If you are familiar with children’s literature, you know that many of these books are bursting with rhymes and poems. While some are stories written in rhyme (one big poem), others are dedicated solely to children’s poetry, aiming to spark a love for verse in little hearts.

As a children’s book author, I predominantly write in rhyme because it’s a blast to read aloud, and children can easily remember and recite words on the page while also learning about rhythm, rhyme, and more.

Here are some of my top picks for children’s books, categorized into poetry books and rhyming books. Take a look and share these stories with the young ones in your life!

rHYMING BOOKS

2019 Top 20 Goodreads Choice Awards.

As the worst snowstorm of the year rolls in, one family hunkers down together in a cozy blanket fort for the night. A little girl makes a wish on a snow globe, and in the morning, the sun rises on a winter wonderland–beckoning all outside. And what if, on this snow-filled day, families shake their busy lives and everyone goes out to play? A lyrical holiday story about wishes and community and snow–lots and lots of snow.

Cowpoke Clyde’s house was completely clean—he’d even shooed off the horseflies: “Then right behind his cookin’ pot, / he spied one thing he’d plumb forgot: / ol’ Dawg, his faithful, snorin’ friend, / all caked with mud from end to end.” Needless to say, Dawg wakes up and runs. The chase that follows—with page-turn surprises—makes for a hilarious shaggy-dog story involving fleas, a hog, bribery, cats, deception, and a mule. The rhyming stanzas are pitch-perfect, Texas-style, and plumb near cry out to be read aloud. Austin’s expressive acrylic and colored-pencil caricatures of Cowpoke Clyde and his menagerie are priceless. A storytime shoo-in! See the companion book, Cowpoke Clyde Rides the Range here.

poetry books for children

A collection of wacky, whimsical poems about books and all the treasures they contain.

Laura Purdie Salas, the acclaimed author of Stampede!, is back with another collection of wild and weird, wacky and winsome poems about all the magic to be found on a single bookshelf. In BookSpeak!, each poem gives voice to a group that seldom gets a voice . . . the books themselves! Characters plead for sequels, book jackets strut their stuff, and we get a sneak peek at the raucous parties in the aisles when all the lights go out at the bookstore! Illustrator Josée Bisaillon’s mixture of collage, drawings, and digital montage presents page after page of richly colored spreads filled with action and charm. Together, Salas and Bisaillon deliver a unique collection brimming with ideas as much about spines and dust jackets as they are about adventure and imagination.

This poetic lift-the-flap board book features haikus about hidden woodland animals, plus flaps that reveal those animals!

Warm breezes blowing,
pond open for summer fun—
slip, slide, belly ride!
(Peek-a-boo, OTTER!)

Each haiku in this lift-the-flap board book will have readers guessing the animal it describes—with the answer revealed under a flap on each page! With lovely text, sweet illustrations, and cute creatures, this lyrical and interactive book is a joy to read! (This is one of my own 🙂 )

A beautifully illustrated collection of poems and prayers to help children develop an appreciation for the natural world

Bless the Earth, our faithful friend,
her mountain range and river bend,
her forest green and canopy,
the hidden world of bended trees.

Bless the Earth shows the miracle of our planet Earth through beautiful imagery and delightful poetry, calling all people, young and old, to care for our wonderful world. This sweet and welcoming anthology for children ages 3-7 knits together our common humanity and the natural world in an engaging way that is simple for young readers to understand.

Bless the Earth contains approximately sixty selections of original as well as classic poems, divided into five chapters each:

• Dreams for My World
• Earth and Sky
• All Creatures, Big and Small
• Seasons
• Caring for Our World

Bless the Earth calls us again and again to understand how important it is to care for our world, respect our neighbors—humans, plants, and animals alike—and reimagine a world that is healthy and whole.

Thanks for popping in!

If you enjoy Poetry Pop, please share the love with your friends, family, and teachers using the buttons below. I am growing my site and always appreciate a shoutout. And as always, thank you for following the blog for your weekly pop of poetry.

VISIT MY CHILDREN’S BOOK WEBSITE FOR POETRY BOOKS AND MORE