This post is part of the Traveling Through the Pages Summer Reading Adventure. It is not too late to download your free printables and join in on the fun!
Po-et-ry [poh – i – tree] noun 1. Something that rhymes. 2. Something to sigh at and say, “If I only understood it.” 3. Something I always knew was important to know if I was going to be really educated and smart, but never could bring myself to enjoy.
Does your definition of poetry sound like mine? The poetry square on my summer reading sheet when I was a kid was something I dreaded. You did earn one whole point per poem, but they were so darn hard to get through!
I wanted to understand what I was reading and knew I had to explain enough of what I read to the librarian to get my points, so I picked out Where the Sidewalk Ends, read the minimum five poems, and moved on.
Even though we have memorized a few poems this year in our homeschool and read many more, I was still confused on why poetry was so important. So, I picked the brain of an English teacher at the local classical school.
He reads a poem to his seventh graders every day before they start class. He reads the poetry for enjoyment. The idea that you must pick apart a piece of poetry after one or two reads is what makes everyone avoid poetry.
Instead, enjoyment must come first. Listen to how neat the words sound together, appreciate rhythm, laugh if it is funny and don’t worry about why.
This year I have begun to really enjoy poetry for its own sake. My children love to hear me read from any poetry book. Below are a few selections we love.
Single Picture Books
Wynken, Blynken, & Nod – A lovely illustrated bedtime poem and my son’s favorite. Travel the evening sky with the three travelers is this figurative treat for the eyes and ears.
The Owl and the Pussycat – There are many illustrated versions of this poem. We like this one. Kids just can’t resist the silly love story between two most unlikely suitors. And it never hurts to know what a runcible spoon is either.
What Can I Give Him? – The Christmas Story in poetry. We have this one memorized, and it is a lovely tribute to the true meaning of Christmas.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening – A beautifully illustrated version of this classic poem that your children will have memorized after just a few readings. The black and white drawings with single pops of red here and there accent this timeless classic from Frost.
Paul Revere’s Ride – I like the illustrations of this version. (I’m sure you are sensing a theme here. A picture book to me is nothing without good illustrations.) This is also a classic that will be useful during the school year yes, but why not ENJOY it now? The rhythm of this poem is reminiscent of the galloping feet of Revere’s mount — a fact that is sure to delight even young readers as they gallop along as you read.
Collections of Poems for Kids
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children – One of the best all-around collections for children. These delightful poems are wonderfully illustrated and arranged by topic. The handy index makes it easy to find the perfect poem for an autumn tea party, a specific holiday, or a special interest — like frogs or alligators.
Hailstones and Halibut Bones: Adventures in Poetry and Color – I love this collection about color! Every color has a poem about it. Great as a summer introduction to color for preschoolers, or more importantly, to simply enjoy.
A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers – A Newberry Medal book, as well as a Caldecott Honor book, this traveling poem book takes a little boy on quite the journey.
Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) – Japan has haiku and Korea has sijo, a poem with stressed syllable rules. This book is a delightful introduction to this fun type of poetry. While haiku’s subject is mostly nature, sijo can be about anything and the last line has a funny twist, pun or something unexpected. I loved this fun informative book! The poems are about subjects children understand and the notes at the end helped us write our own sijo.
Poetry for Young People – We have read selections from Poetry for Young People: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The illustrations were very well done and the content was a little dark, but well chosen. I plan on picking a few more and adding them to our home library.
Are you a poetry fan? What are your favorite poems for children?
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