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  • Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist

Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist

Author
L'Oreal Thompson Payton
Illustrator
Laura Freeman
Publication Date
December 16, 2025
Genre / Grade Band
Non-fiction /  2nd − 3rd
Language
English
Format
Leveled Reader
Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist
This title will be released on December 16, 2025
Description

Learn all about Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, in this Step 2 biography reader!

Poet and activist Amanda Gorman captivated millions of viewers across the nation as she read her poem, The Hill We Climb, at the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021. In this Step 2 reader, kids will learn all about Amanda: how she overcame obstacles through poetry, about her commitment to helping young people find their voice, and her unique journey to becoming the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history!

Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Publication date
December 16, 2025
Genre
Non-fiction
Page Count
32
ISBN-13
9780593815144
Publisher
Random House Books for Young Readers
Series
Step Into Reading
BISAC categories
JNF042000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Poetry | General
JNF007000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | General
JNF045000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Readers | Beginner
Library of Congress categories
Biographies
United States
Poets, American
21st century
African American women poets
Gorman, Amanda
Minority women activists

School Library Journal

K-Gr 1--An early reader biography about renowned poet Amanda Gorman. In her early life, reading and writing came easily to Gorman. However, she had struggles with speaking: "She often had trouble saying certain words." Poetry and perseverance helped her improve. After she was named the first ever National Youth Poet Laureate, she continued to work hard and eventually received the opportunity to share her poetry at a national scale during Joe Biden's presidential inauguration. Beyond being a well-regarded poet, Gorman is also an activist who started a program to help young people learn to write. While some of the specific details of her accolades and life events are simplified, young readers will still gain a rich understanding of her life. Realistic illustrations also help breathe to life the highlights of Gorman's journey thus far. VERDICT A recommended purchase for libraries looking to include relevant, inspiring individuals in their biography collections for young readers.--Lindsey Morrison

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

L'Oreal Thompson Payton
L'Oreal Thompson Payton is an award-winning journalist, author, and wellness advocate whose work lives at the intersection of mental health, identity, and culture, with a special focus on the well-being of Black women and girls. She is the founder of LT in the City Media, a storytelling platform that includes the motivational newsletter LT in the City Weekly and Werking Moms Club, a podcast and blog celebrating the joys and struggles of modern motherhood. Her writing has been featured in outlets such as Essence, Fortune, SELF, and New York Magazine, and she is the author of Stop Waiting for Perfect: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Your Power. A certified yoga teacher and lifelong member of the BeyHive, L'Oreal lives just outside of Chicago with her husband and daughter. Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist is her debut children's book.

Laura Freeman is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, for which she won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and NAACP Image Award. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has illustrated over thirty children's books, including Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice and The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice. She lives with her family in Atlanta.
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