About Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Awards
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award was named for the internationally renowned educator, poet, anthologist and passionate advocate of poetry for young people. Established in 1993, the award is presented annually to an American poet or anthologist for the most outstanding new book of poetry for children published in the previous calendar year. Selected by a panel of authors, librarians, teachers and scholars, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award was the first award of its kind in the United States. The Pennsylvania Center for the Book and the Penn State University Libraries share joint administration of the annual award. Beginning 2007-present, this award has been administered by Education Librarian at Penn State and Director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Karla M. Schmit—and has been funded by the Pennsylvania School Librarians' Association (2007-2012), the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, sponsored by Penn State University Libraries, and Lee Bennett Hopkins.
Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award Winner 2024-2020
Welcome to the Wonder House by Call Number: 811.6 DotThis collection of poems, creatively presented in the format of an allegorical house, will engage anyone who has ever wondered "why?" as it shows young readers that wonder is everywhere--in yourself and in the world around you.
Garvey in the Dark by Call Number: Not in CMC"Garvey in the Dark is more than a beautifully crafted novel in verse. It's a story that faces news headlines and captures the wild emotional roller coaster of the COVID-19 pandemic with honesty and courage.
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Call Number: 973.0496 HanThe 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson.
On the Horizon by Call Number: 940.54 LowOn the Horizon tells the story of people whose lives were lost or forever altered by the twin tragedies of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. Based on the lives of soldiers at Pearl Harbor and civilians in Hiroshima,
How to Read a Book by Call Number: P AleHow to Read a Book, a poetic and beautiful journey about the experience of reading. Find a tree--a black tupelo or dawn redwood will do--and plant yourself. (It's okay if you prefer a stoop, like Langston Hughes.) With these words, an adventure begins.
Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Books 2022-2020
My Head Has a Bellyache by Call Number: 811 HarNow, Chris Harris delivers all that and more with dazzling new heights of creativity, kooky conundrums, witty wordsmithing, and of course, wacky laugh-out-loud fun! There's a whole new cast of characters to meet, from the Nail-Clipping Fairy (who delivers teeth at night), to Orloc the Destroyer (who can be defeated only by his mommy), to the Elderly Caveman (who complains about the younger generation obsessed with playing with fire).
The Museum on the Moon by Call Number: Not in CMCThe most curious museum on Earth isn't on the earth at all, it's on the moon. "The poetry and facts complement each other and make for a nice flow of information and fun, resulting in sometimes goofy poetry....
The One Thing You'd Save by Call Number: F ParIf your house were on fire, what one thing would you save? Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park explores different answers to this provocative question in linked poems that capture the diverse voices of a middle school class.
Ice! Poems about Polar Life by Call Number: 591.911 FloThis kid-pleasing collection of more than twenty poems about the polar regions and the animals that live there is both fun and informative.
You Are Home by Call Number: 917.3 TurAward-winning author and illustrator Evan Turk showcases the beauty and importance of the National Parks in this gorgeous picture book that takes readers on an amazing tour across the United States.
Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award Winner 2019-2010
Martin Rising by Call Number: 811.6 PinWith imagination and power, the award-winning Pinkney duo celebrates MLK's nonviolent struggle for civil rights -- as he transforms America through the spirit of love.
One Last Word by Call Number: 811 GriFrom the New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King award-winning author Nikki Grimes comes an emotional, special new collection of poetry inspired by the Harlem Renaissance--paired with full-color, original art from today's most exciting African-American illustrators.
Somos Como las Nubes / We Are Like the Clouds by Call Number: P ArgWhy are young people leaving their country to walk to the United States to seek a new, safe home? Over 100,000 such children have left Central America.
Enchanted Air by Call Number: B EngleMargarita is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother's tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island.
The Crossover (graphic Novel) by Call Number: GN AleKwame Alexander's New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal-winning The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile.
Etched in Clay by Call Number: B DaveAn enslaved young man named Dave was brought to Edgefield, in the heart of South Carolina's pottery-producing area. Dave showed exceptional natural talent. Soon he was creating pieces of great beauty and often massive size. He also learnt to read and write, even though South Carolina had laws prohibiting slave literacy. Then Dave did something even more daring: he began to sign his jars and carve many of them with sayings and short poems that reflected his daily life and experiences. With these courageous acts, Dave quietly protested through his art.
Water Sings Blue by Call Number: 811.6 CooWater Sings Blue evokes the beauty and power, the depth and mystery, and the endless resonance of the sea.
Won Ton by Call Number: P WarSometimes funny, sometimes touching, this adoption story, Won Ton, told entirely in haiku, is unforgettable.
The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by Call Number: Not in CMCIn a monastery in the mountains of Mourne during the Middle Ages, one young monk struggled to focus on his task- copying the Bible and other scholarly books with plain brown ink made from wood bark in plain brown books in his plain brown robe at his plain brown desk. Brother Theophane was soon transferred from the scribe's room and assigned to make the ink that the brothers used.
Button Up! by Call Number: 811.54 SchDid you actually think shoes, jackets, and hats didn't have personalities? Think again!
Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Books 2019-2010
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Call Number: Not in CMCPoetry These short, vibrant tanka poems about Black boys and young men depict thirteen views of everyday life: dressed in Sunday best, running to catch a bus, growing up to be teachers, and much more.
The Honeybee by Call Number: Not in CMCBuzz from flower to flower with a sweet honeybee in this timely, clever, and breathtakingly gorgeous picture book from critically acclaimed author Kirsten Hall and award-winning illustrator Isabelle Arsenault.
No Honor book this year.
Garvey's Choice by Call Number: F GriThis emotionally resonant novel in verse by award-winning author Nikki Grimes celebrates choosing to be true to yourself.
Hypnotize a Tiger by Call Number: 811.54 BroHypnotize a Tiger is chock-full of Calef's zany black-and-white artwork and features his wonderfully inventive characters and worlds--from the "completely nonviolent and silent" Lou Gnome to Percival, the impetuous (and none-too-sensible) lad who believes he is invincible, to Hugh Jarm (who has a huge arm, natch!). It's a whimsical world: creative, fun, and inspiring!
Firefly July: a Year of Very Short Poems by Call Number: 811.008036 FirCelebrated poet and anthologist Paul B. Janeczko pairs with Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet for a collection of short poems to sample and savor.
Coaltown Jesus by Call Number: F KoeWhen Jesus shows up in Walker's life, healing triumphs over heartbreak in Koertge's finest and funniest novel yet. Walker shouldn't have been so surprised to find Jesus standing in the middle of his bedroom. After all, he'd prayed for whoever was up there to help him, and to help his mom, who hadn't stopped crying since Noah died two months ago.
Rutherford B. , Who Was He? by Call Number: 811.54 SinForty-three men with forty-three passions, but with one thing in common: a presidential place in America's history. With her gift for unforgettable rhythm and innovative rhyme, Marilyn Singer brings the presidents of the United States to life--from Washington to Obama--and contextualizes them in their time.
No Honor books this year.
Hidden by Call Number: F FroWhen Wren Abbott and Darra Monson are eight years old, Darra's father steals a minivan. He doesn't know that Wren is hiding in the back. The hours and days that follow change the lives of both girls. Darra is left with a question that only Wren can answer. Wren has questions, too. Years later, in a chance encounter at camp, the girls face each other for the first time. They can finally learn the truth--that is, if they're willing to reveal to each other the stories that they've hidden for so long.
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Call Number: Not in CMCCome feel the cool and shadowed breeze, come smell your way among the trees, come touch rough bark and leathered leaves: Welcome to the night.
A Curious Collection of Cats by Call Number: Not in CMCThe quirky ways of cats are exquisitely captured in more than thirty original visual poems. From acrobat-flipping to toilet-bowl-sipping, couch-scratching to dog-catching, this insightful collection celebrates the fickle feline in ways that any cat lover will appreciate.
Crossing Stones by Call Number: Not in CMCMaybe you won't rock a cradle, Muriel. Some women seem to prefer to rock the boat. Eighteen-year-old Muriel Jorgensen lives on one side of Crabapple Creek. Her family's closest friends, the Normans, live on the other.
The Tree That Time Built by Call Number: Not in CMCA poetry celebration of nature, science, the environment, and the wonder of it all, from the Children's Poet Laureate The Tree That Time Built is a moving anthology of more than 100 poems celebrating the wonders of the natural world and encouraging environmental awareness.
