National Poetry Month is just about over, yet I am squeezing in one last poem for you and your kids to enjoy as part of the Poetry Reading Challenge. In fact, I do hope that you will continue to enjoy reading poetry well beyond the month of April.
If you enjoyed the challenge, please let me know your experience! Did your kids get into it? Were you able to read the poem of the week each day? Did you do any extension activities? These posts have been the least popular all month, but I admit that I looked forward to writing them more than the others! That's always the way, isn't it? (If you are new to the challenge you can start at any time! Read the "rules" on the introductory post.)
One of the best unexpected benefits that came out of this challenge was that both of my kids ended up memorizing the poems simply by reciting them every day. There was no intentional memorization but they liked to "show off". My boys are quite competitive and neither wanted to be outshone by the other!
I could not end this poetry celebration without sneaking in something by William Shakespeare. Not only is Shakespeare my favorite poet, but yesterday was his 450th birthday. It was hard for me to choose a passage, there are so many I adore. In the end I let someone else make my decision for me. I have been reading How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare (that's an affiliate link) and these lines make up the beginning of the first selection the author uses.
Printer friendly copy --> A Midsummer Night's Dream poem
Poetry books for further reading:
If you are looking for collections that include a strong variety of poems, these are three of my favorites. (Affiliate links below.)
Poems to Learn by Heart and A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children. Yes, it's a bit cheesy that these two books are edited by Caroline Kennedy, but they are actually very well-curated collections. Jon J. Muth's illustrations are divine.
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children. I love Prelutsky's poems, and this is a collection of contemporary and classic poems he chose. The wonderful illustrations are by Arnold Lobel of Frog and Toad fame.
Poetry Book Lists:
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
I'm not a poetry fan as a rule, but the ones you have shared for this challenge have been awesome! Thanks for reminding me of some great poetry!
Even in Australia says
Perhaps you can help me. I want to give a book as a party favor for my 9yo's birthday and was thinking maybe a small paperback book of poems (to keep costs down!). Do you have any suggestions? Although they still love Jack Prelutsky, I can't hand out a book that looks like an easy reader, which is too bad, because those small collections would be perfect. Thanks!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Oh, tough one. I don't have any suggestions. I was thinking of Prelutsky, too. But I guess the easy reader thing would put off 9 year olds. Let me know if you find something.
Even in Australia says
Still thinking. But I did just find two big hardcover collections I love - Gyo Fujikawa's A Child's Book of Poems (NOT to be confused with her illustrated version of RLS's A Child's Garden of Verses) and Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Song, and Lullabies. I love that the latter includes song lyrics as poems.
Stacey Loscalzo says
Erica- I am not sure how your blog has fallen off my list! I am so glad to be back!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Glad to have you back, Stacey! 🙂
Natalie PlanetSmartyPants says
We missed the challenge, but it sounds like a lot of fun. Strangely, I cannot get my daughter to memorize poetry - she seems to think that it's a very silly thing to do. What are your thoughts on memorization in this day and age when we all can literally have 1000 of poems in our pocket on our mobile devices?
Priscilla Hardage says
My 4th grade students read Lois Burdett’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and performed the play in full Renaissance garb. The script is a mixture of Lois Burdett‘s version, authentic Shakespeare and a bit of my own wordplay. We perform it every year for the entire school and parents. It is the highlight for many. I love the poetry you picked from Shakespeare. It’s all about expectations. Now, my students will enter fifth grade and soon middle school with a new friend, Shakespeare, and plenty of confidence. I love what you do. Sorry I missed the challenge, but I will keep up now that I know you’re here.
Erica says
That is wonderful! I would have loved being one of your students. 🙂