April is National Poetry Month, when we can celebrate poets and their writing. Books are a wonderful way to share poems with kids and how amazing the language can be. Here are some of my favorite poetry books for kids!
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Poetry Books for Kids on my Youtube channel.
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Kids Poetry Books
Cricket in the Thicket by Carol Murray
In addition to the playful rhyming poems, the supplementary text includes surprising facts about bugs of all kinds―from familiar ants to exotic dragonflies, cringe-worthy ticks and magnificent fireflies. The collage mixed-media illustrations beautifully share these creatures and compliment the poems’ whimsical tones. This is an enchanting and informative look at a topic of interest for kids―cool bugs!
Firefly July by Paul Janeczko
It only takes a few words, if they’re the right words, to create a strong image. Whether listened to in the comfort of a cozy lap or read independently, the thirty-six very short poems in this collection remind readers young and old that a few perfect words and pictures can make the world glow. This anthology invites children to sample poems throughout the four seasons.
Firefly July is a great little introduction to poetry because each poem is extremely short. Plus, it just makes me want to savor every season!
My Daddy Rules the World by Hope Anita Smith
Told through the voice of a child, My Daddy Rules the World is a collection of poems that celebrates everyday displays of fatherly love, from guitar lessons and wrestling matches to bedtime stories, haircuts in the kitchen, and cuddling in bed. These heartwarming poems capture the strength and beauty of the relationship between father and child.
You’ll notice that lots of poetry books for kids focus on things they already know and love (that’s why animal poems are so popular with children!) and this beautiful book of poetry about dads fits right into the category of “topics children can connect with.” Sweet and funny, this poetry book is an absolute winner.
DogKu by Andrew Clements
Wandering through the neighborhood in the early-morning hours, a stray pooch follows his nose to a back-porch door. After a bath and some table scraps from Mom, the dog meets three lovable kids. It’s all wags and wiggles until Dad has to decide if this stray pup can become the new family pet. Has Mooch finally found a home? Told entirely in haiku, this delightful book is a clever fusion of poetry and puppy dog.
DogKu is such a fun book to teach students about haiku poetry. They will love following along with this cute puppy’s silly antics. Once you read the book aloud, students will be able to create their own haiku poems and fun craftivity!
Get the DogKu Poetry Lesson here!
Feel the Beat by Marilyn Singer
An irresistible book of poems about dancing that mimic the rhythms of social dances from cha-cha to two-step,
Feel the Beat is a vibrant collection of poems celebrating all forms of social dance from samba and salsa to tango and hip-hop. The rhythm of each poem mimics the beat of the dances’ steps. The poems create a window to all the ways dance enters our lives and exists throughout many cultures. This ingenious collection will inspire readers to get up and move!
Fresh-Picked Poetry by Michelle Schaub
This collection of poems takes young readers to a day at an urban farmers’ market. Who to see, what to eat, and how produce is grown—it’s all so exciting, fresh, and delicious. Readers are invited to peruse the stands and inspect vendors’ wares with poems like “Farmer Greg’s Free-Range Eggs,” “Summer Checklist,” and “Necessary Mess.” This is the perfect guide for kids to take with them on marketing day to inspire literacy and healthy eating.
GuyKu by Bob Raczka
When you’re a guy, nature is one big playground—no matter what the season. There are puddles to splash through in the spring, pine trees to climb in the summer, maple seeds to catch in the fall, and icicles to sword fight with in the winter.
Nature also has a way of making a guy appreciate important stuff—like how many rocks it takes to dam up a stream, or how much snow equals a day off from school.
So what kind of poetry best captures these special moments, at a length that lets guys get right back to tree climbing and kite flying? Why, Guyku, of course!
With My Hands by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
For young makers and artists, these lively poems celebrate the pleasures of working with your hands. Building, baking, folding, drawing, shaping . . . making something with your own hands is a special, personal experience. Taking an idea from your imagination and turning it into something real is satisfying and makes the maker proud. With My Hands is an inspiring invitation to tap into creativity and enjoy the hands-on energy that comes from making things.
Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer
What’s brewing when two favorites—poetry and fairy tales—are turned (literally) on their heads? It’s an interesting new genre of poetry and a modern take on classic stories. First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!), then reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales, from Sleeping Beauty to that Charming Prince, a delicious new spin.
There’s No Place Like School: Classroom Poems by Jack Prelutsky
From suspicious hot lunches (yuck!), to pop quizzes (oh, no!), to recess and best friends (hooray!), everything you love—and love to hate—about school is front and center in this collection of eighteen poems by thirteen celebrated poets. One thing’s for certain: there’s no place like school!
Silver Seeds by Paul Paolilli
The poems in this book, done in a creative acrostic format, show us the world of nature in a different light. The glowing illustrations will give readers a new appreciation for the wonders of nature. Beginning with daybreak and ending with a beautiful interpretation of night, the poems include striking images of the sun, fog, and rain.
Silver Seeds lends itself to teaching students all about acrostic poems. They’ll be inspired to write their own, once you finish the book! In this interactive read aloud lesson, you’ll find activities to guide students to write their own seasonal poems.
Get the interactive read aloud lesson for Silver Seeds here!
A Stick is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer
The trappings of childhood change from generation to generation, but there are some timeless activities that every kid loves. A Stick is an Excellent Thing celebrates these types of play, from organized games such as hide-and-seek and hopscotch to imaginative play such as making mud soup or turning a stick into a magic wand.
It captures the energy of a group of children in one neighborhood as they amuse themselves over the course of a summer day. This book invites readers to join in the fun of active play with games that cost nothing.
Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka
Who says words need to be concrete? This collection shapes poems in surprising and delightful ways.
Concrete poetry is a perennially popular poetic form because they are fun to look at. But by using the arrangement of the words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem, concrete or shape poems are also easy to write! From the author of the incredibly inventive
Listen on the Podcast
Looking for more Kids Poetry Books?
Check out these posts about poetry books as well:
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Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to these poetry books for kids when you are ready to read them aloud with your students.
