Check out the selection of poetry books below, or visit the Learning Commons today to find more titles. If you are having trouble finding a book or logging into eBooks, we are here to help.
The Hill We Climb by
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe.
This Is Your Time by
Addressed as a letter to "young peacemakers," civil rights activist Ruby Bridges describes her experiences as the first black child to integrate into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans when she was six years old. Striking black-and-white photographs and brief paragraphs relate her encounters through the years with inspiring young school children, reflect on current racial struggles, and call on young people to bring healing and peace to the nation.
And We Rise by
Contains a collection of poetry by Erica Martin about both well-documented and lesser-known people and events of the Civil Rights Movement. Poems discuss the beginning of segregation, the laws defending it, and various events that happened on specific dates in history. Includes black-and-white photographs, a timeline, and additional resources.
Ain't Burned All the Bright by
Contains an interplay of verses and images that discuss the experiences of being black in the United States amidst a variety of contemporary issues, such as the killing of George Floyd, COVID-19, screen addiction, environmental destruction, police brutality, and discusses ways to find solace and inspiration in the world.
Unspeakable by
A picture book that sensitively examines the racial massacre in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921. The book describes the residents of the prosperous African American community, and what happened when a white mob attacked and destroyed the town. Includes an author's and an illustrator's note with photographs.
Augusta Savage by
Presents a biography in poems about the life of Augusta Savage, a Harlem Renaissance sculptor. Savage mentored many other burgeoning black artists during the 1930s, became the first black gallery owner, and fought for equal rights for black artists when she was denied a fellowship oversees.
