Celebrating Asian American Voices in 2025 Children's Poetry
In 2026 we served on the NCTE Children's Poetry Awards Committee, with Junko serving as chair and Jongsun as a committee member. For the 2026 awards, we reviewed 130 poetry picturebooks and anthologies and 35 novels in verse. As we read these books, we became curious about the representation of Asian American authors and illustrators. As anticipated, we found relatively few titles. Among the 165 books submitted, only four poetry picturebooks and two verse novels were written or illustrated by Asian American creators. The fact that only a small portion of the year's publications were created by Asian American authors and illustrators highlights the continued under-representation of Asian American voices in children's poetry. However, the six books we identified reflect a rich diversity of themes, including appreciation for teachers, family relationships, migration, hope and resilience.
These books can be used for a variety of instructional purposes. In addition to teaching children not only about figurative language and poetic forms, they also introduce readers to Asian histories, cultures, communities and geography, while fostering empathy and an appreciation for the universal human connections and experiences that transcend race, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds. We hope this collection encourages educators, librarians and families to seek out these outstanding works and continue expanding the presence of Asian American voices within children's poetry.
Poetry Picturebooks
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Thank You, Teacher! by Supriya Kelkar
Teachers are celebrated in this poetry picturebook. Teachers are there for children's good days and challenging days and support them in every way they can. Readers may write a thank you note for their teachers as the book includes how to write one when they finish reading this book. Supriya Kelkar is an award-winning author and illustrator who has written other children's books. Many of her books inform readers about Indian culture and history, which stems from Kelkar's Indian American cultural background.
Falling Star by Linda Liu
The yellow-greenish star with two big eyes on the cover introduces the idea that it is going to be a story about the star. Readers who have read Liu's other picturebooks, Sour Apple (2024) and Hidden Gem (2023), might be able to guess that Falling Star is Liu's book due to the resemblance among the covers of the three picturebooks. A self-doubting star worries about competing with other stars for the spotlight. The star feels anxious and has low self-esteem. On top of that, the star falls into a hole. However, the star is lifted by two sailors and is positioned in a lighthouse. The star is shining and remembers that there is no reason to compare oneself to others. "I am who I am, and that matters the most." That is what the star remembers.
Our Lake by Angie Kang
Angie Kang became one of the few Asian American illustrators to receive the Caldecott Award, as Our Lake received the 2026 Caldecott Honor. Two brothers go to swim in the lake. The older brother encourages the younger brother to jump in, but the younger brother hesitates. The younger brother remembers his father who enjoyed swimming in the lake. With the precious memory in mind, the younger brother jumps in. Then, the lake becomes "our lake" as if the father and the boys were there together. It implies that the boys have each other and will cherish their memories with their father. The thick texture of the paint matches the heavy emotions the boys must have felt as they remembered their father. The blue and yellow colors create a hot, lake-swimming day with a calm, toned-down mood.
You Make the World written by Muon Thi Van and illustrated by Huynh Kim Lien and Phung Nguyen Quang.
Muon Thi Van, an acclaimed Vietnamese American author, and Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien, award-winning Vietnamese illustrators based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, teamed up to create this poetry picturebook. In the story, a father reassures his child that their emotions, imagination and spirit have the power to shape the world while celebrating self-worth, love and the beauty of a child's individuality. The lyrical text and evocative illustrations work together to create a tender affirmation of a child's voice and agency. The book invites readers to recognize that even small acts of kindness, curiosity and creativity can have a meaningful impact on the world around them.
Verse Novels
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Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman
Her clothes and accent indicate that Geetha is new to Rhode Island, having moved from India. That is why her classmates bully Geetha. She is not the only one who struggles in the new country. Her mom is also having a hard time starting a new life and fighting her depression as well. One day, Geetha and her new friend, Miguel, find an injured seal pup on the beach. Two friends learn about each other while they visit the seal in a sanctuary. What common experiences and feelings do these two friends share? This coming-of-age novel in verse invites readers to think about immigrant children's loneliness and struggles.
Zarina Divided by Reem Faruqi
Reem Faruqi is an award-winning Pakistani American author whose previous books, including Unsettled and Golden Girl, have received widespread critical acclaim. Inspired by her grandmother's experiences during the 1947 Partition of India, Zarina Divided follows eleven-year-old Zarina as she is forced to leave her home in India for the newly created nation of Pakistan. Through Zarina's journey of loss, displacement and resilience, the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, friendship and hope amid historical upheaval. Zarina Divided was named one of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature's Best Books of 2025.
References
Faruqi, R. (2025). Zarina divided. HarperCollins.
Kang, A. (2025). Our lake. Kokila.
Kelkar, S. (2025). Thank you, teacher! Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Liu, L. (2025). Falling star. Henry Holt and Co.
Liu, L. (2024). Sour apple. Henry Holt and Co.
Liu, L. (2023). Hidden gem. Henry Holt and Co.
Thi Van, M. (2025). You make the world. (H. K., Lien. illus.). Orchard Books.
Venkatraman, P. (2025). Safe harbor. Nancy Paulsen Books.
