Diverse Verse Happenings
A cross-section of past, present and future poetic news and updates from the Diverse Verse members & community
POEMS FOR ACTION is happening NOW. Go here to find out more about our juried call for poetry for youth, grades 3-12, sponsored and hosted by Diverse Verse.
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Us!
The Diverse Verse community is celebrating NATIONAL POETRY MONTH 2025 by hosting a call for poetry for young poets grades 3 through 12 in April. The 2025 theme is POETRY FOR ACTION. You can find the announcement and all the details here.
Be sure to also follow us on our website and Instagram for the blog updates. Check us out using the hashtag #DiverseVerse, and/or sign-up for our newsletter on www.diverseverse.com!
Our Presentation at NCTE 2024
DIVERSE VERSE MEMBERS were at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference in Boston, MA last year, and we presented on diversifying the poetic canon in classrooms and collections.
In our panel presentation, we amplified historically marginalized voices in poetry and presented activities to build critical literacy in K-8 students through the reading and writing of diverse poetry. We also invited students who participated in our poetry month call last year to share their poems with the audience. Additionally, we connected attendees to various resources, including a list of recommended works by poets from underrepresented communities
(Image on Left) NCTE 2024 Logo; (Center Photo) Padma Venkatraman, Lisa Stringfellow, Student Attendees, Suma Subramaniam, Valerie Bolling; (Photo on Right) Padma Venkatraman, Lisa Stringfellow, Suma Subramaniam, Valerie Bolling
MEMBER BOOK RELEASES & AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS to the following Diverse Verse Members for their book releases and accolades in 2024 and 2025!
Padma Venkatraman released the title SAFE HARBOR (Nancy Paulsen Books) in January 2025.
Margarita Engle has the following 2025 releases with Atheneum and Simon & Schuster: ISLAND CREATURES, the Spanish edition, CRIATURAS ISLEÑAS (July 8th), and SUEÑOS SALVAGES, the Spanish edition of Wild Dreamers.
Valerie Bolling released the following 2024 titles: RAINBOW DAYS: THE ORANGE WALL (Scholastic Books, 2024) , I SEE COLOR (Harper Collins, 2024), MIGHTY MIGHTY ME (Reach Out and Read, 2024). Valerie’s 2025 releases are : GOAL-SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM (Routledge/Stenhouse, July 2025) and A FLEA FOR JUSTICE: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for a Change (Charlesbridge, Sept 2025). Accolades for Valerie’s recent titles are as follows: TOGETHER WE RIDE is on this list: The Children's Book Council "Things That Go!" (Spring 2025; RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN! was chosen as a California State Library/First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom 2025 Book Club Choice; and BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM! was selected for inclusion in the 2025 New York Public Library's Storytime Collection
Lesléa Newman’s book JOYFUL SONG: A NAMING STORY, illustrated by Susan Gal (Levine Querido, 2024), received the following accolades:: Highly Commended Title Charlotte Zolotow Award for Outstanding Writing in Picture Books, 2025; American Library Association Rainbow Round Table Rainbow Book List, 2025; Finalist, Golden Kite Award for Illustration, 2025; Winner, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Honor, 2025; Finalist, Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Award, 2025; ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Notable Children’s Book List, 2025; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2024; School Library Journal Best Picture Books of the Year, 2024; Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Books of the Year, 2024; The Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year, 2024; The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year, 2024; Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books of the Year, 2024; Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books, 2024; New York Public Library Best Books for Kids, 2024; Junior Library Guild Selection, 2024; Finalist, California Indie Booksellers Association (CALIBA) Golden Poppy Award, 2024; Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE All Ages Award, 2024; Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE Diverse Representation Award, 2024; Finalist, Center for Jewish History JewCE Tradition and Folktale Award, 2024
Lisa Stringfellow’s title KINGDOM OF DUST (Quill Tree Books, August, 2024) was chosen as a Junior Guild Gold Standard Collection.
Reem Faruqi has a forthcoming book release, ZARINA DIVIDED (Harper Collins, 2025).
Nadine Pinede debuted her novel-in-verse, WHEN THE MAPAU SINGS in 2024 with Candlewick Press.
Ruth Behar received awards for the following titles: ACROSS SO MANY SEAS, (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House, 2024) was honored with Middle grade novel. Newbery Honor Award, 2025; Sydney Taylor Honor Award, 2025.; and LUCKY BROKEN GIRL (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House, 2017) a middle grade novel. was Included in Kirkus Review’s list of "Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)", 2025.
Suma Subramaniam released the older chapter book/early middle-grade book, V. MALAR- GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Candlewick, 2024) and the picture book, MY NAME IS AS LONG AS A RIVER, illustrated by Tara Anand (Penguin Workshop, 2024), which was named a 2025 ILA Notable Book.
