15 Essential Poetry Books for Kids in Grades PreK–12
1. “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
2. “Where The Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein
3. “On the Ning Nang Nong” by Spike Milligan
4. “Poems to Learn by Heart” by Caroline Kennedy
5. “Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat” edited by Nikki Giovanni
6. “Love That Dog” by Sharon Creech
7. “Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets” by Kwame Alexander
8. “The Random House Book of Poetry for Children” edited by Jack Prelutsky
9. “If Kids Ruled the School: More Kids’ Favorite Funny School Poems” compiled by Bruce Lansky
10. “Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse” by Marilyn Singer
11. “A Pizza the Size of the Sun” by Jack Prelutsky
12. “Falling Up” by Shel Silverstein
13. “One Leaf Rides the Wind: Counting in a Japanese Garden” by Celeste Mannis
14. “National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar!” edited by J. Patrick Lewis
15. “The Arrow Finds Its Mark: A Book of Found Poems” edited by Georgia Heard
These poetry books are a delightful collection of works that will engage and inspire kids of all ages, from PreK to grade 12. Each book offers a unique style and theme, providing a diverse range of poems for children to explore and enjoy. Whether it’s silly rhymes, thought-provoking verses, or beautiful imagery, these books are sure to foster a love for poetry and language in young readers.