Home Appreciation

"Learning to experience poetry does not require lectures or dissection." Susan Thomsen provides a helpful guide for how to get your kids reading and enjoying poetry.

Snip, Snip!

"In primary school I enjoyed what was called 'choral speaking'—a kind of choir that got together in order to recite poems. I didn’t like the poetry we did in lesson time. It always seemed so mournful and sad." Michael Rosen talks to Bruce Black about being a children's poet and becoming the Children's Laureate of Britain.

More than Mother Goose

From Mother Goose to Edward Gorey to William Shakespeare, Julie Danielson and Eisha Prather recommend 20 books for your children to read over the holidays.

Lunchbox Poems

Surprise your children with poetic treats in their lunchboxes! Julie Danielson and Eisha Prather recommend poems for them to snack on throughout the school year.

An Xceptional and Xuberant Poet

Conjuring dragons who battle bullies and teachers who write on blackbirds, X.J. Kennedy fills his poems with dexterous wordplay and downright malarkey. Children's Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky shares his delight in the poet's inventive verse.

Thank Goodness It’s (Poetry) Friday

Every Friday, bloggers in the kidlitosphere enthusiastically offer up their favorite poems for kids. Susan Thomsen takes a tour through this billowing online community.

She Speaks in the Voice of a Child

Jack Prelutsky, the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate, discusses the work, writing habits, and fashion preferences of his friend, children's novelist, and poet Nikki Grimes, sharing a few of her newest, unpublished poems along the way.

Dragons Pulling Wagons

As the first ever Children's Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky is turning the high-beam from all the publicity on other fine poets writing for children today. Each month during his tenure, he'll tell you a bit about a poet he admires, and then select a few favorite poems and books by that author.

With A Little Help from Dr. Angelou

In partnership with Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University, Dr. Maya Angelou, and the Target Corporation, the Poetry Foundation has developed curriculum for teaching essential African American poetry to students of all ages.

Essential Collection

We asked nationally respected children's literature experts to put together for librarians, educators, and parents a list of books essential to a superb children's poetry library. The list includes anthologies, collections of contemporary and classic poetry by individual authors, and poetry collections that include audio recordings on tape or CD.