Child Poetry

Upon the release of his first published work, Howl and Other Poems, in 1956, Allen Ginsberg became the unlikely force of a movement that would change a generation. Literature, art, sex, love, family, politics; nothing would ever be the same. The Beat Generation was born through Ginsberg and his friends.

Here is a collection of 41 favorite classic children's poems by some of our best loved writers, including Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Robert Browning, Rudyard Kipling, and others.

From international poetry sensation Nikita Gill comes her highly anticipated YA debut These Are the Words: an empowering, feminist and beautiful poetry collection exploring all the things Nikita wished someone had told her when she was younger. Taking you on a journey through the seasons of the soul, Nikita gives you the words to help heal from your first breakup, to celebrate finding your family, to understand first love, to express your anger and your joy, to fight for what you believe in and to help you break some rules to be your truest self.

Do you ever feel like you are too small or too ordinary? That's how Itsy and Bitsy feel. When these two charming little mice hear that a king is coming to Bethlehem, they run to find him. But they can't find the king, and other animals discourage them. "Don't even try," they say. "The king doesn't care about little ones like us." Itsy and Bitsy are just about to give up when something amazing happens.

Enregistrement original, chanté par Mary Alain et les enfants : 20 rondes et comptines classiques pour les enfants. 1. Il était un petit navire, 2. J'ai du bon tabac, 3. Au clair de la lune, 4. Dansons la capucine, 5. Meunier tu dors, 6. Frère Jacques, 7. Le roi d'Yvetot, 8. La boulangère a des écus, 9. As-tu vu la casquette, 10. Gentil coquelicot, 11. Petit papa, 12. Avec mes sabots, 13. Monsieur de la Palisse, 14. Il court le furet, 15. J'ai des poules à vendre, 16. Biquette ne veut pas sortir du chou, 17. Il était une bergère, 18. Ne pleure pas Jeannette, 19. Il y a des roses blanches, Marie-Madeleine.

The Tree That Bear Climbed is a creative twist on the classic The House That Jack Built. Young listeners and early readers will love the rhythmic repetition as they learn about the many parts of a tree. Beginning with the roots that anchor the tree, this cumulative verse story climbs to a surprise ending. Why is bear so eager to climb the tree, and what happens when he gets to the top?

Thirty-five years after the publication of the much-loved classic There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly comes There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed the Sea, a fantastic prequel to the original title. Here the old lady swallows more and more creatures from the sea to try and catch the initial fish.

Beowulf the Warrior is an outstanding modern version of the oldest epic in the English language. Ian Serraillier has retold in verse the story of the hero Beowulf and his three memorable exploits - first, his rescuing of Hrothgar the Dane from the ravages of monstrous Grendel; next, his victory over Grendel's strange and horrible mother; and finally, in Beowulf's old age, his saving of his own people, the Geats, from the horrors of a dragon at the cost of his life. Beowulf's heroism and noble heart communicate to any modern listener.

The complete rhyme of Mary Had a Little Lamb and it seems to be based upon a real girl by the name of Mary Sawyer (1806 - 1889). She brought a pet lamb to school. An uproar followed. A nephew of the teacher was visiting and wrote a rhyme about the incident. The Redstone School is now in Sudbury, Massachusetts. It is believed to be the schoolhouse mentioned in the nursery rhyme.

This adorable audiobook celebrates all the familiar milestones and moments shared by every single kindergartener. Whether it's the first-day-of-school jitters or the hundredth-day-of-school party, every aspect of the kindergarten experience is introduced with a light and funny poem.

Seventh grader Henrietta Weldon gets to switch schools—finally! She’ll be “mainstreaming” into public school, leaving her special education school behind. She can’t wait for her new schedule, new friends, and new classes. Henri’s dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math challenging to process and understand, is what she expects to give her problems.

Hà and her family have worked hard to make a life for themselves in the US, but it hasn’t come easy. Hà has only just started to feel settled when Mother decides that the family will move to Texas for a new job. Hà knows how hard starting over is and doesn’t want to have to do it again. But sometimes even an unwanted change can bring opportunity, new friends, and a place to call home.

Learn to count and add with this traditional rhyme.

Deep in a snowy wood stands a little pine tree with a special destiny: when it grows up, it's going to be the famous Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. The Christmas Pine is based on a true story. It celebrates a special tradition that stretches back over seventy years. Every year, the Mayor of Oslo in Norway presents the British people with a spectacular Christmas tree. The tree is a symbol of peace and friendship, and a thank you for the UK's support during World War II.

Twelve-year-old Victoria Reeves is all set for her “First Magnificent Summer with Dad,” even though it’s been more than two years since she last saw him. She’s ready to impress him with her wit, her maturity, and her smarts—at least until he shows up for the long road trip to Ohio with his new family, The Replacements, in tow. But that’s not the only unpleasant surprise in store for Victoria. As Victoria captures every moment of her less than magnificent summer in her journal, she discovers that the odds are stacked against her in the contest-no-one-knows-is-a-contest.

Rock-a-Bye Rumpus is a delightful collection of sweet and fun action poems for the very young, specially chosen by best-selling author Julia Donaldson.

Sadie has learned to tie her shoes! Now she wants to tie everything she can. She ties her socks, her sleeves, and even her hair! She gets so excited about tying other things together, though, that she doesn’t notice her shoe has come untied again!

In this poem, a bee, a flower, a butterfly, and a snail all ask, “Where’s the rain?” Finally, a girl brings the rain to them with her watering pail.

Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know much else. So one night, they ask her to tell them her story. As they get ready for bed, their mama spins two tales: that of her youth as a strong-willed middle child and immigrant; and that of the young life of Mayari, the mythical daughter of a god. Both are tales of sisterhood and motherhood, and of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance.

A new collection from the celebrated first Young People’s Poet Laureate and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky, featuring more than one hundred original poems! From a lizard playing a mandolin (although not very well) to the surprised guest of honor (at a birthday party he threw for himself), there’s something for everyone in Jack Prelutsky’s Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast. This collection is full of the wit, humor, and imagination that has made Jack Prelutsky a household name and one of the most beloved poets for children.