5183 Fall 2025 Information Resources and Services for Children discussion

Reading Responses 10 (Wk13): Poetry for Children  

Part 1: Add 1 poetry book for children you selected to read to the Goodreads group bookshelf. You do not need to add Freedom Over Me, which is already on the bookshelf. 

Note: You may not be able to add a title, if the book has already been added to the group bookshelf by another student. In this case, add the title information to your post. 

Part 2: I’d like for you to recommend a poem to your classmates. Choose one of the poems you read this week.  
 
1. Provide a citation to the poem using APA format. 

2. Provide a one or two-sentence description of the content of the poem.  

3. Explain why you would recommend this poem for use with children. How would you use this poem with children? Your answer to #3 should be about 100 words in length. 

1. Engle, M. (2024). Scissors. In I. Latham & C. Waters (Eds.), The mistakes that made us: Confessions from twenty poets. (pp. 18). Carolrhoda Books.

2. This poem discusses how you can be proud of something, but when your peers pressure you into changing, you do it to fit in.

3. I would recommend this poem because it discusses peer pressure. I believe that this is a topic that many children face, especially in school. I think that many kids who do not look like the majority of their classmates will relate to this on a personal level. With this, this poem serves the purpose of being a mirror and a window to students. I would use this poem as a starting point to talk about kindness and how we should not change ourselves to fit into the ideals of other people. Being unique and authentic is something to be celebrated. Your heritage should be celebrated and respected without anyone attempting to diminish it because you do not look like everyone else.

1. Grimes, N. (2017). “Crimson.” In One last word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance (p. 22). Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
2. “Crimson” is a poem that reflects a young girl’s determination to rise above hardship and claim her own strength. Written using the Golden Shovel poetic form, it takes lines from a Harlem Renaissance poem and creates them into a new and empowering narrative.
3. I recommend “Crimson” because it introduces children to both powerful poetic language and an important piece of African American literary history in an accessible way. The poem’s focus on resilience, confidence, and identity gives young readers a relatable emotional anchor. I would use this poem with children by first sharing the original Harlem Renaissance poem it responds to, then reading “Crimson” aloud to highlight how the form works. Students could identify the borrowed words in the margins and try creating their own short Golden Shovel poems using positive, encouraging lines. This activity builds both creativity and appreciation for poetry as a conversation across several generations.

1. Silverstein, S. (1974). Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out. In S. Silverstein, Where the sidewalk ends: The poems & drawings of Shel Silverstein (p. 29). HarperCollins.
2. The cautionary, dramatic saga of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout - who was so stubborn she was carried away by a giant wave of trash.
3. I have always found Silverstein's poetry to be ridiculously fun and completely relatable. This poem tackles stubbornness and defiance, but puts a hilarious spin on the consequences. Kids of all ages can enjoy the wacky illustrations of Sarah and her garbage pile. It's packed with figurative language, from the alliteration of Sarah’s name to the ridiculous hyperbole of the garbage pile, which reaches far beyond the kitchen. I have used this in a classroom before. I read it out loud first - extra dramatically, of course. We then wrote our own poetry about common household chores, complete with wacky illustrations. It is a great creative writing lesson, but also helps reinforce lessons on responsibility and consequences as well!

1: Silverstein, S. (2008). Don’t bump the glump! And other fantasies. HarperCollins.

2: This poetry book includes many fantastical creatures with over-exaggerated features and characteristics. “Don’t bump the Glump” introduces children to differences between people as well as strange creatures.

3: This poem would be great for use with children who are developing their vocabulary collection. With the use of made-up words and creatures, it challenges the readers/listeners to use context clues and develop their understanding of new words. The poetry also introduces students to irony and sarcasm, inviting them to participate in activities like playing with a monster with huge claws and teeth, or saying a monster cannot catch you and cutting off the poem. Ex:
“no you won’t catch me, old Slithergadee,
You may catch the others, but you wo--”

One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
Hughes, L. (2017). Mother to son. In N. Grimes, One last word: wisdom from the Harlem renaissance. (p. 38). Bloomsbury.
This is a poem from a mother to her child about the trials of life. She wants him to understand that life isn't always easy, but never give up.
This poem from a mother to her son, or even a child, is a good way of teaching children about strength, hardship, and never giving up. It uses figurative language, describing life as a set of stairs with tacks, missing boards, and splinters. But she is still standing, and life isn't easy, but don't turn back. Children get discouraged, and they often think being an adult is easy. This poem tells a child that life is hard for all of us and not to give up.

1. Prelutsky, J., & So, M. (1997). Beauty of the beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom. Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House.

2. I've selected the poem "Seal" by William Jay Smith. This is a descriptive poem about a seal and its characteristics.

3. This poem presents an opportunity for students the learn more about seals through descriptive language and vivid imagery. Reading this poem aloud would give students the chance to use their imaginations and envision the seal being described by the author. One way this poem could be used is to read it aloud and then provide the children with tools to make a craft like a seal puppet or a drawing of a seal. A brief educational video about seals could also be shared with the children prior to the craft as well. I would also invite the kids to make their best seal noises together!

1. Brunelle, Lynn. Haiku, Ew! Millbrook Press TM, 2 Apr. 2024.
2. A book with haikus and information about some of the more unsavory facts of nature.
Example: Lush, Sun-gold honey
Brewed from delicate nectar.
It's really bee barf.
3. Children love the gross things in nature. Add in some short and sweet haikus and you have a book that is a hit for most children. I think these poems make a great example about the functionality of a haiku as well as a mix between science and art. I see this book being the inspiration and starting point for children to learn about an animal and write their own haiku-ew to go with it. The mix of creative writing about science and nature is a great way to bridge the brain's midline.

The Giving Tree

1. Silverstein, S. (1964). The Giving Tree. HarperCollins.

2. This poem illustrates a touching story about unconditional love and sacrifice between a young boy and the giving tree.

3. I would recommend this poem because it carries such an impactful message with such simple illustrations and phrases. This poem is a good introduction to show the consequences of greed and the positives of gratitude. This poem has a lot of symbolism that is easier for children to comprehend. The young boy represents greedy human nature and of course, The Giving Tree is almost a motherly figure who continues to provide unconditionally until she has nothing left. Personally, I would read this poem sometime around Earth Day or even Mother’s/Father’s Day to emphasize the importance of taking care of who/what generously takes care of you.

Grimes, N. (2013). Words with Wings. WordSong.

Daydreams can take us to faraway places, bring us joy, and teach us about ourselves. This poem captures that.

The book Words with Wings is a novel in verse. Each poem has its own title, and the poem titled "Words with Wings" beautifully captures what it feels like to get lost in a daydream. Not only is this an experience many kids can relate to, but the way the teacher handles it is to have the whole class stop randomly throughout the day and daydream, then write it down. This is such a beautiful way to encourage kids to explore possibilities, creativity, and let their minds soar to new heights. Additionally, the book describes the emotional experience of loss of friends during a move and the struggle with a parent's divorce. So many kids can relate to this book, and it can be a lead-in to writing down daydreams and encouraging creativity and imagination.

1. Frost, R. (1983). Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. In J. Prelutsky (Ed.), The Random House book of poetry for children (p. 63). Random House.
(Original poem published 1923)
2. The person telling the story stops in the snowy woods to enjoy a peaceful winter scene. He takes a moment to enjoy how peaceful and beautiful it is before going on his way. The poem uses simple words and strong images to make you feel calm and think.
3. The poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is great for reading to kids because it shows them how to write calm, clear, and friendly traditional poetry. When you read it out loud, it sounds like a sweet lullaby because the rhythm and rhyme are the same throughout. Picture the peaceful scene in your kids' minds when they see pictures of snow. You can see how writers change the mood with little things in this poem. Kids could draw the picture, underline words that make them feel something, or write a short song about a place they love for peace and quiet after reading. This is a great poem to use when talking about taking it easy, enjoying nature, and being at peace.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons

1. Fogliano, J. (2016). When green becomes tomatoes: Poems for all seasons. (J. Morstad, Illus). Roaring Brook Press.

2. This poem follows a little girl as she goes through the four seasons and discovers the wonders of each one.

3. I would recommend this book for use with children for a few reasons. First, the writing is easy to understand and still beautiful to read. The illustrations add just enough to the story without taking anything away from the words themselves. Lastly, it depicts the same wonder that most children feel when experiencing the changing of the seasons. I would use this poem to discuss the different seasons and to expose them to poetry in an easy-to-understand way. Children could try to write their own poems about their favorite or least favorite season. This poem is perfect for discussing nature, the seasons, and poetry.

Grimes, N. (2020). One last word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Using the Golden Shovel Method Grimes writes Harlem Renaissance poetry with themes of hope, love, bravery, and identity connected the past and the present.

I would recommend this book for older elementary, early middle school students. The poems make wonderful connections with several themes such as identity, equality, hope that this age group would identify with. Grimes is open in the beginning of the book about using a new method to write her poetry, the golden shovel form, taking a line from another poem in order to write you own, with the rule being that each word from the line in the original poem must be the last word in each line of your poem. I believe this could be used when teaching students to write poetry. After being taught the form, a poem could be displayed on the board with a line highlighted with five to seven words depending on how many lines the teacher wants the students to write. The class could then be given a topic, and asked to write their own poem, on topic using the words given following the rule.

1. Muth, J. J. (2014). Summer (p. 31). In Hi, Koo!: A year of seasons. Scholastic Press.

2. "Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons" is a haiku journey through the four seasons featuring illustrations of a playful panda named Koo and two children as they explore nature and moments of everyday wonder through twenty-six haiku poems that emphasize each letter of the alphabet in order.​

3. As a former English teacher to 7th graders (11/12 year olds) I was a bit confused due to it not following the traditional Japanese structure of 5-7-5 syllables. I do realize now that the poem collection is recommended for children because it uses modern English haiku version, which often uses a freer structure with a short-long-short rhythm rather than a rigid syllable count. The illustrations include vivid imagery to explore feelings and nature, encouraging awareness of the seasons around us. The haikus are short, which is ideal for introducing this type of poetry to young readers as well as including the approachable illustrations that invite imaginative discussion. The haiku I read on pg. 31 was Summer and it describes the tiny lights of the fireflies and the stars in the sky along with an illustration that matches the vibe of what summer would look and feel like. This is great for those Pre-K - 3 grade readers to engage in discussion on how the words of the haiku can create an image in your head before showing the illustration. Overall, I think this is a good book and appropriate for the age ranges, but if teaching the traditional haikus in later grades it can be a nice discussion piece, but I wouldn't use it as a teaching tool if wanting the 5-7-5 structure.

1. Silverstein, S. (1996). Diving board. In Falling up (p. 26). HarperCollins.

2. The poem describes someone who climbs up a very tall diving board, but is too scared to jump. It captures both bravery and hesitation in a very relatable moment.

3. I would recommend "Diving Board" for use with children because it captures the all too common predicament of wanting to brave, but feeling scared at the same time. This feeling is universal and children will easily relate. Kids will connect to the humor and honesty in the poem, and will be engaged by she short, playful rhyming scheme. I would use the poem to start a discussion about courage and moments when we feel nervous to try something new. Children could then draw or write about a time in their lives that they too were "at the top of the diving board." The poem is a great way to show kids that poetry can express real feelings in lighthearted ways.

Katz, S. (2012). Forgotten (Millard Fillmore 1850-53). In The president’s stuck in the bathtub: Poems about the presidents (p. 20). Clarion Books.

This poem is not about Millard Filllmore so much as it’s about the fact that nobody remembers Millard Fillmore. It’s a humorous plea to give Filmore his due as President, but by the end of the poem, the author has forgotten who the poem is about.

This poem and the others in this book are great for use with children because they are a way to use literature to supplement learning in other subjects. These poems teach a small fact about each president while also being fun to read, and at the bottom of each poem there is a small paragraph expanding on the fact that the poem is teaching. I learned a lot of new information about the presidents myself while reading this book, so I can see how it would be a fun learning tool for children. It could be used as a jumping off point for a research project, with each student selecting one of the presidents to research based on their favorite poem.

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

1. Sidman, J. (2011). Swirl by swirl: Spirals in nature. Clarion Books.

2. This poem explores the beauty of nature, highlighting spirals and their different appearances in the wild.

3. This poem is a really interesting way to teach children about patterns and could also be used as a supplement to an art program. I would read the book in a storytime setting then have tables set up for creating art afterwards. The kids could make their own spirals, mimicking those found in nature. I would have physical examples of swirls like snail shells, sea shells, knotted bark, etc… Tying in a library Maker Space would also be a way to further the program, using a small 3D printer, the kids could pick out of a swirl selection and watch it rapidly print as a token they could take home.

1. Harjo, J. (2023). Remember (M. Goade, Illus.). Random House Studio.

2. In Remember, Joy Harjo urges readers to stay connected to their origins, the natural world, and the web of relationships that shape their identity. Through lyrical repetition and vivid imagery, the poem reminds readers that every living thing is interdependent.

3. I would recommend Remember for children because it beautifully fosters mindfulness, empathy, and a sense of belonging. The poem’s rhythmic language and Michaela Goade’s luminous illustrations help children appreciate how they are connected to the earth, their families, and their communities. I would use this poem during storytime or classroom discussions about nature, identity, or Indigenous perspectives. After reading, children could create art showing their own connections to people, places, or animals that matter to them. This activity encourages reflection, creativity, and respect for the world around them while introducing them to Indigenous storytelling and poetic expression.

Dr. Buffy wrote: "Reading Responses 10 (Wk13): Poetry for Children  

Part 1: Add 1 poetry book for children you selected to read to the Goodreads group bookshelf. You do not need to add Freedom Over Me, which is al..."



1. Seuss, D. (1957). How the Grinch stole Christmas! Random House.

2. This poem reflects the Grinch's realization that Christmas is not about gifts or material things but about love, community, and togetherness. The rhythmic, lyrical lines capture a moment of transformation and emotional warmth.

3. I would recommend this poem for children because it teaches an important lesson about the true meaning of holidays and the value of kindness over materialism. The rhyme and rhythm make it engaging and easy for children to follow, and the emotional shift the Grinch experiences is a great starting point for social emotional discussions. I would use this poem by reading it aloud and then asking students what they think "a little bit more" means. Children could share examples of traditions or moments that matter more to them than presents. This activity encourages reflection, empathy, and appreciation for community and family.

1. Hannah, B. (2024). The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret: A Life Cycle Poem. Sourcebooks Explore
2. Follows the lifecycle of a pumpkin from seed, back to seed and to a pumpkin again. Explores the different uses for a pumpkin through the whole lifecycle and how it can support wildlife and be a vessel for fun activities for humans too.
3. I would recommend this poem for children because it is cyclical and the poetic structure is easy to follow. The rhyming structure is well-written and there are no awkward breaks in the flow of the poem. I think children would enjoy seeing the growth, decay and re-growth cycle of a pumpkin. The illustrations of the book also give clues to what some of the unique words in the poem refer to. I would use this book in a preschool Storytime during the fall to highlight a seasonal theme while introducing elements of growth, decay and rebirth. I think it would pair well with a make and take craft about pumpkins.

1. Silverstein, S. (2005). Runny Babbit. Harper Collins Publishers.

2. Silverstein shines in his last published book, which has kids paying close attention to the beginning letters of words. His use of letters in words and phrases makes this book a winner in poetry for kids.

3. I would recommend this book because Silverstein is a classic children's author of poems. Runny Babbit is a fun play on words that makes kids think about what they are reading. The poem "Runny Babbit" is about a world where animals talk and do and say things that are a little backwards. Children reading this poem must pay attention to the letters at the beginning of a word. I would use this poem when reading and teaching children about phonemic awareness. This kind of “reading” will help children understand that the beginning of a word is essential for sounding out and comprehending its meaning.

1. Fogliano, J. (2016). July 10. When Green Becomes Tomatoes (pp. 19). Roaring Book Press.

2. The poem that inspired the title of the collection, July 10 details the weather and feeling of a summer day watching tomatoes grow and ripen.

3. I would recommend this poem to children because of how easy it is to understand despite its flowering language. It invokes the feeling of a summer day in a way that is easy to understand and accessible for children. The poem is also accompanied by beautiful illustrations which adds to the reader’s understanding of the meaning and theme of the poem. I think this poem would be a great addition to a summer inspired story time or a story time theme surrounding plants and gardening. I think it would be a great way to introduce children to poetry because it is short in length and easy to understand.

1. Fisher, L. (2005). My Friend is Gone. In L. Hopkins (Ed.), Oh No! Where Are My Pants? And Other Disasters: Poems (pp. 27). HarperCollins.


2. The poem, “My Friend is Gone,” is about a child whose friend has moved away. The child laments the empty home where the friend once lived and wonders how they will face each day without their friend.

3. I would recommend using this poem because I have witnessed how sad students are when a friend moves away. I think this poem would offer a little comfort and let them know that it is ok to be sad and miss your friends. This poem connects with children emotionally and would work well in a social-emotional lesson plan. I would read this poem, discuss friends or family who have moved, and follow up with a writing prompt to encourage emotional expression in a positive way. The students could write a poem in the same style, with each couplet of lines rhyming, but adding their own details about missing someone special.

1. Raczka, R. (2014). Santa Clauses: Short poems from the North Pole (C. Groenink, Illus.). Carolrhoda Books.

2. This book has 25 haiku poems written from Santa leading up to Christmas day.

3. I would recommend this poem for use with children because many children look forward to the Christmas season. I think it could be a fun way for them to interact with the upcoming holiday and winter season. The story is written in a series of haiku poems, and this would make several good examples for children to learn how a haiku is written. After reading the story aloud, students could write their own haiku poem or poems involving the days leading up to Christmas or what they do over winter break (if they don’t celebrate the Christmas season) to “mail” to Santa.

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems


Singer, M. (2010). Mirror Mirror: A book of reverso poems. Dutton Books for Young Readers.

This book contains a collection of classic fairytales reimagined into poems featuring two perspectives. One poem is read top to bottom, and the other is read bottom to top which helps to create contrasting viewpoints.

I would recommend this book of poems for use with children because it reimagines fairytales in a fun and unique way. Having poems that can be in reverse to reveal a different perspective helps children to think more critically and dissect the text to find and understand the meaning of the work better. These poems also highlight to children how the way in which we write can shift in meaning based on structure and perspective. I think I would use these poems in discussion activities reading it to students and discussing what we find similar and different about both perspectives. I think it would also be interesting to encourage students to create their own poems in this format but using whatever story they would like to create.

Once I Ate a Pie

MacLachlan, P., Charest, Emily MacLachlan, & Schneider, Katy. (2006). Once I ate a pie / by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest ; illustrated by Katy Schneider. (1st ed..). New York: Joanna Cotler Books.

This book is a collection of poems written from the perspective of the dogs featured in the poems. The poems featured a variety of breeds and personalities.

I would use this book to invite children to write from the perspective of a pet or favorite animal. It might be a new concept for children to write from the perspective of a dog, so having many different dogs' perspectives to hear and think about would be helpful. Does your pet have something they do a lot? Let's brainstorm their favorite things! I would share my dog and explain what things she does that are like the dogs in the book. For example, Mr. Beefy steals tubs of butter; my dog Cali, has stolen many sticks of butter off my kitchen counter. Needle nose uses his nose to get into things; he loves to take out squeakers from his toys! Cali also loves to take the squeaker out of toys!

The New Kid on the Block

1. Prelutsky, J. (1984). The New Kid on the Block. HarperCollins Publishers.

2. The New Kid on the Block is a collection of poems that kids (and adults) will love. The poems are witty and entertaining with a lot of made up fantastical creatures but also many real life connections for kids.

3. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the poetry in this book by Jack Prelutsky. These would be hilarious to use for a poetry unit for multiple grade levels, but I do believe 3rd - 6th would really enjoy reading, hearing, and even replicating his funny free verse poetry about whatever comes to mind. These poems definitely give freedom to any poetry writers to imagine and create as they promote the interaction of real world with mythical ideas. One example is "The Song of the Gloopy Gloopers" which melodically tells the story of giant gloops that could devour an unsuspecting city. It's silly and suspenseful and would have lots of applications in a poetry lesson to inspire creativity and what ifs! There are several great realistic poems that are directly applicable to school age kids like "The New Kid on the Block" which gives the book its title. I would consider this a great resource for school libraries to co-teach a poetry unit in upper elementary.

1. APA Citation
Alexander, K., and Colderley, C. (2017). How to write a poem. In Out of wonder: Poems celebrating poets (p. 80). Candlewick Press.

2. Description
“How to Write a Poem” encourages young writers to slow down, observe their surroundings, and trust their creative instincts. The poem uses simple, comforting imagery to make writing feel doable for kids.

3. Why I Recommend It
I would recommend “How to Write a Poem” because it helps kids see writing as something creative instead of something they have to get right on the first try. I like that it focuses on paying attention to details and feelings, which kids do naturally. I would use this poem at the start of a poetry unit to help students relax and open up. After reading it together, I would have students write down sensory details from their day and turn those notes into a short free verse poem. It creates a positive and encouraging start for young writers.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

1. Dr. Seuss (1957). How the grinch stole christmas. Random House.

2. This holiday themed poem is about a grumpy Grinch who hates Christmas and wants to take it away from the people in the town of Whoville.

3. This is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books and I would recommend it to anyone. It begins with a grumpy Grinch wanting to keep Christmas from coming and his idea to steal all of the presents from the Whos in Whoville. He hates Christmas and everything that comes with it. He is successful in his theft, but then when he sees that stealing the presents doesn't stop Christmas from coming, he has a change of heart (literally) and sees a new meaning of Christmas. The way this is written is so great, the rhyming scheme is easy to follow and the message of the story is a great. Christmas isn't always about the gifts and the things you get. It means so much more!

1. Hubbell, P. (2014). Sea trade. In P. B. Janeczko (Ed.), Firefly July: A year of very short poems (M. Sweet, Illus.) (p. 22). Candlewick Press.

2. "Sea Trade" is a poem that looks at the relationship between ocean and land. The poem uses soft imagery and unique stanza structure to highlight how the natural world works together.

3. I would recommend this poem and the book for children because it creates a new way of looking at relationships with nature. Sea Trade and many of the other poems use metaphors, personification, and interesting line breaks to help readers visualize what the poem is talking about. I chose Sea Trade specifically because the give and take, or push and pull, between land and ocean is physically mimicked by the lines in the stanzas. This representation can help children begin to understand the ways in which poem are used to portray an idea or concept. Sea Trade also uses a flower to describe waves crashing on land and being "torn" before falling back into the ocean. This delicate imagery of the ocean spray as a flower being tattered by the rocks is a great discussion point by asking children to explore the ways we see the world. I also like how the poem is short but still impactful, showing kids that poetry doesn't have to be something grand or epic.

1. Silverstein, S. (1974). Where the sidewalk ends. Harper Collins Publishers.

2. Where the Sidewalk Ends contains a large collection of Silverstein’s poems, but my favorite of the book is called The Crocodile’s Toothache. It’s about a dentist who helps a crocodile with a toothache, but he gets a little too carried away pulling teeth. In a funny and unexpected turn of events, the crocodile retaliates and snaps back at the dentist.

3. This is a short poem with an enjoyable rhyming scheme and cadence that lends itself well to reading out loud to children. Many of the stanzas contain narration mixed with dialogue from both the dentist and the crocodile, so the reader could change their voice based on who is speaking which further engages children in the tale of the crocodile at the dentist. The funny dialogue paired with the illustration of the dentist climbing precariously inside the crocodile’s mouth will delight children. The part of the poem where the crocodile SNAPs his jaws down on the dentist can be an exhilarating moment if the reader emphasizes the SNAP. Overall, the humor, length, and cadence of this poem appeals to children and shows them that not all poems have to be serious.

Tennyson, A. L. (1851). The eagle. In J. P. Lewis (Ed.), National Geographic book of animal poetry (p. 37). National Geographic.

This short poem captures the power and majesty of an eagle perched high above the sea. With vivid imagery, Tennyson depicts the eagle’s strength and sudden movement as it dives.

I would recommend “The Eagle” because it is super short, rhythmic, and full of visual imagery that is easy for children to imagine. The language is vivid and clear, which makes it a great poem for helping kids practice visualizing written text and noticing different descriptive word choices. I would use this poem by first reading it aloud, then asking children to close their eyes and picture the scene. We could talk about which words helped them form mental images and why. It might also be fun to have them draw their interpretation of the eagle and compare the different ways poetry inspires our imagination.

A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play

Singer, M. (2025). Bubbles. In A stick is an excellent thing: Poems celebrating outdoor play (pp. 12-13). Clarion Books.

Bubbles highlights a boys thoughts as his bubble grows and eventually pops, and his sisters thoughts as she tries to blow more bubbles than him.

This short, rhyming poem compares blowing fewer bigger bubbles to blowing more smaller bubbles. Singer uses words and phrases to evoke the sensory feelings of sight, sound, and touch. After reading the poem aloud, students could be asked to identify the rhyming words and sensory words/phrases. This poem could also be combined with a bubble STEAM activity. Students could make and test different wands to see how effective they are, make a bubble painting, make glow bubbles, or participate in a challenge to blow the most or the largest bubbles.

1. Prelutsky, J. (2000). A greedy and ambitious cow. In It’s raining pigs & noodles (p. 46). Greenwillow Books.

2. "A Greedy and Ambitious Cow" is a humorous poem that tells the story of a cow who dreams of success but is driven to failure by hunger.

3. I would recommend this poem for children because it is capable of grabbing their attention through humor and rhyme. The poem uses a lighthearted story to discuss themes of greed and self-interest, helping students to understand how our motivations shape the way that we act. In the classroom or library, I would read this poem aloud to my students and ask them what they think about the cow's personality and behavior. Students could then draw their own "greedy" animals and write a short poem about them. This poem is an easy introduction to character analysis that could lead to many lessons that ask students to engage in figurative language use and creative writing.

1. Silverstein, S. (1964). A giraffe and a half. HarperCollins.
2. A Giraffe and a Half is a hilarious poetic tale about a giraffe that keeps getting funny things added to it, like a rose on its nose, until it becomes a ridiculous pile up!
3. I loved this poem because it’s cute and funny. The illustrations bring the ridiculous world Silverstein has created to life, which makes this hilarious poem to life for young children. Because of the humour and ridiculous things that keep getting added to this poor giraffe’s pile up, it keeps children engaged with the story. Also, the readability of this poem for storytime is great. If the storyteller is animated with lots of facial expressions, children would love it and be able to easily connect with the creativity in this poem. I loved poems like this when I was a child, and because they were cute, catchy, and they rhymed, I started writing poetry myself. It’s little things like this that help develop a love of literacy in children, especially young ones.

Where Fairies Dance
Anonymous. (2004). The Fairies’ Song. In Where Fairies Dance (p. 34-37). Harper Collins.
This poem is from the perspective of fairies and how they spend their days and nights.
I think this was a fun poem, and it had beautiful illustrations to go with it, as did the other poems in the book. Something that did trip me up a bit while reading it, but I think could be used as a lesson on writing poems, was when the lines looked like they should rhyme but didn’t. Most of the poem had two lines together that rhymed, but every third verse or so, the last two lines only looked like they rhymed: “But when we’d hunt away our care We boldly mount the galloping spheres; And, riding so from east to west, We chase each nimble zodiac beast.” I think it’s a good poem that can show kids different rhyme schemes a poem can have, and the way you can use them to change how a reader says a word to make it fit the rhythm better.

The Old Man Who Loved Cheese
1. Keillor, G. (1996). The old man who loved cheese. (A. Wilsdorf, Illus.). Megan Tingley.
2. As the title suggests, an old man named Wallace P. Flynn is obsessed with cheese. The poem is about how far he is willing to go for that love.
3. This book is a good lesson in moderation and maintaining a balanced diet. Wallace P. Flynn is so obsessed with cheese that it becomes a major problem. The cheese is smells incredibly bad and the sheer accumulation makes it difficult for anyone to come near his house. His family has to stage an intervention so he will finally cut back and make his house less of a bio hazard. Children in the target 4-8 age range will stay engaged because the story is about stinky cheese. In a story time, if the speaker should emphasize this by having a disgusted look on his face when the cheese is being described. It would also help if they would hold their nose and say "eww." Children need to learn to diversify their pallet and this book can help illustrate the necessity.

1. Silverstein, S. (1974). Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out. In Where the sidewalk ends (pp. 24–27). Harper & Row.

2. This humorous poem tells the story of Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout, a girl who refuses to take the garbage out until the trash piles up so high it destroys her home and life. Its exaggeration and playful rhyme make the mess grow more and more ridiculous, entertaining readers while delivering a lesson.

3. I would recommend this poem to children because it blends silly exaggeration with an important message about responsibility. Kids enjoy the rhythmic rhyme, the playful language, and the way the garbage pile becomes wildly unrealistic, which keeps them engaged and laughing. At the same time, the poem shows consequences in a safe and funny way. I would use this poem in a classroom to discuss chores, natural consequences, and cause-and-effect. Students could also illustrate the growing trash pile or write their own exaggerated “warning” poems. Because it is both fun and meaningful, it works well for a wide age range.

Change Sings by Amanda Gorman

1. Gorman, A. (2021). Change sings: A children's anthem (L. Long, Illus.). Viking Books for Young Readers.
2. A poetic picture book called Change Sings that follows a young girl who leads children in acts of kindness, unity, and community transformation to enact change in her life. Through rhythmic verse and beautiful illustrations, the book empowers young readers to see themselves as capable of making meaningful change.
3. Change Sings appeals to today’s children because it celebrates agency, diversity, and the idea that even small actions can make a big difference. Kids are drawn to its musical rhythm, bold artwork, and empowering message that they don’t have to wait until they’re older to help the world. This is beautifully strung together in the book from the first page til the end,
I can hear change humming
In its loudest, proudest song.
I don’t fear change coming,
And so I sing along.
The book also highlights teamwork, empathy, and community, making it a great read-aloud for discussions about kindness, social justice, and leadership. It encourages children to imagine the world they want and gives them the confidence to believe they can help shape it.