Books must have been published or distributed in the United States or its territories during the current year. Please see submission information for details on how to submit books published in October through December of the calendar year. Any title of outstanding poetry or verse novel literature for children ages three to fourteen (preK–grade 8) is eligible. Poetry anthologies or compilations are accepted.

Books must be an original work for children. (See below for additional criteria.)

The following are ineligible: adaptations of adult texts, translated books, and book reissues.

^*Individual poems demonstrate

• content that is engaging and understandable by intended readers;
• language that is innovative, authentic, fresh, and imaginative, with careful word choices, and uses poetic devices to evoke depth of feeling and offer new insights and ideas;
• form or structure that enhances readers’ understanding of the poem’s subject, content, or mood; and
• illustrations or visual elements that thoughtfully reflect and enhance the poem’s content, tone, and mood, supporting readers’ emotional and interpretive experience.

^*Collections and anthologies demonstrate

• purposeful selection of high-quality poetry;
• arrangement that is logical and coherently organized around themes and topics; and
• inclusiveness of a range of poetry and perspectives around a specific theme.
• In addition, if an old collection or anthology has been recently published or reissued, it must have a new perspective or fresh approach, and/or be newly illustrated in order to be considered as a new collection.
• Picturebooks, including illustrated versions of poems, must incorporate poetic language that exemplifies figurative language and demonstrates depth of imagery and meanings, rather than simply using rhymed couplets.

^*Some criteria in this and the following section are excerpted from these sources:

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2010). Literature and the Child (7th ed.). Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

Short, K. G., & Cueto, D. W. (2022). Essentials of Children’s Literature (10th ed.). Pearson.

• Novel-length narratives told through poetic language, instead of prose, usually in free verse” (Short & Cueto, 2022, p. 106)
• Excellence in writing and emotional impact: Does the poetry “create images, express feelings, and stir emotions”? (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2010)
• Format that enriches a story, character development, and setting and establishes a strong voice (Short & Cueto, 2022, p. 106)

The Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children* is presented in every other year by the NCTE Children’s Poetry Awards Committee at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon during the NCTE Annual Convention. The award recipient receives a plaque, is a featured speaker at the Luncheon, and is invited to present at a poetry session during the NCTE Annual Convention.

All Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels List author(s) and/or illustrator(s) are recognized at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon the year following the announcement and may be invited to present at related NCTE Children’s Book Awards sessions.

*The Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children was given annually until 1982 and every three years until 2009. In 2008, the criteria were updated and the time frame was changed to every other year.

Nominations for 2027 must be submitted to the Award Committee by September 15, 2026. Please note this deadline has been updated in 2026.

We request early submission whenever possible to give the committee enough time to review all submissions. One copy of each nominated book should be sent to the committee members for examination. Digital copies are welcome and can be emailed directly to the committee members. Advance copies or galley proofs are acceptable and encouraged, especially for books published in September and October due to their proximity to the deadline. Hard copies are still requested in addition to the digital versions so that the committee can fully evaluate each work. Books published October through December have the option to be considered for the next Award cycle instead if an advanced copy is not available. Publishers should contact NCTE as soon as possible to confirm submission details.

NCTE members: Nominate using the submission form on the Children’s Book Award homepage.

Nonmembers: Contact bookawards@ncte.org with the title(s), author(s), and publication date(s) of the books you are nominating, as well as the award for which you would like to be considered. We will work with you on next steps. No other forms are required.

Children’s Poetry Awards seals are available to accompany selected books and their future printings. The seals serve to endorse the excellence of the books and distinguish them from among the thousands of books published each year.

Complimentary digital seals are available to the winning authors and their publishers. These are available in color or black and white. Please contact Sarah Miller, bookawards@ncte.org, to make this request.

Physical sticker seals can be purchased in our webstore. They are available here.

2026 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2025 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2024 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2023 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2022 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2021 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2020 Notable Children’s Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2019 Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2018 Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels

2017 Notable Poetry Books

2017 Notable Verse Novels

2016 Notable Poetry Books

2016 Notable Verse Novels

2015 Notable Poetry Books