Category: Reading

Me: In Poetry, Song, and Art

By Mariah Bruehl,

MichelleTitleWhen I was a classroom teacher, one of the most relaxing, yet beneficial professional development opportunities I attended was a “Picture Book Read In.” After various speakers, such as a local librarian who had been on the Caldecott committee, teachers had an opportunity to peruse new picture books at their leisure. I was always able to discover new books that sparked new ideas and new lessons.

It seems like there is always a steady stream of amazing books being produced, and this year is certainly no exception. There are many exciting new picture books and three of these that caught my eye are autobiographies or biographies.  Aside from the interesting life stories, these books are especially attractive because they feature outstanding artwork, and they also focus on unique and diverse individuals in the fields of poetry, music, and art.  Picture books easily engage children in non-fiction text, and these books can easily integrate reading, writing, and the arts. The more connections children can make across domains, the more effective learning opportunities become.

Enormous Smallness by Matthew Burgess is about the life of poet e.e. cummings. My favorite aspect of this book is the creative way the words themselves are incorporated into the illustrations. I love the use of the font style and the way the poems are presented throughout the book. Also, the book includes a nice chronology at the end.

Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is an autobiography. This book will resonate with children because it takes place in modern times. Troy is 29 years old, and the book covers his accomplishments and musical drive as a young child. The watercolors and collage by Bryan Collier are amazing.

Draw What You See by Kathleen Benson is a biography of Benny Andrews and features his actual paintings as the illustrations. What a better way to introduce his life and his art to students than by using his artwork. The book also ends with an nice timeline, and a listing of each artwork including the title, medium (mostly oil on canvas are featured in this book), and date created.

With each book covering an individual from a different artistic talent, there are so many possibilities for activities after reading and discussing these books, all of which can be adapted for different age levels and abilities.

  • Write an autobiographical poem
  • Compose an autobiographical song
  • Paint a picture of an important moment in your life
  • Create a timeline of your life so far
  • Create an autobiographical collage

I have created a printable booklet to inspire some of the ideas listed above (click on the photo below to download). A quote of e.e. cummings that speaks to me is, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are”.  Children thrive on expressing themselves and exploring what it means to be who they are. Poetry, song, and art are wonderful ways to delve into this. The booklet also has a chart to compare and contrast the individuals featured in these three books. An important comprehension skill with non-fiction reading is being able to locate and process factual information. Use of engaging texts, such as these picture books, is an excellent way to introduce and practice this skill in an interesting way for children.

Extending the reading of a book with supplemental experiences enhances children’s’ understanding as well, here are some links to use:

Me: In Poetry, Art, and Song

10 Books for New Kindergarteners

By Mariah Bruehl,

10 Books for New KindergartenersIs your child starting kindergarten soon?  Are you sobbing as you’re reading this?  Maybe your heart even aches a little.  Let’s face it—the transition into kindergarten is a big milestone for our children.

I had the privilege of teaching kindergarten for 8 years, but being on the other side was a very different experience.  This year, my daughter will be starting first grade (and yes, my heart still aches thinking about another school year), but I’m here to tell you that we survived the first few days of kindergarten.  Was it scary? Yes.  Was it hard to say goodbye? Yes.  Were there tears? A few.  However, we were fortunate enough to have THE BEST teacher we could have hoped for.  When the teacher tears up during kindergarten orientation and thanks you for sharing your children with her, it feels like you’ve won the lottery.

As a former kindergarten teacher, and now former kindergarten parent, I can tell you that the best advice I can give you is to have courage and be brave in front of your child.  If you are nervous, they will know.  If you have negative feelings about the transition, they will pick up on them.  Your child will follow your lead.  Don’t let them see you cry or worry.  Stay positive and tell them how amazing kindergarten will be, how much they will learn, and the new friends they will make.  

I have also found that the easiest way to introduce children to new experiences is through books.  Literature allows children to make connections to characters and talk about their fears and worries.  Books can validate our feelings.

As you prepare to send your kindergartener off into the world, take some together to read these books.  I promise they will help your child (and you) make it through the very first day… and maybe even the second day.

10 Books for New Kindergarteners

 

  1.  How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

What if a dinosaur came to school with you?  This book is a favorite in our house and always makes us giggle.  Besides being fun to read, it also allows children to think about how to (and how not to) behave when they are at school.    

 

  1. Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!  by Nancy Carlson

In this book, Henry can’t wait to start kindergarten.  He jumps out of bed, eats his breakfast, grabs his school supplies and has lots of questions for his mom.  But when he gets to school and sees how big it is, he starts to have second thoughts.  This is a perfect book to read with your child who may be hesitant to start school.

 

  1.  Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells

Who doesn’t love Rosemary Wells?  Timothy is looking forward to his first day of school, but then he meets Claude who seems perfect in every way.  Timothy’s insecurity creeps in until he finds a new friend who feels the exact same way.  Do you have a child who is a little shy or has trouble fitting into new situations?  Introduce him to Timothy!

 

  1.  The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

If you don’t share any other book with your incoming kindergarten, please share this one!  Chester Raccoon does not want to go to school and leave his mother.  So she kisses his paw and tells him that when he feels sad, he can press his paw to his cheek and feel the warmth of her kiss.  Are you crying yet?  Believe me, you will.  If you are worried about separation anxiety, this will help ease the transition.  It ‘s also a springboard for coming up with your own goodbye routines.  Sniff, sniff.

 

  1.  Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

I still read this to 2nd and 3rd graders every year.   Wemberly worries about EVERYTHING from the crack in the living room wall to whether there would be enough cake at the party.  So when school starts, she has a whole new list of worries.  Read this book and ask your child what their worries are about school?

 

  1.  Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

This book introduces your child to kindergarten and gives a behind the scenes look into what her teacher may be doing to get ready for the first day!  It’s also an alphabet book.

 

  1.  The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing

A must read as your child is settling into bed the night before his first day.  I won’t give it away, but the ending is adorable and will hit home for parents as well.  I used to read this to my kindergarten parents during parent orientation and usually needed to pass out a few tissues.

 

  1.  Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

Another book to help with separation anxiety and a child’s fear of being dropped off and left at school.  In this story, little llama is excited to see his new classroom but has second thoughts when it’s time for mama to leave.  He’s worried she may not come back.   

 

  1.  Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

I always buy my children a back to school book, and this is the one I gave to my daughter before starting kindergarten.  I love the review on Amazon: “For one brave boy, kindergarten isn’t just a grade – it’s a destination.”  My daughter was SO thrilled to start kindergarten, and I knew that it was the beginning of her lifelong journey through school.   Kindergarten is definitely an adventure into a whole new world, and this book takes that metaphor to a whole new level.    

 

  1.  First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Do you or your child already have that pit in your stomach?  Although this particular story is about a girl who is starting over at a new school, incoming kindergarteners will relate to having similar feelings of not knowing anyone.  The surprise ending will make you smile, and your child will realize that it’s not just children who experience the first day jitters.

*This post contains affiliate links.

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DIY Games for Kids: Word Mastermind

By Mariah Bruehl,

WordMastermindTitleDo you have a Scrabble® game in your home? If so, put those letter tiles to use with this simple game.

You will need:

mastermind2

To Play:

A – player 1:  secretly writes a 5 letter word with no repeating letters on the blank piece of paper.  (for the photos, I have put the secret word on the wood tile tray.)

☑birds – one letter only

☒nests – two S’s.

 

B – player 2:  using the letter tiles, lays down their guess of a 5 letter word (with no repeating letters).

 

C – player 1:  if any of the letters are in the secret word, player 1 slides down the letter(s) to indicate that the letter is somewhere in their word, but not necessarily in that position.

 

D – player 2:  crosses out the letters NOT in the hidden word on the sheet.  Using the discovered  letter(s) as a clue, player 2 uses the tiles to make another guess being careful not to use the letters now marked on their sheet.

 

E – continue until player 2 guesses the hidden word!

Word Mastermind 2

 

This compact game is great to take traveling or to play on a quilt in the backyard!

 

Let it Go! When to Abandon a Book

By Mariah Bruehl,

Let it Go! When to Abandon a Book

I am a list maker, mostly because I find immense satisfaction in crossing things off my list.  Sometimes I actually add something to my list just so I can put a checkmark next to it.  For most of my adult life, I had also been that kind of reader.  Once I started a book, even if it was the worst book I’d ever read, I felt like I didn’t have a choice but to finish it.  I had to cross it off my list.  And of course I couldn’t cross it off my list unless I had completed the whole book, which meant reading every single dull, slow moving, depressing, this-is-not-holding-my-attention-when-is-this-going-to-be-over page.

My epiphany came when I realized that I have never looked my students in the eyes and told them they had to finish reading a book that they were totally disengaged and uninterested in.  Never.   So why on earth was I torturing myself and taking away valuable reading time?  (This is what I call my “Duh” moment, but in the teaching realm it sounds much better if I call it my “A-Ha” moment).

I actually remember the first book I let go.  It was hard, really hard.  I felt like a failure.  But at the same time, it felt good abandoning something that just wasn’t a good fit for me.  I kept the book on the coffee table for a while (maybe to remind me of my guilt) and then after a week or so put it back on my bookshelf.  At that time, I was writing down the titles of books I had read (yup – making a list) so that I could recommend books to friends, and to be quite honest, remember what I had already read.  So when I abandoned this particular book, I was stumped!  Where would I write down the title of this book?  I had read about half of it, but I couldn’t exactly write it down on my “read” list.  It was a serious problem (well, for me it was).

Goodreads literally saved my life.  Now when I let a book go I add it to a virtual shelf I have labeled “Abandoned,” and in the last two years I am not ashamed to say that I have abandoned 10 books.  Many of those books have come to me highly rated by people in my personal reading community, but for whatever reason they just didn’t appeal to me.  I have tried to reread a few of them a second, and yes even a third time, but rarely have I reversed my initial verdict.

So why does this matter?  Well now, I intentionally use my own reading behaviors to inform my teaching.  I teach my students when and why it might be appropriate to abandon a book.  I share my Goodreads list with them, and tell them about the books I have let go.  I tell them that it feels hard to let one go.  Sometimes they beg me to give a book another chance, but they are ALWAYS surprised when I tell them that adults abandon books too.  I share my thinking, and I tell them that abandoning a book does not equate to failure.  I tell them that I wish someone had told my younger self that abandoning a book was an option, because it took me well into adulthood before I even allowed myself to leave a book unfinished.  I teach them when to give a book a second chance, and how to self-select books so carefully and thoughtfully that the chances of them abandoning a book decrease simply because they know how to choose wisely the first time.

So let’s teach children WHEN and WHY it is okay to abandon a book:

  • Too easy
  • Too difficult
  • Not interesting
  • Too confusing
  • About a topic you don’t particularly enjoy
  • Not what you expected
  • Slow moving and hard to get into
  • Don’t like the characters
  • Disappointing sequel
  • Not interested in the genre
  • Too long and you lose interest
  • Doesn’t feel like the story is going anywhere
  • Poor writing style

But let’s also make sure that children know HOW to give a book a chance by:

  • Reading more than just the first few pages.  In the classroom, I tell my chapter book readers that they should read to at least page 50 before making a final decision to abandon.  For early chapter book readers, I tell them to read at least two chapters.  Sometimes books that start out slow turn out to be great reads!
  • Talking about the book with a parent, teacher, or classmate who has read it.  Readers may need help clearing up early confusions about complex characters, unfamiliar settings or plot twists.  Once children understand these elements, and have a context for reading, they may be more willing to continue reading it independently.  Let them know they can stop and have conversations about the book as they read!  Readers are not alone.

And most importantly:

  • Help children build their reading stamina.  Children must have structured reading time.  Some readers choose lengthy books (think Harry Potter) only to abandon them because they lose interest.  Reading takes practice, and children who aren’t able to sit and read for longer periods of time may be more likely to abandon books.  Encourage children to read a little more each day!
  • Beware of children who abandon books often.  This is usually a red flag that they are not making good first choices and may need support in learning how to self-select just right books (See earlier post: Selecting Just Right Books for Your Reader at Home).  If children are finishing books too early, browsing but never making a final selection, or never seem to read a book all the way through, then take some time and find out why!  

We certainly don’t want children to get into the habit of abandoning book after book, but we do want them to know that abandoning books is an authentic reading behavior.  Hey, even I do it a few times a year.

Follow me on Goodreads (Nicole C.) to see what I’m reading and what I’m letting go.

 

 

The Power of Wordless Picture Books

By Mariah Bruehl,

The Power of Wordless Picture Books

A few months ago, I was at home perusing a stack of books that I was planning to share with the students in my 2nd/3rd grade classroom.  My kindergarten daughter peeked over my shoulder and nonchalantly said, “Mommy, is that a think book?” The question confused me, but I knew I needed to dig a little deeper because I could see her wheels spinning.  So I asked her to explain what she meant by think book.  She replied, “Well, because you have to think about what’s happening.” My first thought was yes, you have to think about what’s happening every time you read a book. It was then that I glanced down and realized I was reading a wordless picture book.  Now it was starting to make sense.  In her mind, reading a wordless book meant some serious thinking must be involved.  After all, there was no text to relay a message or in essence tell the story. This three-minute exchange with my daughter got me thinking about the power of wordless picture books.

Over the years, I have had many students tell me that wordless books are for children who cannot yet read. Their exact words are usually something like this: “those books are for babies because they don’t have any words.” So clearly, parents and educators have a responsibility to set the record straight and show students the beauty, and power, of wordless picture books. Perhaps my daughter can also help spread the message about these think books.   

In my opinion, wordless picture books are even more difficult to “read” than other picture books. In order to comprehend a book in this genre, children must be thorough observers and read with a very careful and thoughtful eye. Wordless picture books push the reader to summarize, make inferences, interpret and evaluate visual information, ask questions, and make connections without any support from the written word.

Young readers (pre-emergent, emergent, and early readers) can use wordless picture books to learn how the illustrations support and often drive a story. They can learn how to retell a story in their own words, which encourages creativity, imagination, language play, and vocabulary development. Wordless books also provide an easy entry for young readers to be the authors and illustrators of their very own stories. So many times we, as adults, forget just how vital pictures are to a story. Wordless books become a perfect model for explaining the significance of creating high quality illustrations and for inspiring young artists.

Older readers (fluent and transitional readers) learn how to think more deeply and critically about plot elements, the interaction among characters, cause and effect, the tone of the story, and the intended theme. These readers can add words to support the illustrations and author their own version of the story. The illustrations can become engaging writing prompts or a vehicle for making precise observations and perceptive inferences. Again, all of this learning happens without any textual support from the book.

As I was writing this post, I began browsing my own bookshelves to see which titles I might like to recommend to all of you. What I realized was this: I own A LOT of wordless picture books! I pulled all of them off the shelves and laid them out in front of me.  Then I took a moment to reflect why, over the years, I have been drawn to these books. I picked up Bluebird and remembered how my heart ached for the little boy when the other children were teasing him.  I reread Journey and remembered how it took my breath away when I turned the page and saw the little girl sailing toward that immense castle in the sky. I opened the pages of Flora and the Flamingo and giggled watching Flora mimic the movements of the flamingo – she so badly wanted to be friends. These books create true, heartfelt moments for the reader. They make us laugh, and cry, and sometimes feel at peace. All without one… single… word.  I think that’s pretty powerful.

Teaching with wordless picture books will:

  • Develop vocabulary and oral language development
  • Foster observation and critical thinking skills
  • Improve writing skills
  • Build reading comprehension skills
  • Enhance understanding of story elements (character, setting, plot, theme)
  • Promote creativity and imagination
  • Model the importance of high quality, detailed, and meaningful illustrations
  • Serve as an inspiration for a child’s own art work

Check out these wordless picture books (they’re some my personal favorites):

Looking for something to do with these books?  Try these fun activities!

  • For early readers, draw speech/thought bubbles on post it notes and write down what characters might be thinking or saying in the story.  Place the post it notes directly on the pages of the book as you read.
  • Use Post It notes to enhance observation and critical thinking skills as well as teach your students how to ask questions and make inferences.  Copy and enlarge key illustrations in the story.  Before you read the book, display these illustrations or hand them out to pairs of students.  Encourage students to use the post it notes to make observations (I see), ask questions (I wonder) and make inferences (I think) about what is happening in the illustration. As you read the book, students will naturally be drawn to these particular pages and will begin piecing together the story, asking questions, and building comprehension.
  • Ask readers to look through the illustrations and write down the story in their words.  Depending on their age and ability, have students draft strong leads, introduce characters, describe the setting, relay the sequence of events, use transition words, and consider word choice.

I’d love to hear how you use wordless picture books in your homes and classrooms!

* This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

Summer Reading Bucket List

By Mariah Bruehl,

Summer Reading Bucket ListWhat is on your summer to-do list? It may be packed with adventures, getaways, and activities, but did the simple act of reading throughout the summer make your list?

No matter your age, summer is the loveliest time to pick up a book and relax, soaking up the story as you soak up the sunshine. It’s easy enough to know that you must “read!” during the summer, but in the spirit of novelty (or novel-ty), why not make your reading to-do list playful? Not only will it get you to model strong reading habits, it will make summer reading even more approachable for your child, no matter his or her age.

Here are some ideas to create your own “Summer Reading Bucket List.” You can post the list anywhere in your home, and have your child check off each item as he or she reads different pieces in different ways. The bucket list can be hung on your refrigerator, written on a chalkboard to keep all summer long, placed in your child’s room, or posted above a dedicated workspace your child might have. Be creative, and amend the list as needed. We’ve created a  few printables for you if you prefer to use to use them (click on the pictures at the bottom of the post to download). Of course, to make it even more enjoyable for everyone involved, you can participate right along with your child!

Summer Reading Bucket List

Places to read:

  • On the beach
  • In a pillow fort
  • On the grass
  • In a tent
  • Under a tree
  • On a boat
  • In the car
  • At the library
  • In bed
  • At the park

Things to read:

  • A new book
  • An old favorite book
  • A silly book
  • A book about a place you have never been
  • A magazine article
  • A recipe
  • A poem
  • A pop-up book
  • A rhyming book
  • A chapter book

How to read:

  • Read aloud to your pet or stuffed animals
  • Read aloud in a goofy voice
  • Read aloud to a group
  • Listen to a book being read
  • Read upside down
  • Read and act out a book
  • Write your own story and then share it
  • Read by flashlight or firelight
  • Read while eating ice cream
  • Listen to a family member tell an original story

Can you help your child cross off all of these items on the list? Can you cross off all of these items for yourself? The most important item yet unwritten on the list is simply to make sure you read all summer long – happy summer reading!

SummerReadingBucketList2

SummerReadingBucketListBlank

* Photo and printables by Randi Edwards

 

 

Crafts for Kids: Make a Collage Bookmark

By Mariah Bruehl,

Crafts for Kids:Make a Collage Bookmark

Our Summer Book Clubs are well under way and we thought it would be fun to build on the experience by making some inspiring bookmarks!

Here is a fun eco-activity that will enhance your summer reading experience! Make a collage bookmark with the following supplies:

  • rigid card stock paper
  • discarded magazines, brochures, junk mail, etc.
  • scissors
  • glue stick
  • hole punch
  • yarn
  • optional: punches to cut out shapes

Instructions

  • Step one:  Cut a bookmark out of cardstock (any dimensions you like)
  • Step two:  Cut out interesting images, words, and colour patterns from magazines, etc.
  • Step three:  Arrange the images and words on your bookmark.
  • Step four:  Glue all of your pieces down remembering to secure the edges so they don’t curl up.
  • Step five:  Punch a hole near the top for the tassel.
  • Step six:  Make a tassel.  Wrap a long piece of yarn around your fingers.  Thread a shorter piece of yarn around the bundle closer to one end, and tie to secure.   Cut the loops on the longer end to create the tassel.  Thread another piece of yarn through the smaller loop and tie to secure.  Tie the opposite end and thread through the bookmark.

Crafts for Kids:Make a Collage Bookmark

 

Bookmark3Crafts for Kids:Make a Collage Bookmark

The power of words

Do you have a favorite quote or line of a poem that you could add to your bookmark?  Do you want your bookmark to have a message or follow a theme (ie: Eric Carle)?  Vary the sizes and fonts of your lettering to emphasize certain words.  If you can’t find the word you are looking for, spell it out with individual letters.

Layout and using color

Layer your images and lettering.  This bookmark has also used two layers of cardstock to create a border.  Words can be positioned vertically or diagonally for interest.  This bookmark uses three shades of color- blues, yellows and pinks.  This keeps it from looking too busy.  Some white space is good for balancing the color.   Another idea is to just use rows of words in different colors and fonts.

Let your imagination and creativity run wild!  Happy reading!

Summer Reads Bingo

By Mariah Bruehl,

SummerReadsBingoSummer is here and we all want our children to read for pleasure over the next few months… Although, over the years, I have found that the requirement schools often have for children to read for any given number of minutes backfires. They become preoccupied about watching the clock, are not truly engaged with their book, and far worse, see reading as something that needs to be completed as quickly as possible. The clock becomes the focal point rather than the book at hand and eventually for some children their innate desire to read disappears.

To nurture a love of reading, it’s far more beneficial to give children reading experiences—a variety of special, shared moments that highlight the joy of reading.

Many years ago, our 1st grade daughter came home with a great summer reading assignment–Summer Reads Bingo. When I saw this “playful” approach to encouraging summer reading I thought is was so good that we adapted a version of our own to share with you and your budding young reader.

Summer Reads Bingo

 

*Photo and printable by Randi Edwards

Playful Picks: Poetry Anthologies

By Mariah Bruehl,

Playful Picks: Poetry AnthologiesWhen I first started teaching I was terrified of the month of April.  April means poetry in many schools. My exposure to poetry was not too much broader than Shel Silverstein in elementary school and Shakespearean sonnets in high school.  However, I did want to inspire my students to love poetry and knew that I needed to immerse myself in the genre in order to do so.  I began collecting poetry anthologies and made them my own personal reading.  Here are a few that I love.

Playful Picks: Poetry Anthologies

Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, Selected by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, Paintings by James McMullan

I was fortunate enough to hear Emma Walton Hamilton speak about this book that she curated with her mother.  She shared that in their family poems are often given as gifts.  That is what this whole collection feels like, a gift of words, rhymes, and music.  The collection also includes a CD of poems and the beautiful watercolors of James McMullan.

 

The 20th Century Children’s Poetry Treasury, Selected by Jack Prelutsky, Illustrated by Meilo So

Published in 1999 this book features over 200 poems written during the 20th century.  Jack Prelutsky, one of the most loved poets in my first grade classroom, selected the poems.

 

The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry, by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson

After first paging through this collection I returned to the beginning to read the forward by Eric Carle.  Here I learned that Bill Martin Jr. couldn’t read until high school and was taught to read by a teacher using rhythms as his guide.  What an auspicious beginning to a career in education and children’s literature.  The book also features art by many award-winning authors and illustrators, with each poem having its’ own artwork.

 

Poetry Speaks to Children, Edited by Elise Paschen, Illustrated by Juldy Love, Wendy Rasmussen, and Paula Zinngrabe Wendland

This anthology comes with a CD featuring fifty of the poems from the book, making it a great way for any child to listen and read along.

Poetry Anthologies

A Journey Through Time in Verse and Rhyme, Poems Collected by Heather Thomas

This collection, created for the Waldorf classroom, but appropriate in any, features chapters on the seasons, but so much more.  There are chapters of poetry featuring finger play, riddles, grammar, nature, meditations for teachers, and so much more.  The book is organized in a way that the poems become more developmentally complex the further you go on through the book so parents and teachers of six-year-olds through high school students can all find something appropriate.

 

Julie Andrews’ Treasury for All Seasons Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Year, Selected by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, Paintings by Marjorie Priceman

Like their previous anthology this collection features songs, as well as poems.  The book is organized by month and also by other holiday celebrations such as poems for birthdays, new babies, and rites of passage.

 

Poetry for Young People: The Seasons, Edited by John N. Serio, Illustrated by Robert Crockett

Part of the Poetry for Young People series this book begins each of its’ four chapters with haikus and then continues with longer poetry formats.  Each of the longer poems also has information about the poet and their inspirations.

Poetry Anthologies

Skip Across the Ocean: Nursery Rhymes From Around the World, Collected by Floella Benjamin, Illustrated by Sheila Moxley

This collection features lullabies, action rhymes, nature poems and more.  It features many cultures and often has the poems written in both English and the native language.

 

Tomie DePaola’s Mother Goose, Illustrated by Tomie DePaola

The classic Mother Goose rhymes featuring the bright and charming illustrations of Tomie DePaola, a favorite from my childhood.

Poetry Anthologies

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!, Edited by J. Patick Lewis

Stunning National Geographic photography and poetry together, need I say more?

 

Eric Carle’s Animals Animals, by Laura Whipple, Illustrated by Eric Carle

Featuring Eric Carle’s recognizable and iconic collages this book contains long format poems, haikus, and sayings about many species in the animal kingdom.

Poetry Anthologies

Noisy Poems, Collected by Jill Bennett, Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Every time I read a poem from this book to my class I had their full attention.  Many of the poems inspired a laugh and it was a great teaching tool when introducing onomatopoeia and decoding nonsense words with older readers.

Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems, Edited by Georgia Heard

List poems are so very accessible to all levels of readers and writers, which is what makes this collection so great for the classroom, or for a family, that is exploring poetry.  Georgia Heard whose books on teaching poetry were huge inspirations in my formative years as a teacher edited this collection.

 

A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, Selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Concrete poems use not only words, but also shape and design, to express their meaning.  This book is a visual feast and may help “hook” children who are otherwise adverse to poetry.

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Favorite Poets For Children

By Mariah Bruehl,

Favorite Poets for ChildrenAs I sat down to compose a list of my favorite poets, I became aware that I read poetry like a writer, and I consider the young writers who might be inspired by these poets. We all know that children love rhyme, but it can be very difficult to write good rhymes. Also, sometimes children assume poetry has to rhyme or be about beautiful scenery. I love poetry that surprises children and helps them to see poetry in different ways. Here, you will find poems about safety pins, Mars, Iguanodons, and marshmallows. Some rhyme. Some don’t. Enjoy.

 

Favorite Poets for Children

 

Valerie Worth

I fell in love with Valerie Worth’s poetry the first time I read “Safety Pin.” I loved the beauty and wonder the poet found in ordinary objects. She writes short, free-verse poems with precise language and imagery that is breathtaking. Children are natural poets, making surprising comparisons between two seemingly unrelated objects. Sharing these poems with children will inspire them to write poems about their own observations of the world around them.

 

Written poetry is simply a way of revealing and celebrating the essentially poetic nature of the world itself.   ––Valerie Worth

 

Eloise Greenfield

Honey, I Love has been a favorite of mine for years. I read the title poem to children every year. The narrator in this collection of poems is so real you want to reach out and hug her.

 

Douglas Florian

I can’t get enough of his poetry. His poems are short and often witty, and he plays with words in fun ways. He writes a lot about animals, but he also has a collection of poems about planets. He is often informative, but always entertaining. And the art work is gorgeous.

Favorite Poets for Children

Joyce Sidman

Joyce Sidman writes beautiful poetry, but her knowledge of nature is equally inspiring. Many of her poems will appeal to anyone who is curious about the natural world. I recommend Swirl By Swirl and Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors for the youngest listeners and What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms and Blessings for grade 6 and up. Her other books are for grades 4 and up, and anyone younger who really loves the subject. The books all include gorgeous artwork by various illustrators.

 

Kristine O’Connell George

Whenever we go camping, we bring a copy of Toasting Marshmallows. Like Joyce Sidman, Kristine O’Connell George writes about nature, but her poems seem more accessible to a younger audience. If you know a young bird watcher, check out Hummingbird Nest.

 

Byrd Baylor

Yes, Byrd Baylor writes picture books, but have you ever noticed that many picture books are actually poems? Two of my favorites are I’m in Charge of Celebrations and Everybody Needs a Rock. Like Eloise Greenfield, Byrd Baylor gives her narrator such a strong voice, that you can’t help but want to be her friend.

 

Michael Rosen

I first discovered Michael Rosen while teaching in England. The children and I read “Chocolate Cake,” and it was deliciously good. He writes about family, friendships, and mischief. These are stories with very little figurative language. While his books are hard to find in the States, you can watch him perform his poems online—even better. His recitations are superb with just the right amount of theatrics.

 

I think poetry for children needs to be saved from the cold dissection of right and wrong answers and put back into rooms and halls full of wonder, compassion, haunting, laughter, music and rhythm. We need to hear its many cultures, many voices, many sounds. This is about wide and diverse participation. Diverse verse for all!

— Michael Rosen, Children’s Laureate 2007–2009

 

If your child likes Shel Silverstein, try…

 

For Teens…

 

For the very youngest….

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