Children's poetry facts for kids
Children's poetry is special! It's poetry written just for kids, or poems that are perfect for young readers. This can include old folk poems like Mother Goose rhymes, or new poems written by authors like Shel Silverstein. Sometimes, even poems written for adults, like those by Ogden Nash, are great for kids too. You might also find poems inside stories, like those from Lewis Carroll or Rudyard Kipling.
Contents
Why is Poetry Important for Kids?
Poetry is super helpful for building your reading skills! When you read poems, especially ones with rhythm, you learn new words because the sounds and patterns help you understand what they mean.
How Poetry Helps You Learn
- Vocabulary: Poems often use interesting words. The rhythm and flow help you guess what new words mean.
- Sound Awareness: You learn about how words sound, like their pitch and how loud or soft they are. This is called phonemic awareness.
- Memory Skills: Poems often have patterns and sequences, which can help you remember things better.
- Self-Expression: Poetry lets you explore feelings and ideas through creative words. It can help you express yourself.
- Physical Awareness: Reading poetry aloud can make you aware of your breath and how your mouth moves to make sounds.
Experts also know that poetry and nursery rhymes are found in almost every culture around the world. They are a big part of how stories and ideas are passed down through talking, not just writing.
Awesome Poets for Young Readers
Many amazing writers have created poetry that kids love. Here are some of the most famous and important children's poets:
- Allan Ahlberg (born 1938) is a much-loved British writer. He has written over a hundred books for children.
- Francisco X. Alarcón (1954–2016) started writing poetry for kids in 1997. He noticed there weren't many books by Latino authors. His poems are simple and light, often published in two languages.
- Valerie Bloom (born 1956) is a Jamaican-born poet and novelist. She lives in the UK.
- Roald Dahl (1916–1990) is one of the most successful children's writers ever. Millions of his books have been sold. Dahl's poem collection Revolting Rhymes retells six famous fairy tales. They have surprising endings instead of the usual "happily ever after." Kids love Dahl's poems and stories because he writes from their point of view. In his books, adults are often the bad guys or just silly!
- Paul Fleischman (born 1952) is famous for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. This book won the Newbery Medal in 1989.
- Nikki Giovanni (born 1943) is a very well-known African-American poet. Her work, like Spin a Soft Black Song, talks about the African American experience.
- Charles Lamb (1775–1834) is known for his essays and the children's book Tales from Shakespeare. He wrote this book with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–1847).
- Edward Lear (1812–1888) was the first to use limericks in his writing. He wrote A Book of Nonsense in 1846, which was full of silly poems and new words he made up.
- Brian Moses (born 1950) is one of Britain's favorite children's poets. He writes his own poems and edits collections by others. He has performed in over two thousand schools.
- Jack Prelutsky (born 1940) wrote books like A Gopher in the Garden and Other Animal Poems. He was chosen as the first Young People's Poet Laureate in 2006.
- Michael Rosen is a broadcaster, children's novelist, and poet. He has written 140 books. He was the fifth Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009.
- Dr. Seuss wrote many famous children's poetry books. These include The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
- Shel Silverstein wrote popular books like Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. He also wrote The Giving Tree.
- Jean Sprackland (born 1962) is an English poet. She has published three collections of poetry since 1997.
- Roger Stevens is a performance poet, author, musician, and artist. His poems have appeared in over one hundred collections.
- Robert Louis Stevenson wrote famous works like A Child's Garden of Verses.
- Jane Taylor (poet) (1783–1824) helped write the very famous song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with her sister.
- Judith Viorst (born 1931) is known for her funny poems about everyday life. She also writes children's books.
- Gez Walsh is a performance poet and comedian. He is best known for his cult classic children's poetry book The Spot on my Bum.
- Jacqueline Woodson (born 1963) wrote the Newbery Honor-winning book Brown Girl Dreaming. This is a novel for young adults told in verse.
Images for kids
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Mother Goose riding
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An illustration of William Roscoe's The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast', depicting insects at a formal party.
See also
In Spanish: Poesía infantil para niños
