Poetry Books

The Hare and the Tortoise and Other Fables of La Fontaine translated by Ranjit Bolt, illustrated by Giselle Potter (Barefoot)
Nineteen of the renowned French poet’s fables and adaptations are presented in accessible rhyming couplets, making for a polished alternative to Aesop’s canon. Grade level: 1–5. 64 pages.

Bronzeville Boys and Girls written by Gwendolyn Brooks, illustrated by Faith Ringgold (Amistad/HarperCollins)
Brooks’s classic anthology, illustrated anew for the first time in fifty years, evokes the children of 1956 Chicago minus anachronism, with still-resonant poems and energetic acrylic-and-marker paintings. Grade level: 1–5. 48 pages.

Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals selected and illustrated by Ashley Bryan (Atheneum)
Cut-paper and swirling, vivid colors illustrated the hopeful strains of “This Little Light of Mine,” “Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

Kindergarten Kids: Riddles, Rebuses, Wiggles, Giggles, and More! written by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (HarperCollins)
Bouncy words and brightly patterned paintings create a positive, encouraging view of classroom activities. Grade level: Preschool. 32 pages.

The Neighborhood Mother Goose selected and photographed by Nina Crews (Greenwillow)
The words are the same as ever, but the settings have undergone a modern-day makeover. Grade level: Preschool. 64 pages.

Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose selected and illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon (Harcourt)
This collection of both well- and lesser-known rhymes featuring numbers and counting is brought to life by crisp, sunny, and playfully surreal illustrations. Grade level: Preschool–2. 56 pages.

On the Farm written by David Elliott, illustrated by Holly Meade (Candlewick)
A series of brief, often funny poems capture the personalities of farm animals, from the bull to the bees, with descriptions that don’t always flatter the beasts in question. Grade level: Preschool. 32 pages.

Autumnblings written and illustrated by Douglas Florian (Greenwillow)
Signature puns in hand, Florian offers up his third installment of seasonal poems. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

Handsprings written and illustrated by Douglas Florian (Greenwillow)
Florian’s fourth book of seasonal poems finishes off the set with whimsical exuberance. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

zoo's who written and illustrated by Douglas Florian (Harcourt)
A playful menagerie captured in humorous wordplay and inventive illustrations. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

Mary Middling and Other Silly Folk: Nursery Rhymes and Nonsense Poems written by Rose Fyleman, selected by Neil Philip, illustrated by Katja Bandlow (Clarion)
An array of silly poems paired with childlike illustrations. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Don’t Forget Your Etiquette!: The Essential Guide to Misbehavior written by David Greenberg, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott (Kroupa/Farrar)
“Miss Information” offers advice on dressing, eating, burping, disagreeing with adults, and other useful topics, zanily backed up by energetic watercolor-and-ink illustrations. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Danitra Brown, Class Clown written by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Amistad/HarperCollins)
A poetic narrative describes the strong friendship between two girls; accompanying illustrations emphasize their contrasting personalities. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Flush!: The Scoop on Poop throughout the Ages written and illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper (Little)
Thirteen poems skim the history of human waste, shedding irreverent but edifying light on everything from “Before Toilet Paper” to “Toilets in Space.” Grade level: 1–5. 32 pages.

Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? and Other Disasters: Poems edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch (HarperCollins)
From the poignant to the lighthearted, these poems illuminate some of the darker aspects of childhood. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Today and Today written by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Scholastic)
Eighteen haiku by the famous Japanese poet are arranged to portray one year in the life of a contemporary family, unforcedly emblematic of the cycle of life. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Hey, You!: Poems to Skyscrapers, Mosquitoes, and Other Fun Things selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Robert Rayevsky (HarperCollins)
Object-addressed poems both classic and new are presented, often in thematic pairs, with gently humorous, unobtrusive brushed-ink and watercolor illustrations. Grade level: 1–6. 40 pages.

A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Candlewick)
Smart and skillful introduction to twenty-nine poetic forms. Grade level: 1–6. 64 pages.

Oh, Theodore!: Guinea Pig Poems written by Susan Katz, illustrated by Stacey Schuett (Clarion)
Free-verse poems work in tandem to tell the sweet story of a boy’s slow winning-over of his new, very frightened guinea pig. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Toots the Cat written by Karla Kuskin, illustrated by Lisze Bechtold (Holt)
A goofy, graceful cat shines in watercolor and gouache illustrations. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Please Bury Me in the Library written by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Kyle M. Stone (Gulliver/Harcourt)
Poems, paired with playful pictures, extol the many wonders of reading. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Mural on Second Avenue And Other City Poems written by Lilian Moore, illustrated by Roma Karas (Candlewick)
Moore’s genius at translating experience into poetry for the very young is handsomely showcased here with vibrant oil paintings. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Jabberwocky illustrated by Christopher Myers
Myers relocates Lewis Carroll’s classic nonsense poem to a city basketball court where an unnamed African American hero faces a fearsome trio of ace players. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Mother Goose’s Little Treasures compiled by Iona Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells (Candlewick)
Twenty-two lesser-known verses, often containing echoes of the more familiar nursery standards, are accompanied cheerful, sprightly watercolors. Grade level: Preschool. 56 pages.

Hush, Little Baby adapted and illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Amistad/Greenwillow)
An updated version of the lullaby is brought to life by exuberant characters swirling across the pages. Grade level: Preschool. 32 pages.

Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems written by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Carin Berger (Greenwillow)
Each poem combines an animal with an inanimate object, then explains the purpose of the object in the animals behavior in an effective pairing of visual wit and verbal ingenuity. Grade level: K–32 pages.

If Not for the Cat written by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Ted Rand (Greenwillow)
An assortment of animals vividly described in haiku and paired with eloquent illustrations. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

My Dog May Be a Genius written by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by James Stevenson (Greenwillow)
This latest collection of over one hundred poems, each with a small twist, features a wide variety of levels and moods. Grade level: 1–5. 159 pages.

What a Day It Was at School! written by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Doug Cushman (Greenwillow)
Clever twists and a light, breezy style mark these seventeen poems about life in a multi-species school. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems written by Heidi B. Roemer, illustrated by Hideko Takahashi (Holt)
Nature's calendar is celebrated in this exceptional introduction to concrete poetry. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

My House Is Singing written by Betsy R. Rosenthal, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Harcourt)
A lighthearted serenade to the little details that make a house a home. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Busy in the Garden written by George Shannon, illustrated by Sam Williams (Greenwillow)
A celebration of things that grow coupled with cheerful mixed-media images. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

This Is the Dream written by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander, illustrated by James Ransome (Amistad/HarperCollins)
A young audience is introduced to the ideas of the Civil Rights Movement. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Schoolyard Rhymes: Kids’ Own Rhymes for Rope Skipping, Hand Clapping, Ball Bouncing, and Just Plain Fun written by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Knopf)
The zesty rhymes of childhood are aptly illustrated in comic style. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins)
Published posthumously, this "billy sook" of letter-swapping antics features lovable characters and Silverstein's disarming signature style. Grade level: 1–6. 90 pages.

Why War Is Never a Good Idea written by Alice Walker, illustrated by Stefano Vitale (HarperCollins)
Walker’s poignant poem captures the destructive power of war and raises provocative questions, challenging readers: Will war become your birthright? Grade level: 4–6. 32 pages.

Twist: Yoga Poems written by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (McElderry)
Verse evokes the subject of each pose (“mountain,” “child,” etc.) while illustrations merge the physical pose with its metaphorical inspiration. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Intermediate
Suggested grade level for each entry: 4–6

Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color written by Elizabeth Alexander and Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (Wordsong/Boyds)
Two dozen sonnets describe the little-known historical episode of Miss Crandall’s School, created by a Quaker who defied the citizens of her time to teach African American girls in 1930s Canterbury, Connecticut. 48 pages.

Dark Sons written by Nikki Grimes (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion)
Alternating sections of poetry connect the biblical son Ishmael to a modern-day counterpart, Sam; both deal with feelings of displacement caused by a younger half brother. 216 pages.

Collected Poems for Children written by Ted Hughes, illustrated by Raymond Briggs (Farrar)
This collection of Hughes’s acclaimed poetry offers glimpses of life both familiar and strange. 259 pages.

The Brothers’ War: Civil War Voices in Verse by J. Patrick Lewis (National)
Eleven poems featuring apt rhyming and jagged rhythms offer little consolation but plenty of intensity in depicting the Civil War. Grade level: 4–8. 32 pages.

Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Istvan Banyai (Clarion)
Park transposes this traditional Korean poetic form — essentially, three lines with a twist in the third — to the highly accessible topics of seasons and the routines of home and school. Grade level: 4–6. 40 pages.

Worlds Apart: Traveling with Fernie and Me written by Gary Soto, illustrated by Greg Clarke (Putnam)
A cross section of contemporary Mexican-American kids tackle universal issues. 57 pages.

Tales from Gizzard's Grill written by Jeanne Steig, illustrated by Sandy Turner (Cotler/HarperCollins)
Cowboy poetry gets gently poked in three droll tales set in dusty Fiasco. 73 pages.

Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer (Bloomsbury)
In this garden metaphor–laden verse novel, friendship blooms between misfits when Josie, a seventh-grade girl with cerebral palsy, meets guileless, hyperintelligent Jordan. 183 pages.

Young Adult
Suggested grade level for each entry: 7 and up

Half-caste and Other Poems written by John Agard (Hodder/Trafalgar Square)
Wit and humor help convey serious examinations of race and identity, and rhyme, repetition, and refrains make the work sing. 80 pages.

Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block (Cotler/HarperCollins)
In this free-verse novel that transports classical mythology to modern day Los Angles, Psyche, the teen star of her father’s violent films, is determined to win back the heart of Eros. 114 pages.

Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States edited by Lori Marie Carlson (Holt)
This powerful bilingual follow-up to Cool Salsa reflects the dualities of Latino-American life. 140 pages.

The Braid by Helen Frost (Foster/Farrar)
In this verse novel, two sisters go their separate ways — one to a new life in Canada, one to relatives in the Outer Hebrides — following Scotland’s notorious nineteenth-century Highland Clearances. 95 pages.

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems written and illustrated by John Grandits (Clarion)
Concrete poems playfully channel teenage Jessie’s dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves. 48 pages.

Blushing: Expressions of Love in Poems and Letters collected by Paul. B. Janeczko (Orchard/Scholastic)
A memorable compilation that explores the joys and heartaches of love. 98 pages.

Ann and Seamus written by Kevin Major, illustrated by David Blackwood (Groundwood)
Poetic retelling of a heroic rescue that is equal parts adventure, coming-of-age, and love story. 109 pages.

Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices by Walter Dean Myers (Holiday)
More than fifty first-person poems construct a vivid portrait of the author's beloved Harlem. 88 pages.

Street Love by Walter Dean Myers (Amistad/HarperCollins)
Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day Harlem in this meticulously lyrical, accessible verse novel that free-flows through an array of perspectives. 134 pages.

Is This Forever, or What?: Poems & Paintings from Texas selected by Naomi Shihab Nye (Greenwillow)
Lush tribute to the Lone Star State blends humor, mystery, and contemporary sensibility. 164 pages.

A Maze Me: Poems for Girls by Naomi Shihab Nye (Greenwillow)
Free-verse explorations of a teenager's struggle to connect with and understand her changing world. 118 pages.

I Just Hope It’s Lethal: Poems of Sadness, Madness, and Joy selected by Liz Rosenberg and Deena November (Graphia/Houghton)
This anthology of poems from a wide range of time periods and styles explores adolescent depression and related themes. 190 pages.

Boris by Cynthia Rylant (Harcourt)
A series of nineteen poems tell of the companionship between a finicky pet and his owner. 74 pages.

Revenge and Forgiveness: An Anthology of Poems edited by Patrice Vecchione (Holt)
A mostly contemporary collection with some lively maledictions for the not-quite-ready-to-forgive. 143 pages.

Zane’s Trace by Allan Wolf (Candlewick)
Zane Guesswind is visited by ancestors — black, white, Native American, and frequently historical — as he undertakes a 334-mile road trip to his mother’s grave in a verse novel that successfully straddles magical realism and unreliable narration. Grade level: 7 and up. 185 pages.

Nonfiction
Suggested grade level listed with each entry

William Blake: The Gates of Paradise by Michael Bedard (Tundra)
This lucid and demanding biography of the visionary poet integrates a coherent life story, a history of relevant social and political, and literary exposition and criticism. Grade level: 7 and up. 192 pages.

A Nest Full of Stars written by James Berry, illustrated by Ashley Bryan (Greenwillow)
Evocations of the poet's 1930s Jamaican childhood, accompanied by graciously composed illustrations. Grade level: 4–6. 96 pages.

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano written by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Holt)
A verse biography, told in the alternating perspectives of the poet, his owners, and his parents, chronicles his boyhood from slavery to escape. Grade level: 4–6. 183 pages.

Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill (Knopf)
This fictionalized verse biography comprises poems putatively composed by those who knew Sylvia as well as poems of the author “Imagining Sylvia” for a layered, elegant whole. Grade level: 7 and up. 260 pages.

Jazz written by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers (Holiday)
An extended jam session of form-hopping poems and expressive acrylic paintings depict historical moments, great musicians, and various forms and instruments within the genre. Grade level: 4–6. 48 pages.

Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem by Marilyn Nelson (Front Street)
An eighteenth-century Connecticut slave's tale is reconstructed with simplicity and dignity. Grade level: 7 and up. 32 pages.

A Wreath for Emmett Till written by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Philippe Lardy (Houghton)
Interlinked sonnets memorialize the brutal, racially motivated murder of a 1950s schoolboy. Grade level: 7 and up. 40 pages.

Nobody Gonna Turn Me ’Round: Stories and Songs of the Civil Rights Movement written by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Candlewick)
Pivotal events of the 1950s and 1960s are recalled in songs, poems, and vignettes, deftly contextualized and powerfully illustrated. Grade level: 4–8. 64 pages.

E. E. Cummings: A Poet’s Life by Catherine Reef (Clarion)
Exploring the interaction of events and poetry in Cummings’ life, Reef doesn’t flinch from her subject’s contentious works and darker moments. Grade level: 7 and up. 142 pages.

Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale retold and illustrated by James Rumford (Houghton)
A superb, emotional recounting of the ancient poem distinguished by vigorous prose and striking artwork. Grade level: 4-6. 48 pages.

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes (Houghton)
A meadow’s varied plant and animal elements are presented in eight pairs of “poetry riddles” and precise, stylized scratchboard illustrations. Grade level: 2–5. 48 pages.

Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beckie Prange (Houghton)
A range of voices and outstanding woodcuts explore a northern pond. Grade level: 2–5. 32 pages.

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams (Candlewick)
Williams’s signature graphic panels portray nine of the classic tales, with the running commentary of “audience members” braiding in historical context and other information. Grade level: 4–8. 48 pages.

Dizzy written by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Sean Qualls (Levine/Scholastic)
The rhyme, repetition, and unexpected line breaks of this unorthodox picture-book biography reflect the musical style of the be-bop innovator and jazz great. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

Poetry web links

The Children's Book Council celebrates Young People's Poetry Week
www.cbcbooks.org/yppw/

National Poetry Month site:
www.poets.org/npm/

More lists of Recommended Books