Finding value in poetry enriches learning for a lifetime, and for us, we want that to start as early as possible! It displays the beauty in language and words and sets the stage for a love of literature and good writing.
Even from when our kids are tiny, we weave poetry into our routine by picking picture books that rhyme and have intricate rhythms to the flow of story. Here are a few of our favorites that helped us dip our toes in the world of poetry!
Our Favorite Poetry for Small Children
Little Blue Truck series
The Big Red Barn and other Margaret Wise Brown books
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
Our Favorite Poetry for Older Kids
Once our kids are a few years older, we start reading actual poetry and the transition seams pretty smooth. Here are some of our favorites that we have started with:
The Real Mother Goose: these are classic, very well known and cute. My kids love hearing songs that they recognize from reading these poems.
Jack Prelutsky: Jack is very silly (like a Shel Silverstein but less weird) and my kids laugh at many of his poems!
Robert Louis Stevenson: RLS uses a lot of dreamy language that I love. Overall, his poems are very imaginative and full of nature.
Christina Rossetti: Rosetti is a writer of romantic, devotional-type poems. She uses flowery language to tie the natural world to the spiritual divine world in a simple yet inspirational way.
A. A. Milne: The beloved author of Winnie the Pooh is actually quite the poet. His poems have strong themes of a play, pretend and childhood games. Silly and whimsical, we love him!
Poems and Prayers for the Very Young: This is a wonderful collection of poems and prayers that my kids have enjoyed as young as age 2!
I am the Seed that Grew the Tree: this collection is full of daily nature poems that perfectly go-along with the seasons. Very sweet and it attunes our senses to the beauty of nature around us throughout the year!
We memorize poems, one for every six weeks of school, by reciting it together during our morning time and if we can ever find an illustrated poem in picture book form we pick that up right away! Our favorite ways we’ve enjoyed poetry is through tea time with a warm muffin or slice of bread and jam, snuggled up under a down blanket or laying under a willow tree in the afternoon sun.
We love to bring out our nice china, tea pots and special tea! Since we’ve connected this time of reading to peaceful or “special” atmospheres, it seems they approach the reading with a calm and attentiveness that is unique. It can be a daunting subject or seem too lofty for kids at first, but if you start simple it is a great addition to any education.
