10 Great Poetry Books for Kids

10 Great Poetry Books for Kids

April is Poetry Month! Get kids involved with these great reads, with poetry on topics ranging all the way from silly and absurd to serious and educational.

A classic poetry book beloved by readers for 45 years. ✔

Full of engaging drawings to pull kids in. ✔

Short, easy-to-comprehend poems kids can read themselves. ✔

Best for ages 7 & up.

 

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer,
A wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er,
A magic bean buyer …

Poems written by an award-winning writer, historian, and civil rights activist. ✔

Masterful illustrations to accompany each verse.  ✔

An artistic look into the history of African American people in the South. ✔

Best for ages 8-12.

“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.”
 

100+ poems accompanied by hand-painted illustrations. ✔

Easy memorization passages for kids (and adults) of all ages. ✔

Diverse subjects spanning fantastical beings, nature, family and sports. ✔

Best for ages 5 & up.

 

Relevant poetry for today’s generation of kids. ✔

Great representation for multicultural students. ✔

Includes an audio CD featuring poetry performances by icons such as Queen Latifah & Langston Hughes. ✔

Best for ages 7 & up.

Silliness galore with fun illustrations to match. ✔

Over one hundred poems to read. ✔

Written by a prolific children’s poetry author. ✔

Best for ages 5-10.

It’s raining pigs and noodles,
it’s pouring frogs and hats,
chrysanthemums and poodles,
bananas, brooms, and cats.
Assorted prunes and parrots
are dropping from the sky,
here comes a bunch of carrots,
some hippopotami.

Combines the wonder of poetry and animal photography. ✔

Includes a wide variety of poetry, including classic lyric poetry, haiku, free verse, and concrete poems. ✔

An enjoyable read for kids and adults of all ages who enjoy poetry and pictures of animals. ✔

Best for ages 4 & up.

Out of a windless August night / A luna moth in ghostly light
Beat softly on my window screen / Tick-tick-ticking-all silver green.
She whispered secrets in my ear– / I am but a stranger here.
The stars are scrawled across the sky / By ghostwriters, the Moon and I.
You will not see me here tonight– / I have a thousand stars to write.

A modern twist on the poetry style of Shel Silverstein. ✔

Funny and engaging with lively illustrations. ✔

Great for reluctant readers, especially those who aren’t fond of poetry. ✔

Best for ages 4-10.

Includes 31 poems and excerpts from Shakespeare’s most popular works. ✔

Beautiful illustrations which bring the words of the great bard to life. ✔

An age-appropriate introduction to content kids will be studying throughout the rest of their academic journeys. ✔

Best for ages 8 & up.

The first collection of poems hand-selected by kids. ✔

A humorous look at everyday life. ✔

Inspiring to kids who would like to start writing poetry. ✔

Best for ages 6-12.

Hilariously dark twists on favorite tales. ✔

Short chapters for wiggly readers. ✔

A book even reluctant readers will want to read again and again. ✔

Best for ages 6-8.

 

Learn more about how Biblionasium supports independent reading and school libraries during these challenging times.

 

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