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To honor National Poetry Month, we have exciting events happening throughout April for all ages. Explore a range of poets in our online events and through our social media, or reserve a book of poetry to pick up at the library or a bookmobile stop. 

Explore poetry this month with Poetry Art Experience inspired by Amanda Gorman, the nation's first National Youth Poet Laureate, who performed at the 2021 presidential inauguration. This event is for kids in grades 3 and up as well as teens and adults, on Monday, April 12. On Wednesday, April 14, Kids Book Chat on Facebook Live will focus on novels in verse for babies through 8th graders. On April 15, join an Instagram Live chat focusing on poetry for teens.

On Fun Things to Do every week, we will explore a range of topics and activities focused on poetry. Speaking of activities, visit the Skokie Public Library Twitter account April 6 to participate in a collective poem written by you, our community members. We will start off with one verse, and you can add another verse in the same thread, to create a collaborative poem. We will tweet the full poem at the end of the day.  Listen to our staff-curated Spotify playlist of poets reading their own work, as well as poetry podcasts.

Give a poem, get a poem! Skokie teens will record a poem that can be sent either to you or to someone you care about. You can specify what kind of poetry you prefer, or we can choose for you. Learn more about Poem in Your Inbox. 

Our staff have compiled lists for all poetry-related interests:

• Movies about Poets (for adults)
• Watch and Listen to Poetry (for adults)
• Poetry for Kids: Grades 3+
• Poetry for Kids: Preschool-Grade 2
• Novels in Verse: Grades 1-4
• Novels in Verse: Grades 5-8

Are you particularly picky about your poetry? Fill out a Bookmatch form and you will be matched with books of poems catered to you. Fill out our Bookmatch for Kids form to get the whole family involved in reading and writing poetry or discovering novels in verse.

As the glimmer becomes brighter, may we honor the words of 2020’s young poet laureate:

“...The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we're brave enough to see it
If only we're brave enough to be it”

Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb