Young People’s Poet Laureate

Appointed every two years, the title of Young People’s Poet Laureate (YPPL) is awarded to a poet in recognition of a career devoted to writing exceptional poetry for young readers while working to instill a lifelong love of poetry among developing readers. This two-year appointment comes with a $25,000 annual stipend and additional programmatic funding in support of a project that promotes poetry to young people and their families, teachers, and librarians. 

2022 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

A close up photo of poet Elizabeth Acevedo wearing a white t-shirt.
2022Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo is the New York Times–bestselling author of The Poet X (2018), which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the ...

2019 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • White woman with long hair in low ponytail smiling in front of a white wall
    2019Naomi Shihab Nye

    Naomi Shihab Nye was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was a Palestinian refugee and her mother an American of German and Swiss descent, and Nye...

2017 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • Poet Margarita Engle poses in a dark blue shirt and pink, wearing a horse necklace.
    2017Margarita Engle

    Poet, novelist, and journalist Margarita Engle was born in Pasadena, California, to a Cuban mother and an American father. She earned a BS from California...

2015 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • Writer Jacqueline Woodson sitting on a bench outdoors, cropped from the chest up.
    2015Jacqueline Woodson

    Jacqueline Woodson was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina and Brooklyn, New York. She is the author of over 30 books for...

2013 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • Headshot of writer Kenn Nesbitt in a tweed blazer in front of a glass building.
    2013Kenn Nesbitt

    Kenn Nesbitt was born in Berkeley, California. He grew up in Fresno and San Diego and attended National University in San Diego, where he majored in computer...

2011 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • J. Patrick Lewis
    2011J. Patrick Lewis

    Former Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis grew up in Gary, Indiana and earned a BA at Saint Joseph’s College, an MA at Indiana University, and ...

2008 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • Headshot of poet Mary Ann Hoberman outdoors.
    2008Mary Ann Hoberman

    Mary Ann Hoberman was born in Stamford, Connecticut. She earned a BA in history from Smith College and (35 years later) an MA in English literature from...

2006 Young People’s Poet Laureate RECIPIENT

  • Black and white headshot of writer Jack Prelutsky.
    2006Jack Prelutsky

    Jack Prelutsky is a creator of inventive poems for children and adults alike. He served as the Poetry Foundation’s Children’s Poet Laureate from 2006 ...