
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
​
The Book of a Thousand Poems: Classic Collection for Children, by J.Murray MacBain
​
Norton Anthology of Poetry, by Margaret Ferguson Ph.D., Tim Kendall, Mary Jo Salter
Expensive online, but can often be found at thrift stores
​
Talking Like the Rain: A Read-to-Me Book of Poems, by X. J. Kennedy, Dorothy M Kennedy
​
Poems to Learn by Heart, by Caroline Kennedy
​
Poetry for the Well-Educated Heart, by Marlene Peterson
​
The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies, by Cicely Mary Barker
BIOGRAPHIES
Cool Melons - Turn to Frogs! : The Life and Poems of Issa, by Matthew Gollub
​
Emily, Michael Bedard
​
Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People, by Monica Brown
​
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, by Laban Carrick Hill
​
A River of Words : The Story of William Carlos Williams, by Jen Bryant
​
Phyllis Wheatley Sings Out Freedom, by Ann Malaspina
​
Papa Is a Poet: A Story About Robert Frost, by Natalie S. Bober
​
Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings, by Matthew Burgess
​
16 Words: William Carlos Williams and “The Red Wheelbarrow”, by Lisa Rogers
SINGLE-POET BOOKS
One-Two-Three Mother Goose, by Iona Opie
A Board book for babies
​
Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever, by Richard Scarry
an excellent comprehensive Mother Goose, although any MG is fine
​
Utter Nonsense: Collected Poems of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear
​
A Child's Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson
​
Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein has many fun poetry books. Poetry does not need to be serious to be valuable .
​
When We Were Very Young and Now We are Six, by A. A. Milne
​
Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts, by Roald Dahl
​
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature, by Nicola Davies
​
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
​
The Negro Speaks of Rivers, by Langston Hughes
​
Hiawatha, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
​
That Is My Dream!, by Langston Hughes
​
Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll
​
I, Too, Am America, by Langston Hughes
​
Life Doesn't Frighten Me At All, by Maya Angelou
​
Imagine, by Juan Felipe Herrera
​
I Carry Your Heart with Me, by E.E. Cummings