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OUT OF THE BEST BOOKS

Poetry

If you are unsure of how to teach and enjoy poetry, be sure to check out the second issue of Seek Learning Magazine: Endlessly Creative. These books have been split into four categories: compilations, biographies, poets, and single poems. A Compilation will include poems from many poets, on a variety of topics. A single poet’s book will include poetry from only that author, and single poems are usually illustrated picture books accompanied by the words of a poem.

Even if you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with poetry, we encourage you to read poetry aloud with your family. We promise- there's nothing special you need to do. Just read.

COMPILATIONS

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, by Jack Prelutsky

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The Book of a Thousand Poems: Classic Collection for Childrenby J.Murray MacBain

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Norton Anthology of Poetryby Margaret Ferguson Ph.D., Tim Kendall, Mary Jo Salter 

Expensive online, but can often be found at thrift stores

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Talking Like the Rain: A Read-to-Me Book of Poems, by X. J. Kennedy, Dorothy M Kennedy

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Poems to Learn by Heartby Caroline Kennedy

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Poetry for the Well-Educated Heartby Marlene Peterson

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The Complete Book of the Flower Fairiesby Cicely Mary Barker

BIOGRAPHIES

SINGLE-POET BOOKS

One-Two-Three Mother Goose, by Iona Opie

A Board book for babies

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Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever, by Richard Scarry

an excellent comprehensive Mother Goose, although any MG is fine

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Utter Nonsense: Collected Poems of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear

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A Child's Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein has many fun poetry books. Poetry does not need to be serious to be valuable .

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When We Were Very Young and Now We are Six, by A. A. Milne

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Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts, by Roald Dahl

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Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature, by Nicola Davies

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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers, by Fred Rogers

SINGLE ILLUSTRATED POEMS

When I heard the learn'd astronomer, by Walt Whitman and Loren Long

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The Negro Speaks of Rivers, by Langston Hughes

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Hiawatha, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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That Is My Dream!, by Langston Hughes

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Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll

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I, Too, Am America, by Langston Hughes

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Life Doesn't Frighten Me At All, by Maya Angelou

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Imagine, by Juan Felipe Herrera

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I Carry Your Heart with Me, by E.E. Cummings

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