. 2025.This is Not a Small Voice. Ill. by Jade Orlando. Nosy Crow.
86. Torrible, Tricia. 2025. Torrible Puns: A Collection of Punny Poems. Ill. by Robert Dunn. Gnome Road. 
87. Venkatraman, Padma. 2025. Safe Harbor. Penguin.
88. Wardlaw, Lee. 2025. My Book of Firsts: Poems Celebrating a Baby’s Milestones. Ill. by Bruno Brogna. Red Comet Press.
89. Watson, Renée. 2025. All the Blues in the Sky. Bloomsbury.
90. Waters, Charles and Latham, Irene. 2025. If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility. Ill. by Olivia Sua. Candlewick.
91. Weatherford, Carole Boston and Weatherford, Jeffery Boston. 2025. Rap It Up! Ill. by Ernel Martinez. Macmillan/Holt.
92. Weil, Zero. 2025. 2025. Hear the Trees. Web of Life.
93. Wilson, Kip. Ed. 2025. All the Love Under the Vast Sky. Nancy Paulsen Books.
94. Winters, Kari-Lynn and Sherritt-Fleming, Lori. 2025. Hungry for Engineering: Poems to Gnaw On. Ill. by David Whamond. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 
95. Wolf, Allan. 2025. The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me. Candlewick Press. 
96. York, Rabiah. 2025. The One and Only Rumi. Ill. by Manuel Manouchehri. Penguin/Paulsen. 
97. Zoboi, Ibi. 2025. (S)kin. Versify.

I'm late to the party, but be sure to check out the other blog posts gathered for our recent Poetry Friday by Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference here. Meanwhile, happy new year of poetry!

Cybils Poetry Finalist: CLARA'S KOOKY COMPENDIUM

Janet and I are so pleased to share the news that Clara's Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz is a finalist for the Cybils Award in the Poetry category! Woohoo!

There are 7 poetry finalists and we are SO honored to be among them! For more information, go here. Meanwhile, here's the full list: 

A Planet Is a Poem
Amanda West Lewis, illustrated by Oliver Averill
Kids Can Press, Ltd

Black Girl You Are Atlas
Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Kokila

Grace Notes: Poems about Families
Naomi Shihab Nye
Greenwillow Books

Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature
Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Julia Patton
Millbrook Press

Poetry Comics
Grant Snider
Chronicle Books

Windsongs: Poems about Weather
Douglas Florian, illustrated by Douglas Florian
Beach Lane Books

AND OUR BOOK:
Clara’s Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz
Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong; illus. by Frank Ramspott
Pomelo Books

The committee also chose 7 novels in verse! 

The winners in each category will be announced on Feb. 14, 2025.

But it is truly an honor to be one of the 7 finalists! 

Now head on over to Mary Lee's amazing blog, A(nother) Year of Reading, for our Poetry Friday gathering here.

"Ghost Unlikely" by Kevan Atteberry from CLARA'S KOOKY COMPENDIUM

Ready for Halloween? There are quite a few poems for young people that feature Halloween characters and traditions and beliefs-- as well as poems about the season of Fall, the changing weather, and other elements of autumn. If you like a ghostly poem, here is a fun one about an unlikely ghost who is not scary at all!

Thank you, Kevan Atteberry, for your silly poem and Canva for fun animated graphics and this spooky audiophile! This poem, "Ghost Unlikely" comes from Clara's Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz published by Pomelo Books. Here's the sample page that features the poem (below). In this book, we pair poems with Thimblethoughts of trivia, Wonderfuzz questions to ponder, tiny nuggets of language arts skills, lists of related fascinating facts and lots of clever cartoons by artist Frank Ramspott. 

You can purchase this book from QEP Books (at a discount!) here. There are more than 100 poems to read, share, and use as mentor texts! Check it out!

Now, join the Poetry Friday crew over at Beyond Literacy Link where Carol is hosting our gathering (and gives a lovely shout-out to Clara's Kooky Compendium). [Thank you, Carol!]