The Power and Pleasure of Poetry for Kids
- Susan Koehler
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
National Poetry Month may be ending, but the joy of poetry lives on! Poetry is a wonderfully potent form of literature that can bring reluctant readers to the page. Throughout the summer months, poems can inspire joy and creativity while also building essential reading skills.
Poets aim for word economy, striving to pack as much meaning into as few words as possible. That means focusing on a short poem or even a stanza of a longer poem can provide emerging readers with lots of hidden skill practice. These brief snippets of carefully curated language offer practice in decoding, sight word identification, fluency, phrasing, and comprehension!
Looking for great poems to use with children? Here are five of my favorite collections:
This 1983 collection is timeless. The poems were selected by Jack Prelutsky, the first US
Children’s Poet Laureate, and the book features illustrations by Frog and Toad creator Arnold Lobel. These 572 poems are arranged by seasons and run the gamut from humorous to lyrical and from classical to contemporary.
For kids who love humor and irony, this book hits the spot. The poems are rhythmic and funny. The illustrations are simple and whimsical. This book is sure to be a favorite. Actually, the same can be said for all of Shel Silverstein’s poetry books for kids!
Poet Irene Latham fills this book with “nestlings,” or small poems that inspire wonder. In addition to developing reading skills, young readers will begin to view the natural world as a poet. This book will not only spark joy in the reading of poetry, but it will probably also inspire some writing!
There’s nothing new about this book of poems by Jack Prelutsky – it was published in 1984. However, all 100 of these hilarious poems stand the test of time. Enjoy some great bonding as you experience rhythm, rhyme, humor, word play, and fun while sharing this treasure with a child.
Edited by M.R. Street of Turtle Cove Press, this collection of work by several different poets is highly engaging on multiple levels. The poems are delightful, and the illustrations are presented in the style of a coloring book, allowing young readers to literally engage with the page!
Poems are fun, non-threatening, and often easy to memorize and repeat. They provide a sneaky way to practice and maintain literacy skills at school and at home. Enjoy poetry all summer long!
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