The Poetry Foundation has selected Elizabeth Acevedo as the newest Young People’s Poet Laureate, the literary society announced in a news release.
Acevedo takes over the post from Naomi Shihab Nye, who served in the position since 2019.
The laureateship, the Poetry Foundation says, is “awarded to a living writer in recognition of a career devoted to writing exceptional poetry for young readers,” with the goal of promoting poetry to children as well as educators and librarians.
Acevedo is a veteran of spoken-word poetry and a National Poetry Slam Champion. She had a breakout literary hit in 2018 with her young adult verse novel The Poet X, which was a Kirkus Prize finalist and a winner of several literary awards, including the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal.
Her other novels, With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land, also received considerable acclaim; the latter also made the Kirkus Prize shortlist. Acevedo’s latest book, Inheritance: A Visual Poem, illustrated by Andrea Pippins, was published in May; in a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called it “brave, sharp, and powerful.”
Acevedo shared news of her new position on Instagram, writing, “I am too amped to promote poetry to children and their families, and to devote myself to the vision I have of ensuring poetry reaches young people who often aren’t exposed to poetics, especially those outside of the mainland U.S.”
The Young People’s Poet Laureate position was established in 2006. Previous laureates have included Jack Prelutsky, Jacqueline Woodson, and Margarita Engle.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
