by Rebecca J. Gomez
Will you celebrate National Poetry Month with us? Each Friday during April we will be highlighting a different form of poetry, sharing book recommendations and example poems, and encouraging people young and old to try their hand at writing different kinds of poetry.
To get started, we are celebrating poetry in general. There are so many wonderful anthologies of poetry for children and children at heart. Here are a couple of recommendations for you to share with the young readers (and budding poets) in your life:
The Hutchinson Treasury of Children's Poetry, edited by Alison Sage
This book is full of a rich variety of poems, from classic nursery rhymes to more modern poems. There is truly something for everyone to love in this book! A couple my family's favorites from this book are "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes, "Do Not Disturb the Dinosaur" by Gina Douthwaite, and "Missing Persons" by Colin Thiele.
The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry, compiled by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson. This is another fabulous collection of poetry that you shouldn't miss! Every poem is accompanied by vibrant illustrations by various artists. A favorite from this book is "The Wolf" by Georgia Roberts Durston.
Be sure to discuss your favorites from these books or any you have at home or find at the library. And then, have your kiddos try writing their own. Perhaps they could pick a favorite from the book and write a poem in a similar style or about a similar topic.
Here's the schedule for the rest of April:
Friday, April 8: Haiku
Friday, April 15: List poems
Friday, April 22: Concrete poetry
Friday, April 29: A special post for Poem in Your Pocket Day
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