16 poems for kids of all ages
If you want to introduce a child to poetry but aren̵7;t sure where to start, classic poems are a fun way to engage them in literature. A poem is ̶0;classic̶1; because of its timelessness, connecting with readers across decades and, in some cases, centuries.
̶0;Kids are very responsive to the playfulness of language,̶1; says Katherine Litwin, the library director for the Poetry Foundation, ̶0;and these authors are masters of play, so they make a great first introduction to poetry.̶1;
Poet Karen Craigo, a teaching artist at the Springfield Art Museum and English instructor at Drury University, says she likes poems ̶0;that can become part of a child̵7;s permanent inner library. What a gift: to contribute to that storehouse of images that a child can come back to again and again for the rest of her life.̶1;
If you̵7;re worried about the complexity of classic poems for children, don̵7;t be. Litwin says kids ̶0;invariably gravitate toward the selection I imagine to be the most difficult. Children almost always know more than we think they know. They are very instinctual in their appreciation of poetry.̶1;
Here are 16 famous poems for kids that can serve as the perfect introduction to poetry.
Poems for kindergartners
̶0;I think a gentle introduction to poetry starts with rhyme and then looks at other forms of wordplay,̶1; says Craigo.
1. ̶0;At the Zoo̶1; by William Makepeace Thackeray
The unique joy of observing animals is embodied in this short piece.
2. ̶0;Hop on Pop̶1; by Dr. Seuss
Kids may not think of Dr. Seuss as a poet, but Craigo says ̶0;starting with Dr. Seuss shows them that they can handle this stuff. They̵7;ve had a thorough understanding of poetry since before they could speak!̶1;
3. ̶0;I̵7;d Love to Be a Fairy̵7;s Child̶1; by Robert Graves
This whimsical poem gives children a peek into the enchanting, carefree lives of fairies.
4. ̶0;Caterpillar̶1; by Christina Rossetti
Rossetti captures the essence of a caterpillar̵7;s life and rebirth as a butterfly.
Poems for 1st- and 2nd-graders
Kids love playful language and identifying with a poem̵7;s theme, so give them something to relate to.
5. ̶0;Sick̶1; by Shel Silverstein
Follow the dramatic thought progression of a child who just wants to stay home from school.
6. ̶0;Now We Are Six̶1; by A.A. Milne
This thought-provoking poem discusses big ideas about growing up and wanting to stay young.
7. ̶0;Jabberwocky̶1; by Lewis Carroll
According to Craigo, this poem ̶0;restores the power of language to a child̶1; by showing them that it̵7;s OK to play around with grammar rules.
8. ̶0;Rain̶1; by Robert Louis Stevenson
Author Stevenson captures that perfect moment of falling rain.
Poems for 3rd- and 4th-graders
When choosing poems for kids in this age group, Litwin looks for ̶0;clarity of image, musicality of language and themes that we think will appeal to kids.̶1;
9. ̶0;Fog̶1; by Carl Sandbur
Sandburg̵7;s poem resonates with Craigo because ̶0;the opening image is so evocative, and it does exactly what a metaphor should do by yoking two completely unlike things so that one interprets the other.̶1;
10. ̶0;The Tyger̶1; by William Blake
A joy to read aloud, ̶0;kids also enjoy imagining the movements of the tiger and drawing the way it appears in their minds,̶1; says Litwin. Look for an edition that includes Blake̵7;s etchings.
11. ̶0;A Child Said, What Is Grass?̶1; by Walt Whitman
Try Craigo̵7;s fun exercise: On index cards, have kids write their response to the question, ̶0;What is the grass?̶1;
Read aloud their responses with Whitman̵7;s answers, allowing kids to experience the poetic process.
12. ̶0;Afternoon on a Hill̶1; by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Children are drawn into the delightful, freeing adventure in nature.
Poems for 5th-graders
Older kids may enjoy digging deeper into the history and customs that surround these poems.
̶0;These works are referenced everywhere in our culture,̶1; says Litwin. ̶0;So an understanding of them enhances our understanding of the world around us.̶1;
13. ̶0;The Eagle̶1; by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Tennyson depicts a beautiful, melancholic moment in time.
14. ̶0;Dream Variations̶1; by Langston Hughes
̶0;A wonderful poem about loving and fully inhabiting the self,̶1; says Craigo.
15. ̶0;A Bird Came Down the Walk̶1; by Emily Dickinson
The final stanzas contain a breathtaking description of flying.
16. ̶0;La Belle Dame sans Merci̶1; by John Keats
Says Litwin, ̶0;The imagery in ̵6;La Belle Dame sans Merci̵7; is very clear: Children, just like teenagers, love poems that are romantic and sad!̶1;
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