Poetry Books for Kids - Homegrown Scholars %

If you’re wanting to exposure your children to quality poetry, but you have no idea where to start, you’re in the right place! I’ve compiled a diverse range of 30 books of poetry for kids, divided up into three categories based on age/grade level.

You’re sure to find some awesome poetry books for kids in these lists!

If you want to get straight to it, check out the following posts:

So what’s the point of reading poetry anyway? How important is it for us to spend time exposing our children to this form of writing? I mean, there are SO many other books to read, why focus on poetry?

These are all valid questions!

benefits of exposing kids to poetry:

1. POETRy Teaches us to slow down

Poems are often short, with a lot of meaning and significance packed within each word. This means that poems are usually read more slowly and intentionally than a longer-form piece of writing. Poems often highlight feelings, ideas, and insight that are overlooked if read too quickly.

In our fast-faced modern world, taking this time to slow down is a valuable activity to engage in.

In a really good way, poetry teaches us to slow down.

2. poetry Teaches empathy

Poetry has the power to connect with readers in powerful ways. Feelings, ideas, and insight are meaningful tools to provide connection and understanding. The end result is empathy which allows us to feel compassion for people and situations that we’ve not experienced firsthand.

Poetry has the power to teach us empathy.

3. poetry improves vocabulary

Poems are often packed with rich, unique vocabulary. Since poems tend to be short, the power within each and every word is so important. There aren’t a lot of “fluffy”, filler words! This means that whether you’re reading silly, whimsical poems packed with plenty of fun adjectives, or serious, contemplative pieces infused with powerful verbs and significant phrases, you’ll probably be exposed to plenty of new vocabulary.

Reading poetry offers a great way to improve vocabulary.

4. poetry Provides Connection

Reading aloud with our children is a simple but powerful way to connect. And poetry is an ideal choice as it’s often meant to be read aloud in order to experience the fullness of the poem. The rise and fall of words, overall flow, and rhythm are appreciated more fully when reading aloud.

This provides an easy way to connect! Snuggle up on the couch with a book of poetry and take turns reading. Listen to audio of poetry being read-aloud while eating breakfast around the kitchen table. Take a few poems with you and head out for a picnic.

Poetry offers a simple but powerful way to connect as a family!

5. poetry Encourages creativity

While there are many different types of poems and some have more rules than others, poetry often feels less stifling and more free for writers. If your child struggles with writing in general, poetry might just provide a more enjoyable outlet for them.

Poetry can also serve as musical inspiration. Many song lyrics do come directly from poetry and prose, after all! The flow and rhythm created while reading poetry also has the ability to inspire music and other forms of performance.

Don’t underestimate the ability of poetry to encourage all forms of creativity!

Simple ways to add poetry books for family and kids:

1. Let your kids choose the titles

Gather a pile of poetry books and have your children look through them. Start with whichever ones spark their interest! If you feel weighed down by feelings of “should” or “have-to”, STOP! Set these feelings aside for now; it’s not that you won’t ever be able to read your top choices with your kids, but for now, let THEIR interests lead the way!

See what appeals to your children, then let them choose the titles.

2. start with humor

If you are getting NO buy-in whatsoever from your kiddos, start with silly, funny, wacky poems! Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, and Edward Lear are great choices to start with.

Humor is an excellent entry-point to explore poetry with your kids.

3. Listen to music

If you’re not enjoying reading aloud, you may want to consider listening to audio versions of poems being read-aloud. Plenty of authors read their own poems aloud, as well as other narrators.

But another powerful way to incorporate poetry is… MUSIC!

Pay attention to the lyrics of the songs you listen to. It doesn’t matter if it’s hip-hop, country, rap, pop, rock… poetry is found within ALL genres of music. So start listening together!

Music is a fun and easy way to infuse your home with poetry!

4. Watch poetry performance

I love watching an artist read their poetry aloud. It brings the poem to life in fresh and meaningful ways. Check out the “Additional Resources – Poetry For Kids” below for specific suggestions and links.

Watching artists perform their poems aloud is a meaningful way to connect with poetry.

5. Have poetry tea time

I was first introduced to the idea of Poetry Teatime through Julie Bogart of Brave Writer. The idea is lovely and simple: Gather around and enjoy tea (or hot chocolate, apple cider, lemonade, etc.) while reading poetry together.

Poetry tea time can be as formal or informal as you’d like.

A fancy table cloth, teacups and saucers, little sandwiches, and homemade treats. Or pita chips and hummus, store-bought cookies, and lemonade (sans tablecloth!)

It can take place any time of day in many different locations.

Breakfast at the kitchen table, midday snacks, a lunchtime picnic at the park,

The possibilities are endless!

Poetry tea time is a fun way to incorporate poetry in simple and enjoyable ways.

Additional resources – Poetry for Kids:

Children’s Poetry Archive – This is a fantastic site to start with! Poetry is rooted in oral tradition. Long before words were written on a page, poems were recited aloud. It’s important to understand this connection and included on this site are tons of recordings of poems being read by the author or a narrator. When we listen to poems being read aloud, we’re drawn in and the poetry is brought to life in dynamic ways.
Poetry 4 Kids – This website belongs to Ken Nesbitt, children’s author and former Children’s Poet Laureate from 2013-2015. It’s packed with all sorts of poems, games, lessons, activities, and recordings.
Poetry Foundation – Here you can find a great children’s section which includes hundreds of poems, articles, and videos.
Poetry 180 – This website is maintained by the Library of Congress. Its goal is to provide a poem a day for U.S. high schoolers; one for each of the 180 required school days of the year. It’s a simple way to incorporate poetry into the daily life of teens.
Poetry Out Loud – This is another great source focusing on listening to, reciting, and performing poetry. There are plenty of interesting and helpful links included.

And remember, for my personal suggestions, be sure to check out the following recommendations based on age/grade level. These are books that my children and I have enjoyed together over the years. They truly stand the test of time and you’re sure to find something for everyone here!

I hope this list of poetry books for kids inspires you to check out some poetry with your family! Let me know if you have any favorites!

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