Classic Poems for Kids
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Poems Can Enchant Your Children
I can still remember and recite many of the poems that were read to me when I was a young child and they left me with an enduring love of poetry.
Classic poetry often has a richness of language, so enlarging a child's vocabulary and giving an appreciation of good writing. The poems are ideal for reading aloud to kids, in fact, they can encourage a child to like bedtime, knowing there will be poems or a story.
Some great poets of the past have written for kids - Robert Louis Stevenson, G.K. Chesterton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to name just three.
Illustrated books of poems make lovely, colourful Christmas and birthday gifts for children especially the collections from different poets. They are always on the top of my Christmas gift lists for kids in my family.
Picture above: Read Across America Event - US Navy photograph in the Public Domain
Little Trotty Wagtail by John Clare
I first learned this poem when I was about ten years old and, although I can't remember it all the way through anymore, I always think "There's little trotty wagtail" when I see one of these birds. As it's about 50 years since I learned it, you can see it had a lasting impression on me.Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,
And tittering, tottering sideways he ne'er got straight again,
He stooped to get a worm, and looked up to get a fly,
And then he flew away ere his feathers they were dry.
Little trotty wagtail, he waddled in the mud,
And left his little footmarks, trample where he would.
He waddled in the water-pudge, and waggle went his tail,
And chirrupt up his wings to dry upon the garden rail.
Little trotty wagtail, you nimble all about,
And in the dimpling water-pudge you waddle in and out;
Your home is nigh at hand, and in the warm pig-stye,
So, little Master Wagtail, I'll bid you a good-bye.
Picture above: Pied Wagtail
Copyright © Kevin Law - Creative Commons License
Some One by Walter de la Mare
Some one came knocking
At my wee, small door;
Some one came knocking,
I'm sure - sure - sure;
I listened, I opened,
I looked to left and right,
But naught there was a-stirring
In the still dark night;
Only the busy beetle
Tap-tapping in the wall,
Only from the forest
The screech-owl's call,
Only the cricket whistling
While the dewdrops fall,
So I know not who came knocking,
At all, at all, at all.
Poems for Your Pre-Schooler
Start young with poetry
A Children's Treasury of Poems
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
I started reading little poems and rhymes to my children when they were little more than babes in arms and carried on until they wanted to read for themselves. It gave them a natural love of poetry and reading so I highly recommend this book for babies and pre-schoolers.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
At The Zoo by William Makepeace Thackeray
Polar Bears, Churchill Manitoba Photographic Print
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First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;
Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back;
Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw;
Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw;
Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk;
Then I saw the monkeys-mercy, how unpleasantly they-smelt!
Nursery Rhymes
A Great Introduction to Poetry
Here are a few products illustrating a some nursery rhymes.
The Land of Counterpane by Robert Louis Stevenson
In this poem, Robert Louis Stevenson must be speaking of his own experiences because he was a sickly child with a weak chest. He was particularly prone to illness in the cold winters of his native Scotland.The Land of Counterpane vividly describes the power of a child's imagination, making the rumples in a counterpane (bed spread or cover) into hills while imagining himself a giant, lord of all he surveys.
When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bedclothes, through the hills;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
Click here for high quality personalized children's books
A Child's Garden of Verses
A Child's Garden of Verses
Amazon Price: $12.66 (as of 02/15/2012)
Here is a delightful look at childhood, written by master poet and storyteller Robert Louis Stevenson. In this collection of sixty-six poems, Stevenson recalls the joys of his childhood, from sailing boats down a river, to waiting for the lamplighter, to sailing off to foreign lands in his imagination. Tasha Tudor's watercolor paintings evoke a simpler time in the past, and celebrate two of the things she loves most -- children and nature. Her talents are the perfect match for these inspiring poems, making this a handsome gift edition that will be cherished by families for generations.
On Amazon, this book has been given 5 stars by 27 people out of a total of 30.
A different illustrated edition is available from Amazon.co.uk
Do You Read Poetry to Children?
Give your opinion on the reading poems to children
I have always read the poems to children both my own and nieces and nephews. They've all enjoyed it and, I believe, got something from the poetry.
What do you think?
J. A. Keen
Sea Fever by John Masefield
This poem has a great rhythm that seems to me to reflect the rhythm of the sea. There is also something feverish about it. As a child, I loved it and knew it by heart.
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
The Children's Classic Poetry Collection
The Children's Classic Poetry Collection
Amazon Price: $8.01 (as of 02/15/2012)
An exceptional anthology of favorite poems for young readers of all ages features the works of Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edward Lear, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Sir Walter Scott, William Blake, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe, and other notable poets.
I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils;
Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Yellow narcissus daffodil flowers
Photographic Print
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I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Daffodils read by Jeremy Irons
Selected Poetry of William Wordsworth
Selected Poetry of William Wordsworth (Modern Library Classics)
Amazon Price: $7.23 (as of 02/15/2012)
William Wordsworth is one of the most famous English poets. One of the reviewers on Amazon, who gave the book 5 stars said "...Wordsworth writes about things just about everybody can relate to -- nature, neighbors, family, nation, self-realization, glow-worms -- using direct language that avoids obscure metaphors..."
A different edition of selected poems by Wordsworth is available on Amazon.co.uk
The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Village Smithy Giclee Print
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Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.
And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.
He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.
It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his haul, rough hand he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.
Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.
Evangeline and Selected Tales and Poems
Evangeline and Selected Tales and Poems
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
Distinguished poet Horace Gregory has selected thirty-seven of Longfellow's most enduring poems for this edition, the only paperback of Longfellow's poetry in print. These include The Village Blacksmith and the ever popular Hiawatha.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
A Smuggler's Song by Rudyard Kipling
Smugglers
Giclee Print
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During the 18th century in England, taxes on foreign goods like brandy, tobacco (baccy) and lace were high and so smuggling was virtually a national pastime. The English have never taken well to authority that disturbs their lives too much so even respectable people like a parson or clerk would buy contraband.
If you wake at Midnight, and hear a horse's feet,
Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street,
Them that asks no questions isn't told a lie.
Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark -
Brandy for the Parson.
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
Running round the woodlump, if you chance to find
Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine,
Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play.
Put the brushwood back again - and they'll be gone next day!
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark -
Brandy for the Parson.
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
If you see the stable door setting open wide;
If you see a tired horse lying down inside;
If your mother mends a coat cut about and tore;
If the lining's wet and warm - don't you ask no more!
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark -
Brandy for the Parson.
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
If you meet King George's men, dressed in blue and red,
You be careful what you say, and mindful what is said.
If they call you "pretty maid", and chuck you 'neath the chin,
Don't you tell where no one is, nor yet where no one's been!
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark -
Brandy for the Parson.
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
If you do as you've been told, 'likely there's a chance,
You'll be given a dainty doll, all the way from France,
With a cap of pretty lace, and a velvet hood -
A present from the Gentlemen, along o' being good!
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark -
Brandy for the Parson.
'Baccy for the Clerk;
Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,
And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!
Poetry for Young People: Rudyard Kipling
Poetry for Young People: Rudyard Kipling
Amazon Price: $6.94 (as of 02/15/2012)
Kipling's exquisitely crafted, rhythmic poems practically beg to be read aloud; their musical cadences captivate children. Add to that his humour, sympathetic and finely drawn characters, often deep personal emotions - no wonder Kipling was hugely popular and became the first English writer to win the Noble Prize for Literature. 23 selections include: excerpts from the Just So stories; How the camel got its hump; If...; The cat who walked by himself; Mandalay; The Ballad of East & West.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
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The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton
Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, 1632 Giclee Print
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When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born;
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton: Collected Poetry : Part 1
The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton: Collected Poetry Part 1
Amazon Price: $19.04 (as of 02/15/2012)
This is not a book for children but it does contain a number of poems that they will love including The Donkey and a whole chapter of 'Light Verse and Nonsense Verse'. Amazon.com has the online reader for this book enabling you to look at the chapter headings and the index so you can see whether you like the selection.
Not available from Amazon.co.uk.
I Like This Poem: A Collection of Best-Loved Poems
I Like This Poem: A Collection of Best-Loved Poems Chosen by Children for Other Children (Puffin Books)
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 02/15/2012)
This book contains a great selection of poems for children. We know that children like them because that's who chose the poetry here. It contains The Donkey as well as poems by Hilaire Belloc, Walter de la Mare, and W.H. Auden. You can see the first lines for yourself with the online reader.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
More Poetry and Stories for Children
Poetry for Children
What Bloggers Think About It
- AF Harrold calls in to Poet's Cafe
- ?Nobody needs a poet in the 21st Century but we insist on keeping it going anyway, so why not? We're not doing any harm.? Although AF refuses to choose between writing for children or adults, he does admit that writing for children can be rewarding.
- Poetry Salon Helps Capture Perfect Occassion
- Sue Robinson told Channel 4 Action News' Mike Clark that she was overwhelmed with emotion when she received a personal poem her three children commissioned for her as a birthday gift to express their love. "I can't hardly describe how I felt.
- Scholastic Parent & Child ® Magazine Unveils Their List of "100 Greatest Books ...
- ... Scholastic Parent & Child launched a 10-week countdown and an online Interactive Bookshelf that allows readers to sort the 100 titles by age group and categories including: fiction, nonfiction, award winners, traditional tales and poetry, ...
- We're the Cockney rhyming gang: Poetry coaching given to Tower Hamlets pupils
- ... limelight thanks to an initiative run by charity the Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts. Pupils aged between nine and 11 from primary schools Bonner, Bigland Green, Manorfield and Stewart Headlam took part in the Poetry Quest project.
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Do you have a favourite children's poem?
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winlin
Jan 26, 2012 @ 8:31 pm | delete
- Excellent lens, very well researched.
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myamya
Jan 21, 2012 @ 7:25 am | delete
- Beautiful poems! thumbs up
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Tolovaj
Jan 17, 2012 @ 11:34 am | delete
- We have several great children poets in Slovenia, probably best known is Kajetan Kovic with his series about "Macek Muri and muca Maca" (think about musical Cats, but for kids), which happen to have great success thanks to great accompanying music by Jerko Novak and performance of Neca Falk.
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rentap
Jan 4, 2012 @ 10:04 pm | delete
- Really love reading some of the Poems
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acekyle
Dec 21, 2011 @ 5:00 pm | delete
- These are great! I always loved reading poems when I was younger
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KarenCookieJar
Dec 20, 2011 @ 6:49 pm | delete
- I loved memorizing poems in school.
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earthybirthymama
Dec 3, 2011 @ 7:46 pm | delete
- Love William Wordsworth ~ The Tables Turned is my favourite WW poem,
UP! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you'll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun, above the mountain's head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:
Come, hear the woodland linnet, 10
How sweet his music! on my life,
There's more of wisdom in it.
And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless--
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness. 20
One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:--
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves; 30
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
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Pennyseeker
Nov 18, 2011 @ 8:48 am | delete
- Interesting lens!
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Pennyseeker
Nov 18, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
- Interesting lens!
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alexkazam
Oct 12, 2011 @ 12:05 pm | delete
- What a great collection of children's verse
And such a bargain from your purse!
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A Child's Book of Poems
Beautifully Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa
A Child's Book of Poems
Amazon Price: $6.16 (as of 02/15/2012)
This delightful book was first published in 1969 and has now been republished so another generation of children can be captivated by the poems and illustrations. The 200 poems it contains are by such well known poets as Lewis Carroll, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickenson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Blake.
Favorite Poems Old and New:
Selected For Boys and Girls
Favorite Poems, Old and New
Amazon Price: $128.10 (as of 02/15/2012)
Here's another great collection of poems for children. This one was first published in 1957 and will bring back memories for many older people as well as delight their children and grandchildren. With 700 poems from a large number of sources ranging from the Bible to children's writers and well known classic poets. It really does contain something for everyone, every mood and every occasion.
More About Children's Poetry
Make Your Children Laugh and Love Poetry
