Young People’s Poet Laureate is an honorary title awarded every two years to an American children’s poet. The award is administered and funded by the Poetry Foundation, an independent literary organization in Chicago, Illinois. The award aims “to raise awareness that young people have a natural receptivity to poetry and are its most appreciative audience, especially when poems are written specifically for them.”
The Young People’s Poet Laureate gives public readings for children and their families, teachers, and librarians and also serves as an advisor to the Poetry Foundation on children’s literature. The laureate may also participate in other projects and events across the country to help instill a love of poetry among young readers.
The original title of the honor was Children’s Poet Laureate. The first Children’s Poet Laureate was Jack Prelutsky, who served from 2006 to 2008. The Poetry Foundation began to use the name Young People’s Poet Laureate in 2015, when it awarded the honor to Jacqueline Woodson.
