More Poetry for Children

Here are some great books with rhyming and free-verse poetry:

Boom! Boom! Boom! By Jamie Swenson, pictures by David Walker

A thunderstorm and a rhyming counting book, it doesn’t get any better than this! My first choice for reading to my two year old grandson.

Sing, sing a song by Joe Raposo, illustrated by Tom Litchtenheld

Beautifully illustrated with little birdies trying to sing and being inspired to music by a small boy playing a guitar and singing. An afterword from Nick Raposo, the son of the songwriter, tells how the song was written as a song about self-acceptance for Sesame Street. Great rendition of an old favorite!

 

If you want to see a whale by Julie Fogliano, pictures by Erin E. Stead

Written as a free verse poem, this tells you what to do and what to not do if you want to see a whale. Lyrical text and soothing pictures. If you want to read a good book, check this one out. 

 

Pug and Other Animal Poems By Valerie Worth, pictures by Steve Jenkins

Jenkins is known for his realistic pictures of animals and this is no exception. From the dachshund that takes up two pages to the Bengal tiger, the illustrations are both realistic and detailed. The poems are fun to read and would make a good text for teaching free verse poetry. Example: GEESE:  Then they/ Wavered away/ Down the cold/ Sky, with cries/ Like grieving;/ Now, we/ Hear in those/ Same high voices/ Returning, a noisy/ Rejoicing!