Poetry can be rhyming but it doesn't need to be! Alliteration is one of the oldest forms of poetry and gives stories and songs its rhythmic flow. Poetry is perhaps the best form of story to read aloud, to share at bedtime or any time. Poetry can instil a life long love of language in a child, so use it often regardless of which language you speak.
Here is a list of some of my favourites. As always, the hardest thing is to limit it! There are so many wonderful poets, so many beautiful, funny, touching books! Enjoy sharing these with your favourite reader, or curled up by yourself:
African Acrostics, Avis Harley and Deborah Noyes
Barn Dance, Bill Martin Jr, John Archambault
Canoe Days, Gary Paulsen
Dinosaurs, Lee Bennett Hopkins
Edward The Emu, Sheena Knowles
Falling Up, Shel Silverstein
Good Night, Sweet Pig, Linda Bailey
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, Dr. Seuss + Jack Prelutsky
I Did It Because, How A Poem Happens, Loris Lesynski
(The) Jolly Postman, Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Keep A Poem in Your Pocket, collected by J. Patrick Lewis
(The) Little Blue Truck, Alice Schertle
Mabel Murple, Sheree Fitch
North Country Night, Daniel San Souci
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
Pearl Versus The World, Sally Murphy
Quiet as a Cricket, Audrey and Don Wood
In the Red Canoe, Leslie A. Davidson
Sleeping Dragons All Around, Sheree Fitch
There’s A Wocket in My Pocket, Dr. Seuss
yoU Nest Here With Me, Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
Valentine Hearts, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
(The) Waterhole, Graeme Base
eXtra Innings, Baseball Poems, Lee Bennett Hopkins
Yertle The Turtle and Other Stories, Dr. Seuss
Zombies! Evacuate The School, Sara Holbrook
