2026 Poetry Out Loud semi-finals

Mid-February may bring Valentine hearts and cupids to mind for most people, but for two dozen New Hampshire high schoolers, it’s time to show their love of poetry – and skill at reciting it – at the statewide Poetry Out Loud semifinals. 

The N.H. State Council on the Arts, which administers the program in the Granite State, today announced that two semi-finals will take place in the coming weeks: at Plymouth State University Silver Center for the Arts on Feb. 17 (snow date: Feb. 18) and at the Derry Opera House on Feb. 19 (snow date: Feb. 20). Each event begins at 6 p.m.
 
Since 2005, high school students from across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud, a poetry recitation competition designed to improve public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach literary history. This year, approximately 3,000 students from New Hampshire high schools and high school groups participated.

In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program focuses on poems that celebrate American history and culture. All of the poems for this year’s competition are in the public domain. 

Contestants’ recitations are evaluated by trained judges who evaluate physical presence, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, interpretation, accuracy and overall performance.

Poetry Out Loud school champions advance to semi-finals, then top semi-final finishers move on to the New Hampshire state championship, scheduled to take place in Representatives Hall at the State House on Friday, March 6 (snow date: March 9) beginning at 5 p.m.

New Hampshire’s state champion will have the opportunity to join with champions from other states and territories at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, scheduled to take place April 27-29, 2026 in Washington, D.C., coinciding with National Poetry Month.

Managed at the national level by the National Endowment for the Arts and in New Hampshire by the State Council on the Arts, Poetry Out Loud provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, curates the online poem anthology, funds and produces the national championship and provides monetary awards to champions at the state and national level. 
                                
In addition to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, additional support in New Hampshire comes from Brightspot Consultants; the Currier Museum of Art; Derry Public Arts Committee; the Frost Place; New Hampshire Writers’ Project; North Country Education Services; the Putnam Foundation, a donor-advised fund of the N.H. Charitable Foundation and Slam Free or Die.

To learn more about 2026 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud, visit nharts.dncr.nh.gov/programs/poetry-out-loud. For additional information, contact Allison Hawkins, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts at 603-271-0791, allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov. -- NH Department of Natural & Cultural Resources press release

Book of the Week (2/9/2026)

How to Be Good by David Banach (Bee Monk Press, 2025)

“What is goodness?” David Banach asks in his compelling new collection. The poems of How to Be Good journey through the political, the historical, and the personal, examining the theatrical masculinity of the town dump, nicknaming the inflatable figure in front of car dealerships the “Sisyphus of advertising,” and blasting anger like a broken jar of salsa. 

Banach recalls for us “all the difficulties of/loving in this wind-swept world where kindness/is lighter than air” through work that considers profanity and philosophy, theology and gender. How to Be Good rings with Whitman and Blake and declares empathy “an ache in places I never knew/I had places.” Banach is a rare poet of the pure heart, and his poems soothe like a balm for a contemporary age where heaven might require a two-factor authentication for entrance as a way of keeping out those who have ignored sunsets or kissed without passion. --Jennifer Militello, Poet Laureate of New Hampshire

About the author:

David Banach is a philosopher and a poet, though often not in that order. He has taught for many years at Saint Anselm College and lives in Goffstown, NH, where he tends chickens, keeps bees, and watches for lessons in the sky. He has published over 70 poems in various journals, and is editor of Touchstone, the journal of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. He is a Pushcart, Best of the Net, and Forward Prize nominee, and is a past president of the Northern New England Philosophical Association. 

Join David at The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough, NH on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11 am where he will read from & discuss his newest book of poetry.

Ladybug Longlist: Transportation

Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team: The World's Largest Steam Engine Roars Back to Life! by Marsha Diane Arnold

"A wonderful non-fiction book with widespread appeal and captivating illustrations. Inspiring in the face of a difficult challenge." -- nominator

Good Luck, Ice Cream Truck! by Sorche Fairbank

"A top circulating book for our kids this year!" -- nominator

Old Blue is My Home by Lita Judge

"A gorgeous, respectful window into housing insecurity from a New Hampshire-based author-illustrator. The story is sure to raise many questions from readers, but, also, hopefully, a more nuanced worldview." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 14 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Swimming Creatures

The Den That Octopus Built by Randi Sonenshine

"Beautifully illustrated circle story that encompasses the life cycle of an octopus. Lots of fun facts in the back including author's notes. " -- nominator 

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson

"Hilarious mildly informational book that presents facts in a fun way while jokingly telling you to be suspicious of fish. Tickles the funny bone. This book is a perfect blend of educational and humor. It's a great book to read aloud and the kids respond to it very well! I read this at story-time and my group was all giggles. It's the perfect book for making learning fun." -- nominators

A Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim Ha

"An unlikely friendship - does it spell danger? Attractive pictures showing an interesting perspective. And how first impressions are not always correct, but someone may also surprise you." -- nominator

Parrotfish Has a Superpower by Jill Esbaum

"A wildly enthusiastic presentation of a somewhat niche fact (that parrotfish generate much of the world's beach sand), followed by a fun true-false quiz to extend/reinforce the learning." -- nominator

The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage

"Creative look at science and exploration - while also showing through illustrations that we sometimes miss things when we are focused on something else." -- nominator 

This post is one of a series of 14 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Nature

The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming

"Beautiful illustrations that are not traditional make you feel like you are in the redwood forest with the characters." -- nominator

How the Forest Feels by Wendi Silvano

"Get our kids outdoors - we have a nature play group that meets weekly in town - this is the perfect read aloud before they go walking down a trail!" -- nominator

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich

"Creative textured illustrations help guide the text through the seasons in a very relatable way for children of NH." -- nominator

Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem by Henry Cole

"Beautifully illustrated book that shows the growth of an oak tree over 100's of years. Stunning illustrations with descriptive words." -- nominator

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer

"This book is educational as well as entertaining. It goes through the life of a stalactite and a stalagmite from the beginning of time through the future when they finally become a column. It brings in other creatures that have entered their cave; such as a trilobite, a dinosaur, a bat, and people." -- nominator

The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown

"This is a sweet adaption of the novel that is especially beautifully illustrated." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 14 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

3 on a Theme: Kings & Queens

King Sorrow: A Novel by Joe Hill

The King of Books by Gina Perry

Queen Esther: A Novel by John Irving 

Ladybug Longlist: Imagination & Creativity

Built to Last by Minh Lê

"A story of helping and what to do when things fall apart. Is a friendship really worth saving?" -- nominator

How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander

"The simple, lyrical text is less of a "how-to" lesson and more an exploration of what moves us to read, write, and love poetry. Colorful, collage-style illustrations are an inspiration in themselves, with lots to look at on each page. " -- nominator

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen

"Fabulous illustrations and rhyming text appeal to all ages." -- nominator

Look by Gabi Snyder

"Visually interesting book with creative illustrations. Patterns to be found on every page, therefore engaging." -- nominator

Nothing: John Cage and 4'33" by Nicholas Day

"Charming, funny, and full of heart, this is a great introduction to the ideas and experiences to be found in art that might seem weird or pointless at first glance. Raschka's quirky illustration style is the perfect match to this creatively-told story about musical innovation." -- nominator

A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney

"I think children will see themselves in the protagonist's small adventures and creativity with the things they find throughout the year. Could be a great jumping-off point for nature crafts or talking about collections." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 14 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.