Hey, it's Empire's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. Today is Inauguration day. It's a big day for

marching bands, for singers, for flag waivers, for performers and artists of all types. Oh,

and I think the new president might say a word or two, but in all seriousness, it can be a big

platform for people who aren't going to be present.

Take, for instance, the poet Amanda Gorman.

Since her appearance at Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, her career has taken off.

She's now written a picture book for kids titled Girls on the Rise,

which talks to little kids about sexism and equality,

stuff that grown adults can have a hard time wrapping their heads around.

But as Gorman tells NPR's Eric Deggant, kids are smarter than we think.

That's coming up.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods, NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your

podcasts. Poet and author Amanda Gorman offers a key line in her picture book for young readers

called Girls on the Rise that seems to sum up the focus of her inspirational story. When one

girl is on the rise, it means everyone else is too. I can't think of a

better sentiment to kick off a discussion in the new year with Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural

poet in U.S. history. She spoke at Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, as well as the first person to be

named the National Youth Poet Laureate and the best-selling author here to talk

...