Poetry Resources

Reading poetry with children can be a happy and relaxed part of the day whilst learning about vocabulary, rhyme, ways to expressing thought and emotion and how to write happens imperceptibly.

We have used a variety of resources and ways of incorporating poetry

• poem of the half term
• Poetry at the start of most days
• Poetry picnics
• we haven't had a poetry teatime yet but I'm planning to add at least a few in during the autumn.

We use anthologies, picture books and very occasionally, poems from the internet.

Our favourite general anthologies are

• The Macmillan treasury of Poetry for Children-this is out of print but can be picked up second hand and is well worth acquiring.
• 100 Best Poems for Children edited by Roger McGough. This is a selection chosen by children. I don't like every poem in this book but this book is well loved by my children.

We also use

• Out and About by Shirley Hughes.
  
  This was our top poetry book when the children were tiny and we have gone through more than one copy. Lines still get quoted

Sand in the sandwiches,

Sand in the tea

Flat, wet sand

Running down to the sea.

• When we were very Young by AA Milne
• Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon
• Are we nearly there yet?collected by Gervaise Phinn
• T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats I have only read a couple of these poems to the children but plan to use this in the autumn so that we become more familiar with this collection. Anything about cats is very popular here!

I wish there were more poetry picture books. The best are real feasts!

• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. Illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
• Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Illustrated by Ted Rand
• Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
• Grass Sandals: The travels of Basho by Dawnine Spivak. Illustrated by Demi. This book contains haikus.

In reality, we don't use the internet for poetry as much as we might. However, the Poetryline site is worth exploring, particularly as it is possible to listen to the author recite their own poems.

These posts are also on a similar theme:

• Ways to enjoy poetry and rhyme with young children.
• Poetry and Young children

Please let me know about poetry resources that you enjoy. I appreciate being able to add ideas to our bank of ideas.

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