Celebrating Poetry and Poets!
April is recognized as National Poetry Month. Poetry in children's literature is a wonderful way to introduce young readers to the beauty of language, rhythm, and imagination. Poetry offers a unique way of expressing thoughts and emotions, often through playful language, vivid imagery, and creative use of sound. The books selected here feature the works of poets who write for children and hope to inspire the next generation of young poets.
Joyful Reading!
Out of Wonder
Written by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
This beautifully illustrated book explores the power of poetry to transcend time, place, and culture. In his preface, Kwame Alexander states, “A poem is a small but powerful thing. It has the power to reach inside of you, to ignite something in you, and to change you in ways you never imagined.” Alexander along with fellow poets Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, pay homage to the poets that have inspired them with original poems that emulate their unique styles. The poets honored represent a wide range of cultures from ancient times to the contemporary (including Rumi, Bashō, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Chief Dan George, Pablo Neruda, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, and Sandra Cisneros). Ekua Holmes’ deeply textured mixed-media, vibrant illustrations capture the power of the poems they accompany, visually evoking the wonder of the subject matter explored and the time in which the original poet worked. The book includes brief biological sketches of each poet honored.
How to Write a Poem
Written by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Poets Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido take their readers on an adventure of words and experiences that lead to poem-writing. They encourage their young readers to take in their surroundings, experience nature and words around them, to create their poems. Accompanied by Melissa Sweet’s inventive, mixed-media collages, the book embraces the sensory experiences contribute to poetry making.
Oxford Children's Rhyming Words
Written by Oxford Dictionaries
This book is a wonderful tool for young poets (lyricists and rappers) containing thousands of words that rhyme with varied spellings. Organized in alphabetical order, the rhyming sound is identified and words that rhyme listed. In addition, the book contains short poems, lively illustrations, and an index of words, making it easy to search for specific words.
Beyond the Books
Encouraging children to write poetry not only fosters their creativity and self-expression but also helps them develop language skills, empathy, and an appreciation for the beauty of words. The key is to make it enjoyable, engaging, and a natural part of their everyday experiences. For some children poems will be in written form, while for others they might be the lyrics of a song or Rap. Ingredients of a Poem with Kwame Alexander provides an entertaining overview of poem basics for children. Visit Poetry4Kids.com which includes a wide range of activities to support young poets including and Seven Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Interest in Writing.