Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams: Funny Poems and Rhymes for Kids!

by Derek Allen

A Laugh-out-loud poetry book for kids ages 6-10, perfect for read-alouds, bedtime, and classroom fun!
Looking for a children's poetry book that will make your kids giggle while building reading skills? Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams is a hilarious, family-friendly collection of 50+ funny, rhyming poems for children...and grownups, too! Written and illustrated by Derek Allen, this book is the result of over 1,000 hours of artistic creativity and is 100% AI-FREE!

From quirky characters like Pocket Unicorns, Snoors, and Gares to silly scenarios such as The World's Worst Fair, each poem is carefully crafted with perfect meter and clever rhyme, making it enjoyable to read aloud and easy for young readers to follow.

Designed especially for children ages 6–10, this beautifully illustrated poetry book helps:

- Enjoy reading through humor and imagination
- Build phonetic awareness with rhythmic, well-structured verse
- Discover a love of poetry without frustration or forced lessons



What's Inside

- 50+ short, funny poems packed with surprises and twists

- Full-color illustrations on every page (64 pages total)

- A variety of rhyme styles that keep kids engaged

- Clean humor that works for families, classrooms, and libraries
Why parents and teachers love it

- Encourages reluctant readers

- Ideal for bedtime and read-aloud sessions

- Supports early literacy without feeling educational
- Written and illustrated by a real human - 100% AI-free
What readers are saying “I haven’t enjoyed a poetry book this much since Shel Silverstein.”
“My kids begged to read ‘just one more.’”
“A fantastic way to introduce children to poetry.”
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, grandparent, or gift-giver, Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams is a joyful introduction to poetry that kids will want to read again and again!

Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Hello, thanks for visiting my Author Page! I'm Derek Allen, and I love creating funny poems, though I didn't start out as you might expect!

I've always enjoyed drawing, painting, or reading a good story. I hadn't thought about writing my own book until one night in 2022 when I woke up laughing from the silliest rhyming dreams! I stayed up all night writing and sketching them, and I knew I had something special. I continued coming up with new ideas over the next two years, until "Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams" was born!

"Moonbeams" represents over 1,000 hours of hard work and effort, and it is 100% AI-Free. It truly is a labor of love, and I hope you enjoy it, too! I'm working hard on my second book, so stay tuned. If you want to follow along, please check out my insta: @authorDerekAllen

I Live in Lancaster, PA with my wife and biggest supporter, and two children who've inspired many of my poems. I hope one day, they chase their own dreams, too.

Thanks for stopping by. Believe in your Dreams!

Reviews

[Deanna]

Absolutely adorable and beautifully illustrated!

[Monika]

Playful Rhymes That Spark Laughter and Imagination

Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams: Funny Poems and Rhymes for Kids! is a lively and joyful collection that celebrates the fun side of language. Bursting with humor, wordplay, and rhythmic energy, the book invites young readers to laugh, listen, and play with words. Rather than focusing on a single narrative, it offers a variety of short poems that are perfect for dipping in and out—making it an easy favorite for both independent reading and read-aloud moments.
What makes this collection especially engaging is its strong sense of rhythm and sound. The rhymes roll naturally off the tongue, encouraging children to anticipate patterns, join in, and even memorize favorite verses. This playful approach supports early literacy skills such as phonemic awareness and vocabulary development, all while keeping the experience lighthearted and entertaining.
The tone balances silliness with imagination, allowing poems to feel surprising without becoming overwhelming. Some verses are laugh-out-loud funny, while others gently lean into dreamy or curious ideas—making the book flexible enough for energetic daytime reading or lighter bedtime moments that don’t require complete calm.
As part of a broader collection of books about dreams, nighttime moods, and imagination, Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams stands out for its humor and musicality. It reminds children that reading doesn’t always have to be quiet or serious—sometimes, it can simply be joyful, rhythmic, and full of fun.

[Theresa Palmieri]

Poetry starts somewhere...

This is truly awesome book to introduce children to poetry. The graphics are extremely well done with lots of color and detail. The go along with each poem giving visual cues about the words in each poem. It reminds me on reading Dr Suess as a child, however this is more complex and has a variety of poetry styles included. This book is also not limited to a specific number of words that could be used, as per the challenge that was given to Dr Suess. I wish I could have gotten a book like this when I was a kid to learn about poetry.

[Ed Feltrop]

A Creative Book to Read Together

Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams by Derek Allen is such a fun read! The rhymes and whimsical illustrations are truly amazing! I enjoyed reading this book as it made me recall all the funny poems my deceased father used to write and sketch of his silly poems that he gave to me. One of my favorite poems in the book is “Aristobat” about a bat that sleeps differently than the other bats. A creative book to read together.

[Heidi Augustine]

Amazing and Imaginative

I absolutely loved this book and so did my kids. The illustrations are beautiful and funny. If you love poetry that is unique, imaginative, funny and creative then this book is for you. The book is well written and is easy to understand what is being said. I also love how unique this book is and im so glad I found this book. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[Serena]

Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams

This is a delightful book of poetry. I don't know which is best, the illustrations or the poems. Both remind me of the books by Maurice Sendak that I loved as a child. Derek Allen seems to know the type of poetry that will encourage children to want to read more. The rhymes may be a bit silly, but kids like silly. Adults certainly shouldn't get bored repeatedly reading this book to children.

[Jodie Cary]

I liked reading this book, there are some great Rhymes in this book for Kids. There are also some great pictures to look at while reading. I can't wait to read this book to my nieces and nephews.
Well done, I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ingrid]

This is such a lovely bedtime storybook filled with little fantastical poems. Each poem can be read on its own, which makes it perfect for winding down at night. They’re gentle, imaginative, and really fun to read aloud. I enjoyed the whole book and think it’s a delightful addition to any bedtime routine.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn]

WOW! I love this book! The art style, the poetry/rhymes is all so good! It ranges from all different types of emotions in each poem. I will say, as a soon to be mom, I will definitely get a physical copy of this book for my daughter. I highly recommend it! - My favorite poems/rhymes are Heart Of Stone & Puddle Jumping.

[Rita]

This is an awesome book for children and adults of all ages. The poems are fun, silly, imaginative and will make anyone giggle as they read each story. As an amateur photographer I can truly relate to “Picture This”. Every poem is accompanied with Allen’s own illustration to convey to the reader each wild and funny dream he had as he slept at night. A true joy and uplifting read for all.

[Erin Mariah]

Calling big imaginations!

I was so impressed with the illustrations in this imaginative tale.

This is ideal for creative individuals who like imaginative storytelling.

I enjoyed the eclectic characters and what they each brought to this page-turning read.

This will be a great addition to any bookshelf.

[Ronda Wojcicki]

Love this book - such fun and creative poems. I'm so excited to share with the littles in our family this Christmas. I love finding new children's books to add to my 'staple' list and this is one!
Ronda Wojcicki MS, CCC-SLP
Author of Speech Class Rules - An Introduction to Speech Therapy for Children & When the World Slowed Down - How We Were Reminded That We Are All Connected

[JoAnn M. Dickinson]

I absolutely loved this book and it's illustrations! A quick read of a collection of imaginative poems that will have children laughing, rhyming, and asking for "just one more." Derek Allen's clever wordplay and charming illustrations make this a wonderful introduction to the joy of poetry. A must-have for your class or home library.

[Dawn Feltrop]

Author Derek Allen has created an easy to read rhyme book along with his whimsical illustrations in Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams. I enjoyed reading “Everything Soup” and can totally relate to that poem as it made me smile. This is a fun book for anyone that loves reading rhymes.

[Cindy Hammonds]

Memories

This book of many rhymes brought back many childhood memories. They reminded me of days long ago when my Grandmother held me on my lap and read to me. There are so few books like this anymore!

[Christina Bianco]

A hilarious and heartwarming collection of poems with lovable characters and brilliant illustrations. Perfect for kids with short attention spans—goofy, giggle-worthy, and fun for parents too. Loved this book.

[K.J. Kim]

I absolutely loved Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams! The creativity and vivid descriptions in each poem made it a joy to read. The illustrations were another standout feature for me. They were so beautiful and captivating, and they really brought the poems to life in a unique way.

[Carole G. Barton]

“Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams” is a well written and incredible illustrations by Derek Allen. They are all separate rhymes that are hilarious. The illustrations are so fun. Which rhyme will be your favorite? I highly recommend this rhyming children’s chapter book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Christie]

I LOVED ALL OF THESE POEMS. Each one was so much fun to read out loud. I loved all of the rhyming that was in most poems. I loved the flow of each poem. And I loved the fun in each poem. They remind me a lot of Dr. Seuss books. I look forward to reading more by Derek Allen.

[Nikki Lewis]

THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC! The poems are so fun to read! Super nostalgic Shel Silverstein style! The illustrations are incredible! 10 out of 10!

[Texas Reader]

Love, love, love! I’ve been reading these out loud to my kiddos everyday and they beg for “just one more”. An absolute delight of fun poetry to spark your kiddos imagination. Highly recommend!

[Elisa Groendyke]

Can't wait for the hardcover version to be for sale.
I did download, and giggled and awed my way through it. Loved the verse and artwork too. It made my eyes crinkle and my smile grew.

[Rita Hillier]

So much fun!

This is such a fun book to read aloud. My kids loved the wacky rhymes and funny illustrations. Highly recommend!

[Alan Etherington]

Excellent book, enjoyed very much

[Andi Chitty]

I loved the ebook so much, I bought a physical copy for my daughter (7yo) for Christmas! She loves silly poetry, so I know she's going to love it!

[Agnes V.]

This is hilarious!

I’m a retired person. I just read this book and I loved it. I think I’m going to read it again, just for the chuckles.

[Donald England]

funny kids poems

I laughed and shared the poems with family adults. They all liked the authors play on words and the graphics are very nice.

[Pam]

Very clever poems.

A different kind of book loaded with sketches of all kinds of monsters and imaginary creatures. There are all kinds of poems related to each drawing.

[Kasie Cavanagh]

ARC Direct from Author
It was very hard for me to concentrate on reading the story because your artwork is stunning, beautiful, captivating and I really just got lost in it. These are all wonderful things!! The artistry and storytelling had something magical about it... for me, I was taken back to all of the wonderful things in my childhood... especially the first day of school dreams where you forget to put your clothes on!
Universal Appeal and Classroom Gold
I thought perhaps this would just be for a certain age group, but this actually spans into big kids just like me. I enjoyed reading this out loud to myself and doing all kinds of funny voices. Parents and teachers will have so much fun.
There are a lot of relatable stories for children and a lot of teachable moments for them as well. I enjoyed Spider Pet. That's a good one to read to your child who wants any kind of [pet]. I even think if they're high-level readers they could act this out and have a good time in the classroom or at home.
A storytelling note: I absolutely appreciate Tongue-Tied and how you have put the lisp in there. I could hear this child's voice so clearly in my mind. Actually I acted it out for the array of inanimate objects that keep me company at my desk.
An Art Teacher’s Perspective
As an art teacher, my favorite poem was the tribute to Picasso. It is a wonderful modern piece of how you can find beauty in what children and students would call "oops" or mistakes. I actually would love this to be a poster for my classroom!!! As an art teacher, I would challenge my students to mash up a unicorn and another animal. Pocket Unicorn just made me laugh and it was perfect.
I found Fun! Fair to hold so much truth for an adult that I chuckled quite a bit. It was terrifically horrifying in all of the humorous ways as an adult.
Usually I pick a favorite character or try and pick out new vocabulary words. This is just packed full of new characters and fun ridiculous words! I would love an autographed copy of this book and would encourage anyone to buy one and give it as a gift to anyone of any age for any reason! In short, it's the book I never knew I needed in my life just to remind me to laugh and dream.

I received a free copy of this book via ARC Direct from Author and am voluntarily leaving a review.