Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history. She is a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. Amanda’s activism and poetry have been featured on The Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, Essence, and O, The Oprah Magazine. In 2017, Urban Word named her the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University, she now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. The special edition of her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was published in March 2021 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her debut picture book, Change Sings, will be published in September 2021. Please visit [...].

Loren Long is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis series which is in development as an animated television series. He's also the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama and Love by Matt de la Pena. He recently illustrated a modern edition of the Clement C. Moore classic The Night Before Christmas. He lives near Cincinnati with his wife and rescue hound, Charlie. Visit him online at [...] or on Twitter [...]

RISING STAR: Amanda Gorman first made her mark as the inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate, but she has continued to reach the world with her poetry performances on CBS This Morning, the Today Show, and MTV, and with the Boston Pops at their July 4th celebration. She has been a UN youth delegate and has spoken alongside Hillary Clinton and Al Gore for environmentalism and women's rights. More news to come.

WELL CONNECTED: Amanda was featured with Oprah (!) on John Krasinski's Some Good News, she was invited to the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama, and she has been celebrated by many important writers and celebrities such as Lin-Manuel Miranda.

AWARDS: Amanda is the recipient of the Making a Difference Award from Black Girls Rock and BET, a Genius Grant Award from OZY and a College Women of the Year Award from Glamour magazine. She was also a contributor to the NYT newsletter The Edit.

COMPETITIVE AUCTION: Viking won Change Sings (and an untitled second book) in a heated eight-house auction.

BESTSELLING ILLUSTRATOR: This text is brought to life by Loren Long, #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Of Thee I Sing, Love, and the Otis series.

FANTASTIC READ-ALOUD: Full of lyrical text, beautiful rhyme, and powerful imagery, this is sure to be read again and again.

AN IMPORTANT LESSON: This picture book is a powerful call to action teaching young readers that we can all make a difference.