Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Charlotte Robinson: LISTEN: How Gay And Lesbian Couples Become…
New Turnaround Teacher 'Trying To Get It Right' In Tough School
Best New Poetry Books for Kids
Filed under: Books for Kids, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids
National Poetry Month might be coming to a close, but that doesn't mean your kids can't continue to enjoy a little whimsical verse every now and again.
Parents should never overlook poetry as an economical choice for bedtime reading as well ("I want three books tonight, Mommy." "Tell you what, I'll give you five poems." "Yay!").
You can always pull out A Light in the Attic or anything by current Children's Poet Laureate (yes, we have one of those), Jack Prelutsky, but our focus today will be on some great new poetry books that deserve your attention.
The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Paul Schmid (Harper, $18)
Amy Krouse Rosenthal is one of the most prolific children's authors working today, and an impressive portion of her canon is simply wonderful. Among all that great work, though, this poetic collection just might be my favorite. Her brilliant sense of humor shines in the wordplay, puns, and palindromes she plies upon these pages. She toys with classic nursery rhymes ("Mary had a little lamp"), she writes a backward poem about a backwards prince, she introduces us to the friends of Miss Mary Mack (like Miss Mary Fred, all dressed in red). Schmid's drawings are perfect, too, and -- just like in the poetry books of Shel Silverstein -- pivotal to the experience.
Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary
by Maya Gottfried, illustrated by Robert Rahway Zakanitch (Knopf, $18)The poems in this sweet and earnest collection are presented as written by the animals of the real-life Farm Sanctuary, an animal shelter in Watkins Glen, New York. Younger readers (or listeners) will adore the entire idea of works like "Freedom!" by J.D., a piglet, and "The Hill" by Bonnie, a donkey.
Name That Dog! Puppy Poems from A to Z by Peggy Archer, illustrated by Stephanie Buscema (Dial, $17)
Dog lovers have a sure-fire hit with this book. Any of the 26 pooches presented here (listed alphabetically by name; each a different breed) could be the potential protagonist of his or her own adventure. Or misadventure. Buscema's personality-rich canine portraits add a lot to that give-me-my-own-book feel.
Can You Dig It? by Robert Weinstock (Disney-Hyperion, $16)
This prehistoric-themed poetry book -- by the author of last year's marvelously titled, Food Hates You, Too -- should be just the thing to entice monster-loving action-fiends into the world of verse. Its poems about dinosaurs, Neanderthals and paleontologists are loaded with chuckles, sometimes genuinely informative, and eminently fun to read aloud.
Everybody Was a Baby Once: and Other Poems
by Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingman (Candlewick, $16)The team behind the lovably weird picture books The Runaway Dinner and The Pencil give us a collection of equally silly verses. Topics include a time long ago when snowmen lasted until summer, a boy who can make sausages dance, and the reason why Cinderella is bad at soccer. The real surprise? There are a few less absurd poems about childhood that are actually quite touching.
Related: A Web Site You Should Know: One Potato
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
David Lehman: Best American Poetry 2009
Author David Lehman's new book is a collection of the finest work by American poets in 2009.
-
Calvin Trillin: The Art of Deadline Poetry
Calvin Trillin talks about Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme. Returning to the form (and forum) that made bestsellers of Obliviously On He Sails and A Heckuva Job, the putative Bard of the Bush presidency recreates in verse all the lowlights of this year's endless campaign slog. In this video Trillin talks about writing his poems.
-
David Lehman Talks About Yeshiva Boys
The most ambitious and serious work to date from one of the most prominent figures in the poetry world and editor of The Best American Poetry series.
-
The Art of the Japanese Death Poem: Basho's Last Stanza
Learn about Japan's legendary 17th-century poet Matsuo Basho, the creator of the haiku. In this video Jane Reichhold discusses Basho's last works before his death, among which is his Death Poem, a Japanese tradition.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family