April is Poetry Month!
And while I’m late to that party, here, not getting to it until now, I can’t let it go by without sharing some of my favourite stuff for small people.
For babies, you can’t beat nursery rhymes for early poetry. I have a few favourite collections, including the pair illustrated by Rosemary Wells (My Very First Mother Goose and Here Comes Mother Goose), which have large, wonderful images, and Jane Yolen’s collection (This Little Piggy) that comes with a CD, for those who aren’t familiar with the songs and fingerplays. But the one I would recommend as the best buy if you’re only in the market for one book of nursery rhymes?
A Child’s Treasury of Nursery Rhymes
by Kady MacDonald Denton
Kingfisher
ISBN: 978 0 753 45710 8
Not only is Denton Canadian, but her jaunty signature style is a great deal of fun, and she has picked a wealth of rhymes that will take you from baby bouncing rhymes to longer rhymes and songs that will suit bigger kids, who may also begin to find and appreciates the little touches she adds to her drawings. These are well-picked to include a lot of classics, some great fingerplays, and some unfamiliar material.
For toddlers: I love the idea of introducing poetry beyond nursery rhymes when children are still young. They enjoy the natural rhythm and rhyme, and if they already know they love poems, it’s harder for people to teach the joy out of it later, when poetry becomes Serious. My favourite book of poetry for young people (and one I have given as a gift many times) is:
Here’s a Little Poem
collected by Jane Yolen
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978 0 763 63141 3
These poems are arranged by themes that are entirely within the realm of a small person’s experience, and the poems are chosen to be relatable, too. Polly Dunbar kicks the whole thing up a notch with her joyful, sunny illustrations that feature kids at play throughout. There are fistfuls of treasures in this volume, and Girl 6 still loves reading through it – it’s can easily take a kid from toddler to middle grades with its sheer exuberance, and I thoroughly adore it.
For school-age kids: this is where things really break wide open, and I am going to get you started by recommending a couple of big, classic authors who each have a few great collections, so you can find more easily, as well as one really great compilation to introduce a wider range of great poetry. (And when you finally need even more? Come and visit the library, of course! We’ll hand you some Jack Prelutsky, some Sheree Fitch, some Loris Lesynski… )
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Light in the Attic
Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins
ISBNs: 978 0 060 25667 8 (Sidewalk)
978 0 061 90585 8 (Light Attic)
Shel Silverstein is one of the godfathers of fun, crazy, silly poetry for kids – many of you may remember him from your own childhood. his poems are goofy and irreverent, and paired with his equally ridiculous line drawings to hilarious effect. His mastery of lilting language makes it such a pleasure to read that his poems are found on CDs of spoken word, and some have made their way into songs, as well. This is great stuff for sharing, and for later reading alone. While he does also have a few short books, I really much prefer his collections of poems, where his humour really shines – these two are fantastic.
Alligator Pie
Dennis Lee
Key Porter Books
ISBNs: 9781552633380 (Alligator)
Dennis Lee is the first stop for silly, funny poetry with a Canadian twist, though he’s not alone – see intro blurb, above. His poems may also be familiar to many of you, but the rhymes have stood the test of time, even if the illustrations in this book can look a bit dated. Lee’s poems have the rhythm of the schoolyard down pat, and I love all the references to place names across the country that he tucks in. These are another example of having great range, because many of them will work really well with toddlers, but big kids love him, too. And um, me, too. I know more than a few of his poems by heart, and I wouldn’t be surprised if your kid might one day, too.
Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry
ed. Bill Martin Jr.
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978 1 416 93971 9
This is a big compilation of solid poetry – not all silly, either, so it’s a nice way to open up a wider world of poetic expression to an older child while still keeping one foot in the middle of the fun stuff. Bill Martin, Jr. is one of the big names in picture books, so while there is plenty of more grown-up poetry by more adult-oriented writers in here, it still has a great sensibility for what kids will love – he is, after all, the author of Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. This is a really worthwhile pick for a bigger kid, and would make a great gift.
Parting thought – remember, this is fun stuff! Poetry is the stuff of rhymes and songs, of schoolyard chants and Dr. Seuss, as well as love songs, and yes, even serious elegies. It’s a great gift to give your kid, to share this wonderful stuff with them, so whether you pick something on this list or head to your library or bookstore for something themed to your child’s interest, take this as the push you might need to go explore it together!