Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems by Brian P. Cleary

From forks to commodes to pretzels, these concrete poems (poems that are shaped like their subjects) will have kids laughing and begging to write their own (well, maybe).  And explanation at the front will help students come up with their own ideas to create their own concrete poems.  

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

If It Rains Pancakes by Brian P. Cleary

If It Rains Pancakes is a collection of fun haiku and lantern poems, including explanations of these two types of poetry.

My pet pig, Betty,
In her full karate stance,
performs the "pork chop".

A great addition to poetry collection.  Kids will enjoy the simple, funny poems with equally amusing illustrations.

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

World Rat Day: J. Patrick Lewis

Looking for that perfect poem to celebrate National Skunk Day?  What about National Sloth Day?  Look no further.  Thanks to current Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis these holidays, and others, will not go uncelbrated any longer.  You can celebrate Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day on April 24th with a lovely poem about the bulldog, "The sumo of canines".  Kids will love these holidays, rarely celebrated, and be inspired to research other holidays and write poems to commerate those holidays as well.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Split! Splat! by Amy Gibson

Who knew that rain could be so fun and cheerful!?!  Amy Gibson proves that rain does not have to ruin your day!  Using lots of upbeat language, Split! Splat! is an adventure in words.

"I sing a little sun song, a sun song, a run song, a cloud-gone, green-lawn, raining-is-all-done song."

Love this upbeat book which will have every reader looking at rain a little different.


Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Dizzy Dinosaurs Silly Dino Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Poetry for the dinosaur lover! The poems are short and simple (Level 2 in the I Can Read series).

"Shirts with room for spikes.
Pants with holes for tails.
Torosaurus turtlenecks.
They're all on sale!"

Poetry should be used throughout the year - not just in April - and getting kids hooked on poetry starts early. Find something a child is interested in, match a poetry book, and you show a child that poetry comes in many forms and topics.
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs by Patricia Hubbell

I am NOT a dog person....never have had one, never plan to have one, allergic to them, gets scared when they start barking at me as I am running, you get the idea....I LOVE THIS BOOK! Great words! Great illustrations! Told in rhyme, with adorable pictures of the dogs to match, Hubbell creates a world of dogs of all shapes, sizes, personalities, etc.

Shy dogs.
Bod Dogs.
Won't-do-as-they're-told dogs.
Dogs in packs and dogs alone.
Puppy dogs and dogs full grown.

A great addition to any library that would be enjoyed by dog lovers and not-so-much-dog lovers.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Adorable! The details are amazing!)

Zig-Zag: Zoems for Zindergarten by Loris Lesynski

A collection of fun, short, somewhat silly poems. From the first poem "Kindergarten Rocks" to the "Kindergarten Raps" at the end, kids will love the active poems.

Big kids, little kids,
girls and boys,
books and paints,
and games and toys
-Kindergarten rocks!

BUT this collection is not all silly, nonsense poems. I love, and plan to use with my kindergarten classes, Sit On Your Bottom and Lap.

Text: 3-5 Buckeye leaves (some I love....others are just ok to me but kids may love....)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (I love the cover though! Super cute, colorful, fun!)
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves (lower case ABCs in front, upper case ABCs in back)

Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! And Other Poems More or Less About Manners by Robert Kinerk

Robert Kinerk has carefully constructed poems that teach the all imporant manners and how to act. Characters such as Sammy T. Sardy, a boy that is never on time, or Eleanor Ickity, a very picky eater, introduces readers to some of what you should not do! The colorful characters are paired with equally amusing illustrations, by Drazen Kozjan, will leave a positive impression of children to do the right thing. My person favorite from the collection, "At the Movies", suggests, "There ought to be armies of top-notch, trained booers protesting those loudmouths distrubing us viewers." Fun poetry for all ages, especially first grade and up.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

African Acrostic: A Word In Edgeways by Avis Harley

Open the book African Acrostics and you instantly travel to Africa to meet the animals that reside there...from crocs to kudu to impalas and more. The poetry written in acrostic form provide information about different animals characterstics and habits, in a fun and playful manner. Great fun and transfers nicely to students writing their own acrostics.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Great photographs!)

Around the World On Eighty Legs by Amy Gibson

From penguins to loris to goanna Around the World On Eighty Legs showcases sixty-one poems about animals from around the globe. Each poem includes a illustration of the animal and additional information about the animals can be found at the back of the book. Poems are short and easy to understand, with some of them including a good chuckle. Great book to include as part of a poetry unit, animal unit, or study of the world.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Stella, Unleashed: Notes from the Doghouse by Linda Ashman

Beginning with "Stella" waiting, among all the other dogs, for a family, continuing through the naming process, and on to the ups and downs, happiness and the "dog house". Seen through the eyes of Stella, the poems are a mixture of happiness and sadness, funny and serious. Children often enjoy animals and this poetry book, told as a story, will delight children.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka

I admit it....it took me a few pages to figure it all out...and then I realized the "answers" were on the back of the page! Part acrostic, part concrete, part puzzle, these clever poems are written using the letters from the title/theme of each poem and each poem is written down the page as the letters fall into place. Playground becomes "run/around/and/play/loud/land". The poem Television becomes "set/is/on/I/sit". Illustrations are limited to just small on the page with the poem in red, gray, black and white. Kids will love the challenge of reading the poems and then creating their own.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems by Kristine O'Connell George

Older siblings will quickly relate to the tales Jessica tells, through poems, about life with her four year old sister Emma. Jessica and Emma have your typical sister relationship, some days are good and some day are definitely not. Together sisters share the ups and downs, and ultimately learn a valuable lesson. Children will enjoy the "stories" these sisters have to share.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 buckeye leaves

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka

Yes, from the title you can infer that the Haiku poems in this book are directed at boys BUT I believe all kids will find this book to be fun and refreshing. The Haiku poems are simple to understand and funny. As a mother to a young boy, just starting his obsession with sticks, rocks, and dirt, I could totally relate to some of the poems and laugh knowing what I have to look forward to - at least I am laughing NOW!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Website: www.guykuhaiku.com

I Am the Book

I Am the Book is a collection of poems about reading and books and the celebration within each page. Lee Bennett Hopkins collected the thirteen poems from a variety of authors, including Karla Kuskin, Jane Yolen, and Jill Corcoran, encourage readers to enjoy reading, anytime, anyplace. This collection of poems would make a great addition to any library, classroom, or home, where reading is valued and enjoyed.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves