Poetry can be a fun way to help kids practice fluency in reading. The rhythm and rhymes are great for reading aloud. There are some great new poetry anthologies for kids that can help them learn about different topics and get them interested in poetry.

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The Day the Universe Exploded My Head: Poems to Take You into Space and Back Again

Written  by Allan Wolf and illustrated by Anna Raff

This anthology is full of funny and factual poems about the planets in the solar system, the moons that surround them, and other fascinating parts of the universe. The poems use different rhyming patterns and styles to teach kids about the universe. The hilarious illustrations paired with the poems are full of humanized planets, stars, and rocket ships. There are also images of people who have changed the field of Astronomy. The poems range from silly and ridiculous (such as “A Moon Buffet” which lists the different moons in the solar system and states that they are all made of different foods), to the serious and touching. (“For Those Who Light the Candle” is a tribute to all the astronauts and cosmonauts who gave their lives to space travel).

Related Post: Children’s Books about the Universe

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers

Written by Fred Rogers and illustrated by Luke Flowers

This heartwarming compilation brings together 75 beloved songs from the television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His sweet and compassionate words have helped generations of kids to see the world a little differently, and now they are paired with beautiful illustrations that bring his poetry to life. The poems in this book touch on a number of sensitive and important topics for kids, including self confidence (“I’m Glad I’m the Way I Am”), love (“Many Ways to Say I Love You”), anger (“What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel?”), and growing up (“You’re Growing”). He even explores common childhood fears in “You Can Never Go Down the Drain” and “Please Don’t Think It’s Funny”. This  is a beautiful book for families to share together. It can also be the jumping off point for lots of important conversations.

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year

Edited by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

This beautiful anthology offers a different short nature poem for every single day. Each day is represented by a different poem, reflecting the changing seasons throughout the year. Every month has it’s own table of contents, sharing the poems featured during that month. Each page features a poem or two, as well as vibrant illustrations that reflect the landscape during that time of year. The colors become more vibrant as the poetry moves into the warmer months. They then become grayer and more soothing as the year winds down. This book is a great way to introduce poetry and famous poets to kids in a little snippet each day. There is also a ribbon bookmark attached to the book so you can easily keep track of where you are in the year.

Check out the fun seasonal handprint art that we paired with this book!

Up Verses Down: Poems, Paintings, and Serious Nonsense

Written and illustrated by Calef Brown

This silly anthology prides itself on being full of “serious nonsense” The book is broken up into different sections, including poems about people, food, animals, and more. Some of the poems are pure silliness and wordplay, while others offer a glimpse at animal life, parts of language, or family relationships. I particularly liked the poem “Simile Park” which offers kids a relaxing rhyme about a peaceful park, mostly through the use of similes. The illustrations throughout the book are colorful and often very funny, so kids will get a kick out of the ridiculousness in the text, as well as the silly illustrations paired with them.

Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me

Written by Eloise Greenfield and illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi

This book is a collection of poems told from the perspective of a young boy and his dog. They both believe themselves to be poets, but Thinker the dog has to keep his poetry to himself. However, during Pet Day at school, Thinker finally has a chance to join his owner, and share his brilliance with the world. Together they learn about the importance of being yourself. The poems in the book introduce kids to lots of different poetry styles. Meanwhile, the brightly colored illustrations will keep them engaged in the story.

What are your favorite poetry anthologies for kids? Share in the comments below!

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