Amanda Gorman: Poet and Activist

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.

Author: L'Oreal Thompson Payton
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Published: 12/16/2025
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Library Binding
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.30w x 0.30d
ISBN: 9780593815151
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 08/01/2025 pg. 89

About the Author
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.