Poetry for Kids

One does not have to be a poetry connoisseur to simply enjoy poetry. Despite what the literature teachers say, poetry is not written to be analyzed, but to be enjoyed. The following four books of poetry are among the best ways to introduce children and parents alike to the wonders of the imagination that poetry opens up.

Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings

Shel Silverstein's masterpiece of imagination is one of the best books to introduce children to the concept of poetry as a storytelling device. Most books written for young children particularly those written by Dr. Seuss are written in rhyming meter, but tell a tale from the first page to the last. In Where the Sidewalk Ends, the imagination begins. The author introduces children to the Unicorn and the Bloath, to Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout, to a the boy who becomes a tv set and to the place where shoes can fly. Where the Sidewalk Ends embraces the most fanciful of children's imaginations and encourages them to soar! This book is great for children ages 4 to 10. Parents should read to the younger kids and encourage them to draw pictures of the poems.

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children

Written by Caroline Kennedy daughter of President John F. Kennedy, this book of poetry earns enormous nostalgia points for parents and grandparents alike. Kennedy details a family tradition of creating scrapbooks from poems as gifts for parents and grandparents, the poems she's collected in this book are by some of the world's most celebrated poets. A.A. Milne and Robert Louis Stevenson are two very prominent poets that children may recognize. Kennedy throws in a dash of William Butler Yeats, William Blake and William Shakespeare. This book is a fantastic addition to any library at home or at school. Parents will enjoy the glimpses of life as a Kennedy while sharing some of the best poets and poetry in the world with their kids. Can't really beat that combination.

There's Always Pooh and Me

Speaking of A.A. Milne and the wonderful world of Winnie the Pooh, this book is not a typical storybook of tales featuring the cast of Winnie the Pooh characters, but rather a collection of poems about those characters. The poetry is simple, yet elegant and refers to a gentler time in childhood. These poems are also easy for children to memorize if they are doing poetry projects for school. What is attractive about these poems is the verses were written for Milne's own child and introduce eeryone to the stories of Christopher Robin and his erstwhile yellow bear, Pooh. This book is a great way to introduce children to another form of poetry: songs. The song "House on Pooh Corner" by Kenny Loggins is a great favorite for fans of everything Pooh.

If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School

This book of poetry is the most modern of the selections here. Published in 1995 by a reading specialist elementary school teacher, this book's poems appeals to the sensibilities of modern elementary aged children. Ideally aimed at third grade and older children, this is a great poetry book for engaging kids into reading and writing their own poetry. The everyday events of the school day are something that all kids can relate too.