Great Poetry Books

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Animals Animals by Eric Carle
Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes by Joanna Cole
A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky
Beast Feast  by Douglas Florian
Bone Poems by Jeffrey Moss
Dog Days: Rhymes Around the Year by Jack Prelutsky
Dragons Dragons: and Other Creatures That Never Were by Eric Carle
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry by Avis Harley
For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone by Jack Prelutsky
Going Barefoot compiled by Anne Hanzel
Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neil
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman
Leap Into Poetry: More ABC Poetry by Avis Harley
Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs by Douglas Florian
Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Mrs. Cole on an Onion Roll and Other School Poems by Kalli Dakos
Never Take a Pig to Lunch-Poems About Eating by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems by Kristine O'Connell George
One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four: 165 Chants for Children by Mary Lou Colgin
Pass It on: African-American Poetry for Children by Wade Hudson
Some Things Go Together by Charlotte Zolotow
Sometimes I Wonder If Poodles Like Noodles by Laura Joffe Numeroff
The Great Frog Race and Other Poems by Kristine O'Connell George
The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky
The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders by Jack Prelutsky
The Usborne Book of Children's Poems compiled by Heather Amery
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems by Kristine O'Connell George
Turtles in July by Marilyn Singer
When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Whiskers & Rhymes by Arnold Lobel
Whisper and Shout: Poems to Memorize by compiled Patrice Vecchione
Winter Eyes by Douglas Florian

Songs in Book Form
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Van Rynbach
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Miss Mary Mack by Mary Ann Hoberman
Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
The Eensy-Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman
The Lady With the Alligator Purse illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Resource Books
Poem of the Week-Seasonal Poems and Phonics, Too! by Betsy Franco
Poems of the Week-Book 2 by Betsy Franco
Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out by Ralph J. Fletcher
Wham! Its a Poetry Jam: Discovering Performance Poetry by Sara Holbrook
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Links

Mrs. Alphabet's Poem of the Week
Activities For National Poetry Month
Giggle Poetry
Kenn Nesbitt's Poetry Playground
Poetry Activities On-Line
Poetry Corner
Poetry Forms for Children
Poetry Guy
Poetry Resources for Young Children
Poetry Teachers
Poetry Workshop
Here you will find an article about the importance of using poetry in the curriculum. Also, some helpful ideas.
Using Poetry to Teach Reading
This is pretty much how I do my Poetry Folders.
Weekly Poetry Folders
Writing With Writers-Poetry


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Past Poetry Projects
2005 Project- 3rd Grade
2006 Project- 3rd Grade
2007 Project-1st Grade
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Ideas For Using Poems in the Classroom

To get you started, here are a few PDF files that you can view and print. They require Adobe Acrobat.
Poetry Frame
Creative Couplets
High-Flying Haiku
Poetry Format
Organizing Your Thoughts

Poetry Box I picked this little idea up from a graduate class several years ago. It's a winner! Making a "Poetry box" helps children with visualizing and interpreting poems they hear, read or write. Materials: show box, coffee can or Pringles Chip tube.
Decorate the box to fit the poem or just decorate to their linking. Inside the box put objects, real or made, that represent the topic, character, ideas, images, events in a poem. As they share a poem they can show the items that they found to help with the retelling or recitation. Place a copy of the poem inside the box or attach to the outside. Set them in a center or reading area and the children will love to check them out!

Poetry Festival April is National Poetry Month. Why not have a special celebration to share favorite poems or poetry written by your students? My classes always love sharing their accomplishments.
Each child picks a favorite poem they have learned or written themselves. They practice the poem until they have it memorized by heart. They can use props or dress appropriately for the presentation. For example, if the poem is about an animal, maybe bring a favorite stuffed animal to hold. Is the poem about school...dress like the teacher!
Invite family members and friends to celebrate along with the class. Make copies of all the poems presented, bind them in class booklets to share with those special visitors.
You can get as elaborate and creative as you wish. The important thing...have FUN!!!
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