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!
Want to watch or listen? Check out my YouTube video on poetry books for kids!
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All the Wild Wonders by Wendy Cooling
A collection of poems written by various poets that express the importance of thinking about our actions as humans and how we can celebrate the beauty of the planet. A fun and easy way to begin discussions about our own impact on the earth and the effects of our actions.
A Full Moon is Rising by Marilyn Singer
A colorful book about how the full moon is viewed and celebrated all over the world. Singer not only shares different cultural celebrations of the moon, but she also opens up the opportunity to teach about different phases of the moon.
Shaking Things Up by Susan Hood
A nonfiction poetry book! This wonderful collection of biographies in verse is about important women in history. It details the discrimination they face and the struggles they face every day. The whole book is written, illustrated, edited and designed by women.
Feel the Beat by Marilyn Singer
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. Such a fun read that will get your students up and moving!
Wet Cement by Bob Raczka
A collection of concrete poems or shape poems. The words are arranged in a way to create an image to illustrate the poem’s meaning. The poems are clever with wonderful flow and provide mental stimulation.
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. This bright and vibrant book will inspire both literacy and healthy eating!
With My Hands by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
A celebration of creativity through words and ideas! A great addition to a maker-space or STEM discussion. It will inspire work and activity in the classroom.
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 illustrations will give students a new appreciation for the wonders of nature.
DogKu by Andrew Clements
This one is my favorite! It is a clever book about a dog, written in only haikus. It tells the life of a dog and everything he loves or doesn’t love. A great example to help students understand what a haiku is.
After reading DogKu, I had my class create our own haiku book! We used the same concept as Andrew Clements’ book, but made it all about our day at school. You can grab the haiku templates here.
Another fun activity for Poetry Month is to have your students create their own Poetry Journals! After learning about all the different types of poems, they will write their own poems.
What are some of your favorite poetry books for kids? I would love to add to this list!
Looking for poetry for big kids? Check out this list of free verse books!
