Bauer, Caroline Feller.  The Poetry Break: An Annotated Anthology with Ideas for  Introducing Children to Poetry.  New York: H. W. Wilson, 1995. 

This book can be used by parents, teachers, and librarians to introduce poetry to children so it will become an enjoyful, lifelong habit.  It can be used along with a project called the "poetry break," taking a minute each day to read a poem.  There are two sections: one explaining activities and the other explaining how to use poems. (JD) 

Brenner, Barbara.  The Earth is Painted Green.  Illustrated by S.D. Schnider.  New York: Scholastic, 1994. 

This is a book of poems, a “garden” actually, about our planet.  Everything from oranges to pumpkins, from floating clouds to watermelons and snowflakes are celebrated in this book about our amazing Earth. (SR) 

  Bryan, Ashley. Sing to the Sun.  New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 

Each of Ashley Bryan’s poems and drawings celebrates life in its own unique way.  The poems all share his special touch as if he were reading them aloud right next to me.  (JD) 

Burleigh, Robert.  Hoops.  San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, 1997. 

Shoot and score with the action-packed words and illustrations in this poem about basketball. As you read, you'll feel like you are the one playing--dribbling the round, breaking away from the group, and using all of your strength and energy to do a perfect lay-up and score! (TD) 

Carlson, Lori M., Ed. Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing up Latino in the United States. New York: Fawcett Juniper, 1994.

Poems in English and Spanish about being Latino. From family to the harder issues of violence and prejudice.  (SH)

Carroll, Lewis.  Jabberwocky.  New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1989. 

Beware of the Jabberwocky!  In an excerpt from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, a brave young man takes on the challenge of slaying the terrible creature.  Will he be able to successfully rid the world of this evil beast? (SD)

Cazet, Denys.  Night Light: 24 Poems to Sleep On. New York: Orchard, 1997.

Silly and soothing poems about nighttime, avoiding bedtime, stars, and how to humiliate the boogeyman. (KG)

Dakos, Kalli.  The Goof Who Invented Homework and Other School Poems. Illustrated by Denise Brunklus.  New York: Dial, 1996. 

This volume of poetry is dedicated to the topics related to going to school.  Serious activities such as the death of a classmate and a class pet are addressed as well as the lighter, more humorous side of school.  Is the custodian of your school a poet?  Read to find out what makes the janitor in this book so unique! (SR) 

Dakos, Kalli.  Mrs. Cole on an Onion Roll.  New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995.

Children just love to hear silly, crazy things that can happen in school, especially to the teachers.  These zany poems will do the trick when school starts to seem a little boring. (DA)

Evans, Dilys.  Weird Pet Poems.  New York: Scholastic, 1997. 

Being 8 can be so cool! You could get your very own pet! But which pet is best? Read the very WEIRD pet poems in this book to find which pet is best for an 8-year-old boy. (JW) 

Fleischman, Paul. I Am Phoenix: Poems For Two Voices. New York: Harper & Row, 1985. 51 pgs.

Fifteen poems about birds.  In the poem The Passenger Pigeon, the birds talk about their great numbers.  In the poem The Phoenix, the fire bird is reborn again and again from ashes.  (DR)

  Fleischman, Paul. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices.  New York: Harper & Row, 1988.

This Newbery Medal winning book of poems is written for two voices.  The poems are all about insects and their worlds.  The activities and characteristics of these insects are shared in a creative way with the readers, at times, reading simultaneously.  This is a great way to gain information about insects and have fun when doing it.  (JD) 

Florian, Douglas. Beast Feast. New York: Harcourt-Brace, 1994.

Here are some funny poems about animals. “Just when you think you know the boa, there’s moa and moa and….” (KG)

Florian, Douglas.  Insectlopedia.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1998. 

“Mosquitoes are thin.  Mosquitoes are rude.  They feast on your skin for take-out food.”  Insects and spiders abound in these delightful poems.  If you like crickets, caterpillars and black widow spiders, these poems are for you. (JS) 

Florian, Douglas. Laugh-eteria. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 157 p.

From “The Ooze” to “Sigh-clops,” this is an illustrated poetry collection with a variety of funny themes. Varying in length, some of the poems are limericks and others are long poems. (KG)

  Fisher, Aileen. Do Bears Have Mothers Too?  New York: Crowell, 1973. 

This contains poems about baby animals. Large illustrations highlight the short poems to make this an excellent read aloud choice. Also, the use of words like "reputation" and "stately" will challenge young listening vocabularies. (JHP) 

Fisher, Aileen. Going Barefoot. New York: Crowell, 1960. 

Fisher uses nature to show the child in all of us the magnificence of each season. Illustrations by Adrienne Adams make this an excellent interactive book. (JHP) 

Gollub, Matthew. Cool Melons-Turn to Frogs! The Life and Poems of Issa. New York: Lee & Low, 1998.

The work of Kobayashi Yatoro, known as Issa, is well-known in Japan.  Issa began writing haiku poetry at a young age, inspired by his love of the natural world. This collection, specially selected for children, is accompanied by beautiful and sometimes humorous artwork. (KG)

Graham, Joan Bransfield.  Flicker Flash.  Illustrated by Nancy Davis.  New York: Houghton, 1999.

Flicker Flash is a collection of poems about the different sources of light. The poem “Candle” is illustrated in the shape of a candle.  This whimsical book affects the senses.  I loved this book!  (SS)

Graham, Joan Bransfield.  Splish Splash. New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1994. 

This is a colorful collection of poems about water in its various forms.  Readers will enjoy the many concrete poems, such as Waterfall, Popsicle, and Sprinkler that visually resemble the title of the poem. (LB)

  Greenfield, Eloise. Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems.  Illustrated by Diane and Leo Dillon.  New York: Crowell, 1978. 

Love poems don’t have to be mushy.  Love poems can be about a whole lot of ordinary things like playing in the hose, dressing up, or getting a nickel from a special friend.  Love poems can be about ordinary people like aunts, uncles, cousins, and brothers.  Love poems can be about not-so-ordinary people like Harriet Tubman.  Greenfield’s rich African-American speech rhythms and the sophisticated and child-like drawings in the Dillons’ illustrations paint a picture of the many things children love. (Honey, you will love these poems.) (CG) 

Greenfield, Jan Spivey.  Angels.  New York: Hyperion, 1998.

Angels are among us.  In this collection of poems and beautiful illustrations you can see and feel the angel that is in every child. (DA)

Ho, Minfong.  Hush: A Thai Lullaby.  New York: Orchard, 1996. 

As a woman lays her child down for a nap, she goes to variety of animals such as a monkey, mosquito, and a water buffalo, asking them to hush so that her child can fall asleep soundly. Finally, all is well and quiet. Everyone even the animals are asleep ; everyone except the child. With its calm, repetitive words, it is a wonderful bedtime story. (TD) 

Hoberman, Mary Ann.  The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems. San Diego: Browndeer Press/Harcourt Brace, 1998. 

“If you’re sleepy in the jungle.  And you wish to find a pillow.  Take a friendly word of warning.  Do not use an armadillo!”  This illustrated collection of poems covers a variety of subjects from centipedes to whales, from swinging on a swing to ice-skating in winter.  You’re sure to find a favorite. (LB)

Hopkins, Lee Bennett.  Climb Into My Lap.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. 

Poetry can be magical, mystical, and whimsical. This collection of poems about childhood experiences, from authors such as Edward Lear, Charlotte Zolotow, Lewis Carroll, and Robert Louis Stevenson is a great introduction to this literary form.  A great read-aloud! (LB)

Hudson, Wade.  Pass It On:  African American Poetry for Children.  Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.  New  York:  Scholastic, 1993. 

Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, and Countee Cullen are only a few poets collected in this book by Wade Hudson.  Spanning from dreams of the future to memories of a bus ride in Baltimore, this book celebrates and reflects on the African American culture.  Enjoyable for all readers! (SR) 

Hughes, Langston. The Sweet and Sour Animal Book. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Animal poems for each letter of the alphabet, featuring illustrations by children from the Harlem School of the Arts.  (SH)

James, Simon, Ed. Days Like This: A Collection of Small Poems. Cambridge, MA, Candlewick, 1999.

Short poems about life and having fun.  (SH)

Lansky, Bruce.  No More Homework!  No More Tests!  Illustrated by Stephen Carpenter.  New York: Scholastic, 1997. 

Are you frustrated with school?  Well, lighten up with this hilarious book of school poems selected by Bruce Lansky.  Dare you not to laugh!  “Call the doctor.  Call the vet!  I’ve just been bitten by teacher’s pet!” (SR) 

Lee, Dennis.  Dinosaur Dinner (With a Slice of Alligator Pie).  New York: Knopf, 1997. 

Anyone hungry for alligator pie? Join in the fun with poems about monsters that love to eat children, a boy named Tony who is full of baloney, and Billy Batter, hey, what's the matter? With its fun-filled verse and hilarious illustrations, you'll laugh out loud. Pull up a chair and feast on poetry! (TD) 

Lee, Dennis.  The Ice Cream Store.  New York: Scholastic, 1992. 

Just like the variety of ice cream flavors, children come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, and personalities. Turn the page for a poem about a different person or animal along with a different feeling—"The Secret Place," "Big Bad Billy," or "WILD! (TD) 

Lewis, J. Patrick.  The Bookworm's Feast. Illustrated by John O'Brien.  New York: Dial, 1999. 

Invite a group of bookworms to dinner, and what would you serve them?  Poems of course.  This poetry feast collection is arranged by courses of the meal from appetizers to desserts. (JM) 

Lewis, J. Patrick. Doodle Dandies- Poems That Take Shape.  Images by Lisa Desimini. New York: Atheneum, 1998.

A variety of subjects are described through “shape poetry.” Simple text is actually shaped into the object or theme it is describing. The accompanying graphics enhance the picture of the poem, like in “Weeping Willow.” The words hang down in the shape of branches, twisting in different directions, reading frontward and backward. (KG)

Lyon, George Ella. Counting on the Woods.Photographs by Ann W. Olson. New York:  DK Pub, 1998.

This book can be enjoyed simply for its lovely poem.  But it is also a counting book and a science book.  Younger children will love to count the three bugs, four worms and five nests.  Older children will enjoy identifying the bugs and the nests.  Wonderful photographs “fit” the poem perfectly. (JS) 

McCord, David. Speak Up: More Rhymes of the Never Was and Always Is. Boston: Little Brown, 1980. 

What is an earwig? An insect that lives in your ear? Or does it live in a wig? Along with this funny poem, read "The Windshield Wiper's Song," the tongue twister "Word Music," and the hilarious word play of "How to Learn to Say a Long, Hard Word." (TD) 

Moss, Jeff.  Bone Poems.  New York: Workman, 1997.  78p. 

If you like dinosaurs, this poem book is for you!  Some silly, some weird, but some you can learn from!  An American Museum of Natural History book. (DH) 

Myers, Walter Dean.  Angel To Angel: A Mother’s Gift Of Love. New York: HarperCollins, 1998. 

The bond of family life and love flows through these pages of poems and vintage photographs celebrating the relationship of African American mothers and children.  You’ll want to linger over the pages of this album.
(LB)

  Nash, Ogden. Tale of Custard the Dragon.  Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Boston: Little, Brown, 1995. (Poem originally published, 1936) 

In this humorous poem, Custard the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals. (BD) 

Nye, Naomi.  The Tree is Older Than You Are.  New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995. 

This volume of twentieth century Mexican poetry and literature is complete in both English and Spanish.  Illustrated with paintings from Mexican artists, this book provides beautiful insights on topics from ducks to proverbs to peach trees. (SR) 

O’Huigin, Sean.  Scary Poems for Rotten Kids.  Illustrated by John Fraser. Windsor, Ontario: Black Moss Press, 1988. 

Like to be scared? Like to be spooked?  Than this book of poems cannot be overlooked! (SR) 

Philip, Nail.  Earth Always Endures: Native American Poetry.  Photographs by Ed Curtis.  New York: Viking, 1996. 

This volume of poetry is collected and translated from several Native American tribes.  This book is designed in a circle running from dawn til dawn to illustrate the circle of life.  Enhanced by incredible sepia toned portraits and snapshots, this is a haunting look into customs and traditions often lost. (SR) 

Polisar, Barry Louis.  Insect Soup:Bug Poems. Silver Spring, Maryland: Rainbow Morning Music. 1999.

Don’t let anything bug you!  Sit back and enjoy this lively collection of funny and thought-provoking poems about some unusual insects.  The zany illustrations of David Clark enhance the fun of reading these poems. (LB)

Polisar, Barry Louis.  Peculiar Zoo. Silver Spring, Maryland: Rainbow Morning Music, 1993. 

Choosing sixteen lesser-known animals such as the okapi, manatee, and solenodon Polisar’s witty poems describe the unique characteristics of each creature.  This selection should spark interest in extinct and endangered species and their habitats.  A short glossary gives brief facts about each animal. (LB)

  Prelutsky, Jack. The Baby Uggs Are Hatching.  New York: Greenwillow,1982. 

Have you ever heard of a Smasheroo, a Flotterzott, or a Sneezysnoozer? Meet some of the strangest and most unique creatures ever imagined! These delightful poems encourage the use of an active imagination and tickle your funny bone as well. (TD) 

Prelutsky, Jack.  The Beauty of the Beast: Poems From The Animal Kingdom.  New York:  Knopf, 1997. 

This is a celebration of poems and watercolors about the animal kingdom collected from highly acclaimed poets of the 20th Century.  The collection of over 200 poems is arranged in five zoological classifications – insects, sea creatures, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and mammals.  If you like animals, this is a must. (LB)

Prelutsky, Jack. The Dragons Are Singing Tonight.  Illustrated by Peter Sis.  New York: Scholastic, 1993. 

Open up this book and enter the magical world of dragons.  Not all dragons are nasty, fire-breathing creatures.  Some are amiable, some are mechanical, and some are kind.  Listen to Prelutsky’s poems with the ears of faith and you just might hear the dragons’ song. (CG) 

Prelutsky, Jack. My Parents Think I’m Sleeping. New York: Greenwillow, 1985. 

Having trouble sleeping? This is the perfect book for bedtime. Each poem in the collection is about bedtime. The boy thinks of every possible distraction, but suddenly, without warning, he falls asleep! (MJG) 

  Prelutsky, Jack. A Pizza the Size of the Sun. New York: Greenwillow, 1996. 

Prelutsky uses mirrors and the literal meanings of words to entertain readers. Both his verse and the drawings by James Stevenson require the reader to study the page as one would a puzzle. Readers may find themselves looking at the drawings first and trying to figure out their meanings. (JHP) 

Prelutsky, Jack.  Poems of A. Nonny Mouse.  New York: Knopf, 1989. 

Jack Prelutsky does it again!  Back again in one of his hilarious books of poetry, Prelutsky keeps his readers laughing as he twists original children’s poems into his very own humorous verses.  (MJ) 

Prelutsky, Jack, Ed. The Random House Book of Poetry for Children. Illustrated by Arnold Lobel. New York: Random House, 1983.

Over 500 poems for every occasion, from animals to family to nonsense.  (SH)

Prelutsky, Jack.  Rainy Rainy Saturday.  New York: Greenwillow, 1980.  47p. 

An I-Can-Read poetry book.  Short, silly poems to read inside on a rainy day. (DH) 

Prelutsky, Jack. Ride a Purple Pelican. New York: Greenwillow, 1986. 

Prelutsky’s collection of short nursery rhymes introduces characters such as Cincinnati Patty, Justin Austin, Pennington Poe, and the little pink pig in Arkansas. (JHP) 

Prelutsky, Jack.  Rolling Harvey Down the Hill.  New York: Greenwillow,1980. 

Meet five friends happy Tony, troublesome Lumpy, selfish Harvey, likable Will and the narrator, Jack Prelutsky. One eats a worm, one cheats and always wins, and one picks his nose, but all of them are true friends even if they fight or get fed up with Harvey's selfishness and roll him down a hill. This delightful book will have you laughing out loud! (TD) 

Prelutsky, Jack. The Sheriff of Rottenshot. New York: Greenwillow, 1982. 

"The Sheriff of Rottenshot," "The Soggy Frog," and "The Ghostly Grocer of Grumble Grove" highlight these sixteen humorous poems. The silly illustrations go well with the verses. (JHP) 

Prelutsky, Jack.  Something Big Has Been Here.  New York: Greenwillow, 1990. 

Enter the world of Jack Prelutsky and get set for a remarkable adventure.  His garden plays music and his turkey stuffed with popcorn ricochets around the room.  His world teems with unusual creatures like wunks, woolly wurbbes, and spelling snakes.  It’s a strange world indeed, but it’s never boring. (CG) 

Prelutsky, Jack.  Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast.  New York: Greenwillow,1988. 

Jack Prelutsky brings those "terrible lizards" out of extinction and into present life with his witty and fun look at a variety of dinosaurs. Do you know which dino had a 50-foot wing span or which dino had a brain the size of a nectarine? Learning about dinosaurs has never been this fun with its wacky humor and fun facts! (TD) 

  Rogasky, Barbara. Winter Poems.  New York: Scholastic, 1994. 

Long nights snuggled by the fire or days spent frolicking in the newly fallen snow.  These are just a few of the vivid descriptions that are included in this collection of winter poems.  (MJ) 

  Ryder, Joanne. Under Your Feet.  New York: Macmillan, 1990. 

Have you ever wondered what is living under your feet?  Joanne Ryder explores the many creatures that live right under our feet as she takes us on the outdoor journey of a young boy.  (MJ) 

Ryder, Joanne.  Without Words.  San Francisco, CA : Sierra Club, 1995. 

With heart-warming photographs of animals and humans interacting together, this poetry shows that verbal communication is not essential to show one's thoughts and feelings. Poems and photos show the many feelings displayed such as love, respect, and playful friendship. The bond shown between man and animal flows deeper than words can ever describe. (TD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Soda Jerk.  New York: Orchard, 1990. 

He is just a soda jerk that works behind the counter of Maywell’s Drugstore in a small town.  Those who stop in don’t notice him very much.  What they don’t know, however, is that while this jerk is making shakes, he is watching them. (DA)

  Rylant, Cynthia. Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood.  Scarsdale, New York: Bradbury, 1984. 

These poems walk the reader through a girl's childhood—a girl none other than Cynthia Rylant.  Her vivid images take us to where she grew up and let us have a feel for her childhood.  The pencil drawings add sensitivity to the memories she has shared with us.   (JD) 

  Scieszka, Jon. The Book That Jack Wrote.  New York: Viking, 1994. 

Get ready to laugh out loud! Scieszka has done it again with his hilarious twist of the story, "The House That Jack Built". This cumulative story includes a dog, cat, rat, and cow as well as a pie, baby, bug and hatter. This story comes full circle with a surprising end! (TD) 

  Shields, Carol Diggory. Lunch Money and Other Poems About School.  New York:  Scholastic, 1995. 

Boy, what adventures happen at school everyday!  This humorous collection of poems highlights the memorable childhood experiences of elementary school.  How can you say that elementary school was not fun?  (MJ) 

Sierra, Judy.  Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems.  New York: Gulliver Books, 1998. 

This is the most fun you’ll ever have learning true facts about penguins.  From how a chick hatches (A Hatchling’s Song), to what he eats (Regurgitation - Yuck!), and what penguins do for fun (Belly Sliding), every poem is lively and entertaining.  Reading this book calls for a trip to the zoo!  (BMD) 

  Silverstein, Shel. Falling Up.  New York: HarperCollins, 1996. 

Poems such as "The Toy Eater" and the accompanying drawings will delight both parents and children alike. It provides comic relief to all levels of readers. It is the type of book one could pick up and start on any page and be pleasantly surprised. (JHP) 

Silverstein, Shel.  A Light in the Attic.  New York: Harper, 1981. 

More delight from the master of silly poems for kids.  This one contains the classics "Dragon of Grindly Grun" and "They've Put a Brassiere on the Camel."  Again, the poems center around the craziness of youth and explores the what-ifs that only a child and a crazy man like Silverstein could think up. (MA) 

Silverstein, Shel.  Where the Sidewalk Ends.  New York: Harper,  1974. 

These poems are an invitation to the world of Shel Silverstein.  To get there, just go to where the sidewalk ends and keep walking.  The price of admission?  A little imagination. Come to a place where you can lose your head if it isn’t fastened on, and you might get grabbed by the googies.  But once you’ve been here, you’ll want to keep coming back. (CG) 

  Simon, Seymour. Star Walk.  New York: Morrow, 1995. 

Throughout history, people have created their own poems about the mysterious stars, planets and the moon. Look at the photographs and read the poetry, and explore the beauty of the universe. (TD) 

Smith, William Jay.  Here is My Heart.  New York: Little, Brown, 1999. 47 pages.

Love is in the air or love is in the applesauce.  Read this cute little book of love poems and get many different perspectives on love from the seriousness of Shakespeare to the silliness of Prelutsky. (DA)

Solheim, James.  It’s Disgusting and We Ate It!  Illustrated by Eric Brace. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998. 

A collection of poems, facts, statistics, and stories about eating habits—both modern and historical.  These true food facts from around the world and throughout history just might make you lose your appetite! (SR) 

Spinelli, Eileen. The Tea Party, Poems to Sip and Savor. Illustrated by Karen Dugan. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong, 1999.

Recipes and teatime tips are included in this book of original poetry and illustrations.  Lots of children in different settings have tea in a variety of traditions. (KG)

  Steptoe, Javaka. In Daddy's Arms I am Tall.  New York: Lee & Low Books, 1997. 

These poems by African American poets celebrates the relationship between a father and his son.  There are tributes to dad's clothes, his hands, his arms, and grandfathers that are like fathers.  My favorite was a haiku that admired a father's jumpshot in a game of basketball. (MA) 

Stevenson, James.  Sweet Corn.  New York: Greenwillow, 1995. 

Here are poems about everyday aspects of our lives such as a road trip, a tree house, a bridge, a ladder, and a summer storm. The words are huge, small, slanted, straight, soft and loud. These poems reflect the different moods within us all. (TD) 

Westcott, Nadine Bernard.  Never Take a Pig to Lunch.  New York:  Orchard Books, 1994.  63p. 

Through the teeth and past the gums—look out stomach, here it comes!  This book is great for the lunchroom!  Poems are collected from a variety of writers and divided into categories—Eating silly things, eating foods we like, eating too much, and manners at the table. (DH) 

  Whipple, Laura. Eric Carle’s Animals, Animals.  New York: Philomel, 1989. 

What is a butterfly?  At best, he’s but a caterpillar dressed.  This collection of poems complied by Laura Whipple and fully illustrated by Eric Carle, describes the many peculiarities of animals, both domestic and wild.  (MJ) 

Wilbur, Richard. The Disappearing Alphabet. Illustrated by David Diaz. New York: Harcourt-Brace, 1997.

Without letter “B” for ‘bat’ and ‘ball’ there wouldn’t be any baseball “at all.” This collection of 26 poems shows what would happen if the alphabet began to disappear. (KG)

  Yolen, Jane.  Once Upon Ice and Other Frozen Poems.  Honesdale, PA:  Boyds Mills, 1997. 

The authors Jane Yolen selected capture the distinct details of her son's remarkable photographs.  With photographs like these, there is no telling what authors may write.  Each poem contains its own imagination and inspiration as it gives many new meanings to the word ice.   (JD)