Recommendations for children’s poetry books please?

[StanzaQueensUnite]

What children’s poetry is everyone reading nowadays please?

In my day, my children read Bear Hunt and The Gruffalo, plus the poetry books from my childhood, such as The Treasury of Children’s Verse.

But what is popular now please?

I am particularly interested in poetry for the five to seven year old age group and for nine to eleven year olds?

I don’t have a clue and need to purchase for a summer reading group by the end of next week! I’m a volunteer so would very much appreciate some help please.

The criteria are : books can be illustrated or non-illustrated but they must be well written and can be compilations of different poems or, in the younger age group, one rhyming narrative.

Please can anyone help?

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein was my favourite book of poems growing up and both my dc really enjoyed reading it too.

Sounds terrific! Thank you!

Thank you. I shall get hold of a copy!

The are a bit expensive but are big heavy books with lots of famous poems in. When I read the poems, I ask my children to guess what animal etc. they think the poem is about when it isn't mentioned except in the title.

National Trust: I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree: A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year

And

National Trust: Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year

Lovely books for teaching about rhyme and imagery.

Oops! Meant to post this here and instead just resurrected a zillion year old thread by accident!

I dabble with backing kickstarters and am currently watching one that looks to be doing to nursery rhymes what Revolting Rhymes did to fairy stories. Well, either that or its a clothing brand - bit hard to tell! 😂- but the yt video made my youngest laugh...

For Ages 5-7
This age group enjoys playful, rhythmic poems, often with a strong narrative or lots of repetition:

1. If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Colin and Jacqui Hawkins – A fun and rhythmic adventure that’s great for young listeners.
2. Ready for Spaghetti by Michael Rosen – This is a collection of lively poems, perfect for kids just starting to enjoy poetry.
3. Funky Chickens by Benjamin Zephaniah – Witty and fun, this book’s humor will captivate early readers.
4. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – A classic story in verse that’s beautiful and easy for younger children to connect with.

For Ages 9-11 Older children can handle more complex themes and enjoy a wider variety of poetic styles:

1. Poems to Perform by Julia Donaldson – This collection encourages kids to perform the poems themselves, making it great for class reading groups.
2. A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh Poetry Collection – Timeless poems with charm, humor, and whimsy that older children will appreciate.
3. Michael Rosen's A-Z of Children's Poetry – A collection from one of the UK’s beloved children’s poets, perfect for children who want variety.
4. The River’s A Singer by Valerie Bloom – A poetic journey through nature and life, this collection is perfect for engaging readers who are ready for deeper themes.

If you're looking for more recommendations for poetry books specifically for younger readers, especially for ages 9-11, you might want to check out this blog post “Poems for 3rd Graders”. It features a curated list of poems that are perfect for helping 3rd graders explore poetry in a fun and engaging way. Plus, the blog provides useful tips on how to incorporate these poems into activities that can spark creativity and improve literacy skills. It’s a great resource if you’re building out your reading group’s material this summer!

Just seen this! Thank you very much indeed for the latest contributions to this thread. Much appreciated!