Poetry is such a vast genre that includes so many different types of expression. There is truly something for everyone! Outside of my own childhood favorites, I had never explored much into the genre of children's poetry and prose. I hope you'll enjoy reading about and checking out my favorite picture book poetry books. 📚
This is a sweet collection of poems written with real girls in mind. Gorgeous illustrations bring to life the worries, joys, and daily struggles of what it means to be a little girl. There are poems about being yourself, bullies, pimples, being shy, and so much more. I smiled so much while reading "Waiting for Friends". Author-illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton includes a short dedication in the beginning of the book: "For every little girl who is becoming a big girl. I like you just the way you are. Shine, girl, shine!". 🥰
This adorable poetry collection is all about dogs! Barney Saltzberg's illustrations are hysterically apt (any dog-owner would agree) and the poems are written mostly from a canine perspective. These vignettes cover everything about dogs: playing fetch, slobbering, shedding fur, chasing things, getting lost, and more. There's even a surprise cat poem on the last page, for all my fellow cat people! This silliness of the subject matter reminds me so much of Shel Silverstein, who was my personal childhood poet laureate. Kids of all ages will love this book.
This nonfiction poetry book is a great STEAM introduction for children! Awesome Earth is all about the different landforms on our planet, from volcanos to canyons. It's rich in new vocabulary and scientific concepts, like the different types of rocks! Tania GarcÃa's brightly colored imagery draws readers in and the poems themselves are formatted in a way that mimics the different shapes and movement patterns of the land. There's even a glossary in the back that explains all of the terminology mentioned in the poems! 🤓
A children's collection of poetry by my favorite poet?! Umm, yes please! I enjoyed reading this picture book so lovingly curated. The beautifully expressive painted illustrations by Ashley Bryan really bring so much magic into the words on the pages. It is a joy to read and to imagine Nikki reading her poetry to a group of children. I loved seeing the familiar "Kidnap Poem" and the last poem included, "I Am a Mirror" even features a small mirror embedded into the illustration!
