Favorite Poems

Young readers learn about the world around them in many ways. Poems such as "My Shadow" express the feelings of novelty readers may have as they go about their days. Including charming illustrations to accompany each poem, this volume presents understandable works by some well-known poets, such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and William Blake. Funny riddles and wordplay introduce readers to the playful side of poetry, while the rhyme and rhythm exposes them to important language arts concepts.

The words of Robert Louis Stevenson make the child in "The Land of Counterpane" seem both modern and timeless. Rhyme, rhythm, and imagery help readers experience a day sick in bed with new perspective. This volume introduces readers to other great poets, too, including Lewis Carroll, John Keats, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Colorful drawings help readers imagine the goings-on in each piece of writing as they encounter surprising word choices, interesting scenes, and lively characters. From "The Masque of Oberon" to "The Elves' Goodbye," these poems help readers learn more about writing poetry by reading it.

The bedtime story of three fishermen out in their boat at night has been told through the poem "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" for generations. Complemented by lovely illustrations of the fishermen and the night sky, it's presented in this volume along with more than a dozen other poems. Readers new to poetry can enjoy excerpts from Shakespeare, "The Gypsies" by Ben Johnson, and more to pique their interest in a different kind of writing. Exposure to rhyme, rhythm, and creative word choice reinforces parts of the language arts curriculum while encouraging imaginative thinking and writing.

Part of poetry's fun is the combination of an absurd tale with a definite structure. "There Was an Old Lady" tells of a woman swallowing a great many things to rid herself of a fly with a singsong rhyme and rhythm readers of all ages can find entertaining. More than a dozen other poems offer readers a chance to absorb key parts of the language arts curriculum while reading silly poems, serious poems, and those in between! Colorful drawings engage readers as they learn to navigate the structure and imagery of each wonderful work.

A key part of the language arts curriculum is learning the major tenets of different types of writing. This can be accomplished easily by reading lots of good poetry! Containing poems by W. B. Yeats, Rudyard Kipling, and James Whitcomb Riley, this volume offers many fun, lyrical, and image-filled works perfect for those just starting to read poetry. Full-color illustrations draw readers to turn each page as they take in the rhyme, rhythm, imagery, and unique structure of each poem.

Animals, such as the crocodile in "If You Should Meet a Crocodile," make great subjects of poetry. They can be assigned human feelings or even talk and are fun to describe in colorful, interesting language. Readers can not only read about many animals and characters in these poems, but also find inspiration for their own creative writing. Furthermore, this volume contains complementary illustrations with every poem bound to spark readers' imagination. With more than a dozen poems to read and enjoy, readers are sure to find a new favorite!

One of the great pleasures of reading and writing poetry is hearing how words sound together. "Calico Pie" takes readers to the "syllabub sea," and the other 22 poems in this volume similarly showcase rhyme, creative word choice, and imagery that are as fun to read aloud as they are to imagine. Readers are also introduced to great writers such as Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Burns, and more. Complemented by lovely illustrations, each poem helps engage readers with skills taught in the language arts curriculum.

Perhaps one of the best-known poems to young readers, "Jabberwocky" first appeared in Lewis Carroll's novel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There in 1871. Today, it's a great example for aspiring poets of using imagination and creativity to create a piece of writing. In addition, poems by Rudyard Kipling, William Wordsworth, and Robert Louis Stevenson expose readers to more traditional styles of poetry, as well as the key concepts of structure, rhyme, and rhythm. Fanciful illustrations complement each work.

The great poet Alexander Pope was asked by a prince to write a poem for a dog's collar. He wrote just 15 words encapsulating a royal dog's entitlement, from the dog's perspective! In this volume of more than a dozen poems, readers learn that poems don't need to be serious. Readers are introduced to lighthearted wordplay and singsong rhyme schemes that are fun to repeat over and over. With entries from Christina Rosetti and William Shakespeare, the writers included are some of the best, but the works offered are understandable and enjoyable for young readers.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a whole book of poems for children. Two are presented here, "The Land of Story Book" and "The Dumb Solider." However, he's not the only poet whose work is perfect for young readers. This volume includes poems by Robert Browning and Mary Coleridge and many other works readers will find accessible, fun, and enlightening. Colorful illustrations accompany each poem, giving readers plenty of fuel for their imaginations. Readers also learn some key concepts of writing and poetry, such as the importance of word choice, imagery, and rhythm.