BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS by Renée Watson wins the Bank Street College 2025 Claudia Lewis Award for best poetry book for older readers

Awards
Written By Hillary Godwin

Children’s Book Committee Awards 2025

The Claudia Lewis Award

The Claudia Lewis Award, given for the first time in 1998, honors the best poetry book of the year. The award commemorates the late Claudia Lewis, distinguished children’s book expert and longtime member of the Bank Street College faculty and Children’s Book Committee. She conveyed her love and understanding of poetry with humor and grace.

Older Poetry Winner

  • Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, (Kokila)

Younger Poetry Winner

  • The Smell of Wet Dog: And Other Dog Poems and Drawings by Barney Saltzberg, (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House)

Click here to see the list of all Children’s Book Committee winners!

Hillary Godwin
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THE SMELL OF WET DOG by Barney Saltzberg wins the Bank Street College 2025 Claudia Lewis Award for best poetry book for younger readers
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