I never got poetry as a kid. In my early school days we just kind of skimmed the surface of it which left me sufficiently confident that poetry was not my thing. By the time college rolled around, I had myself convinced that Poetry would be one class I’d do better without since I obviously didn’t appreciate the art form.
Long story short- I was inevitably exposed to just enough poetry that my mindset changed. I suddenly saw poetry as a unique form of expression- a powerful literary tool capable of evoking varying emotional responses. Basically- a way to creatively play with words.
The rules, or lack thereof, in a poem’s composition became less random and more comprehensible to me. I’m definitely no expert of poetry- but I appreciate it now and hope to foster my children’s enjoyment of it right at the get-go.
Enter our Poetry At The Park days.
I’ve been trying to collect an assortment of poetry that I feel will appeal to my girls at this young stage. Earlier this week, I grabbed two of my newest finds, along with a picnic blanket, and drove around until I found a deserted playground. I figured I would have the greatest possibility of success in holding my girls’ attention during a reading if there were minimal distractions.
I found the perfect park for our first poetry reading- a new location for us, yet small and completely empty. I let the girls play for a good 30 minutes or so to get the wiggles out.
Then I lured them back to the blanket with the promise of new books to explore.
First I read from a collection of poems by Emily Dickinson. I think this book will be perfect for us in a few years. Right now, it required too many interruptions as I would have to explain a term or give the definition to a new word. Words like alabaster and cordiality don’t exactly fall easily from the tongues of early elementary and pre-k students.
We spent the majority of our time though, with this recent Goodwill find-
{Can you believe I grabbed this book for only $2?! Be on the lookout for it at your used-book stores or libraries since Amazon currently only sells it through third parties.} Beauty of the Beast is a poetic parade of the animal kingdom and covers everything from puppies to octopuses, from crocodiles to sandhill cranes, from tiny bees to immense whales . . . Mira and I would take turns reading a poem about an animal while Stella and Lyra would act out the featured creature. I made a point to read in an energetic and animated voice and I was pleased when Mira immediately picked it up and did the same. Stella and Lyra would take turns naming out an animal to read about, and more often than not, there was at least one poem to choose from based on it. With it’s creative collection of poems and enchanting illustrations, Beauty of the Beast has rapidly became a favorite here– so much so, that Mira read aloud from it the entire car ride home and it hasn’t strayed too far from her side since.
What are your favorite child-friendly poetry collections?
This looks like such a good time! I will definitely keep an eye out for that book as it sounds wonderful. My girls really enjoy “The Llama Who Had No Pajama – 100 Favorite Poems.”
This one sound like a keeper. Mira walked by and I read the name to her and she started cracking up. LOL
Thanks for the ideas! Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and Alan Katz have some pretty funny poetry books for kids. The Edward Lear book from the Poetry For Young People series was more manageable for my 5-year old than the Emily Dickinson one. For Emily we relied more on picture books such as “Emily” by Michel Bedard and “Emily and Carlos” by M.R. Figley.
I’m just now realizing what a great collection of materials Jack Prelutsky offers!
Great Jack Prelutsky find! We have a couple of his books, but not that one.
Some other poetry collections/books:
Here’s a Little Poem compiled by Jane Yolen, ill. by Polly Dunbar
A Child’s Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa
Julie Andrews Treasury For All Seasons
The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson (nicely illustrated by either Tasha Tudor or Gyo Fujikawa … or Barbara McClintock)
Anything by Mary Ann Hoberman
A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by Michael Driscoll (maybe for a little older?)
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Complete Book of Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
Animals, Animals by Eric Carle
A Mother Goose collection … we have several illustrated ones
What a great collection of suggestions, Sarah! Thank you! The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars piqued my interest. I bet it would be perfect for Lyra.
My daughter is 4 1/2 and really likes Carnival of the Animals new verses by Jack Prelutsky
Thanks! This looks fabulous! AND even better- my local library carries it!! WOO HOO!
You live in such a beautiful area! Poetry at the Park sounds wonderful =) We’ve been sprinkling in poetry as we come across it in our Primary Language Lessons book, and my kids always LOVE it. My son recently found a limerick book on our shelves and sat contented as I read the entire thing to him. I wish we could come join you…it’s still too cold to sit outside are read here!
Come on down to sunny Florida Amy! We’d love to share our parks with you guys!
Jack Prelutsky has some neat stuff. Good find! We have Imagine That! Poems of Never-Was by him. Love the pictures!