Our Favorite First Poetry Books
Maybe this is the English teacher in me, but I always strive to include poetry in my bookworms’ literacy experiences– whether those bookworms were my students or my own bookworms. Oh the fun I had with my students doing poetry slams, poetry immersion, poetry races, Poem in Your Pocket, and celebrating National Poetry Month each Spring. My own bookworms aren’t quite ready for much of that, but they’ve grown accustomed to hearing poetry, particularly at our Poetry Teatimes. (Read my tips for getting started with Poetry Teatime here.)
To hook young or reluctant poetry readers, here’s what I look for: I find that engaging artwork is a must. One or two poems per page is also helpful to keep interest level high with new artwork at a quicker pace. Tangible, relateable topics are also essential. The books recommended below contain that magic elixir! Some are hefty volumes, others are standard picture book length; I’ve noted length for each.
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Another angle to take is a single poem spread across an entire picture book. My kids’ first favorite poem of this style was The Night Before Christmas. This way you can expose their ears to the beautiful language of poetry while keeping their interest through the progression of illustrations, aiding comprehension as well. Many picture books are written in meter and could fall into this category, from Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (<<this one illustrated by Susan Jeffers is gorgeous!) to Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site.
The books in this post, however, follow the former– shorter poems, great artwork, topics kids can connect with. These titles are so accessible that they should be enjoyed by a large variety of age groups! I’m tagging these for toddler through mid-elementary, with the exception of the toddler specific titles noted.
National Geographic’s Book of Animal Poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis. (192p.) Includes AMAZING full page, full color photography alongside of poems by an impressive collection of poets, both new and old favorites: Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Rudyard Kipling, Christina Rossetti, Tennyson, Douglas Florian, Jack Prelutsky, Jane Yolen… 200 poems in all, divided into sections such as “The Winged Ones,” “The Water Ones,” “The Strange Ones,” “The Noisy Ones.” We have National Geographic’s Book of Nature Poetry, of the same format, on our wishlist.
Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest. This is a collection that I shared with reluctant poetry readers in the middle elementary grades, and it is great for preschoolers, too. Each poem and accompanying painting spotlight a dog, poignantly and sometimes hilariously describing each canine’s antics. (32p.) Also look for I Didn’t Do It and Cat Talk, by the same team.
A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer. This one is included at the request of my bookworms. They love it! I’ll find them browsing through the pages independently, and of course when my spying is spotted they insist a reading! I personally found the poems to be lackluster, but I think the topics are so spot on that all is forgiven. The book is subtitled Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play, and it really does a nice job of covering the gamut of outdoor fun, from mud soup to hopsctoch to catching fireflires. (32p.)
Steppin’ Out: Jaunty Rhymes for Playful Times by Lin Oliver, illustrated by Tomie de Paola. (Younger listeners) Quick paced, short (one page) poems about topics that young kids can relate to (a rainy day, an elevator, the car wash, haircuts, the supermarket). My bookworms are fans of Tomie dePaola’s work, so the illustrations drew them in with his familiar style. (32p.) From the same team, look for Little Poems for Tiny Ears, aimed at an even younger audience with poems focused on early toddlerhood and babyhood.
A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young by Michael Rosen. This was the book we read at Toddler Bookworm’s very first Poetry Teatime. Both my bookworms loved this, and giggled through several of the poems. (Younger listeners; 80p.)
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies. Take this one outside for a poetry picnic! The illustration is beautiful. Includes nature facts and activities beyond the poems. (108p.).
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee. This is just plain fun! Poetry tongue twisters. My bookworms thoroughly enjoyed listening to mommy and daddy “race” to read these tricky poems! That never gets old. (32p.)
The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry. This collection contains favorites of the children’s book giant Bill Martin Jr (author of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?). Think classic poets (Frost, Hughes, Rossetti, Dickinson) and new authors (Viorst, Prelustky) illustrated by today’s picture book stars. A winning combination selected by a poet himself. (178p.)
Dear Hot Dog: Poems About Everyday Stuff by Mordicai Gerstein. Free verse poems about, well, “everyday stuff”–toothbrushes, pants, air, water, pillows, spaghetti, and of course hot dogs. Written and illustrated by a Caldecott winner. This is Toddler Bookworm’s favorite book of the moment. I’ll admit it warms my heart when he requests by (shortened) title a poetry book! “Hot dog book, mama!” (32p.)
Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian. An all-star author team, and the results are as wonderful as you’d expect! My bookworms LOVED this one- it captured their imaginations, and the detailed illustrations gave them lots to pore over as I read. (32p.)
What poetry books are your favorites? Connect with me in the comments below, on my Facebook page, or Instagram. Coming up next– Tips for Getting Started with Poetry Teatime- a great HOOK for kids to learn to love poetry!
You may also enjoy these posts: Baseball Poetry Picture Books and Poetry for Changing Seasons.
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