3. Explore Poetry, Music, and Art
10 Women Poets for Kids
1. πΉ Maya Angelou (1928β2014) Maya Angelou grew up in the American South during a time of great hardship and inequality, but she turned her experiences into some of the most powerful poetry ever written. She read her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, making her one of the most celebrated voices in American history. Why kids will love her: Her poems are full of strength, rhythm, and hope. Kids who love music and storytelling will connect with her powerful, soulful voice right away.
2. πΏ Emily Dickinson (1830β1886) Emily Dickinson lived a quiet life in Amherst, Massachusetts, but her imagination was anything but quiet! She wrote nearly 1,800 poems in her lifetime, though most were not published until after she died. She wrote about nature, life, death, and everything in between β often in short, punchy verses with unexpected twists. Why kids will love her: Her poems are short, surprising, and a little mysterious β like little puzzles to figure out. Perfect for curious minds!
3. π Phillis Wheatley (1753β1784) Phillis Wheatley was enslaved as a young child and brought to Boston, where her remarkable intelligence was recognized early. She became the first African American and one of the first American women ever to publish a book of poetry. Her work was so impressive that she was invited to meet General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Why kids will love her: Her story is one of extraordinary courage and brilliance against impossible odds β proof that nothing can silence a determined voice.
4. πΈ Nikki Giovanni (1943β2024) Nikki Giovanni is one of America's most beloved poets, known for her joyful, bold, and deeply personal poems about Black life, family, love, and identity. She has been writing and performing poetry for over fifty years and was a professor at Virginia Tech for decades. Why kids will love her: Her poems feel like a conversation β warm, funny, and totally real. Many of her poems were written specifically for and about children!
5. π Pat Mora (1942βpresent) Pat Mora is a celebrated Latina poet and children's book author who writes beautifully about family, the desert, the border, and the blending of Mexican and American cultures. She also founded El dΓa de los niΓ±os/El dΓa de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), a nationwide celebration of children and reading held every April 30th. Why kids will love her: Her poems are warm, colorful, and full of the sights, sounds, and smells of everyday life. Bilingual families will especially treasure her work.
6. π Gwendolyn Brooks (1917β2000) Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, which she received in 1950. She grew up in Chicago and wrote vividly about life in the city, ordinary people, and the beauty found in everyday moments. She was later named Poet Laureate of Illinois and served as the U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Why kids will love her: Her poems about neighborhood kids, street life, and everyday moments make children feel seen and celebrated β like poetry was written just for them.
7. πΊ Amanda Gorman (1998βpresent) Amanda Gorman made history at just 22 years old when she became the youngest poet ever to read at a U.S. Presidential Inauguration, performing her stunning poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. She grew up in Los Angeles and overcame a speech impediment as a child to become one of the most electrifying voices of her generation. Why kids will love her: Her story shows children that age is no barrier to changing the world with your words. Her energy and passion are absolutely contagious.
8. π Mary Oliver (1935β2019) Mary Oliver spent her life walking through forests, fields, and marshes and turning what she found there into breathtaking poetry. She won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and her poems about nature, attention, and simply being alive have brought comfort to millions of readers around the world. Why kids will love her: Kids who love animals, the outdoors, and quiet moments will feel like Mary Oliver was writing just for them. Her poems make you want to go outside and look more closely at everything.
9. ποΈ Lucille Clifton (1936β2010) Lucille Clifton was a poet, author, and educator whose work celebrated Black womanhood, family, resilience, and joy. She was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize twice and served as the Poet Laureate of Maryland. She also wrote a beloved series of children's books featuring a character named Everett Anderson. Why kids will love her: Her poems are short, gentle, and deeply kind β like a warm hug in words. Her children's books make her work especially accessible for little ones just discovering poetry.
10. β Julia Alvarez (1950βpresent) Julia Alvarez was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States as a child, an experience that deeply shaped her writing. She is a poet, novelist, and essayist whose work explores identity, family, and what it means to belong to two cultures at once. Her novel In the Time of the Butterflies is taught in schools across the country. Why kids will love her: Her stories and poems help children who have ever felt caught between two worlds feel understood, celebrated, and proud of where they come from.
