Children’s poetry has long delighted readers with its playful language, vivid imagery, and surprising humor. These qualities not only entertain young readers but introduce them to the power and flexibility of language. Poetry for children, like poetry in general, has ancient roots, with nursery rhymes and lullabies passed down through generations. Today's children's poetry encompasses everything from playful nonsense verse to profound reflections on childhood experiences.
Poetry provides children with essential building blocks for language development. The rhythm, rhyme, and repetition found in poems help children recognize patterns in language, build vocabulary, and expand their ability to hear and manipulate the sounds of words. Moreover, these attributes foster children's ability to remember and memorize information. Poetry can also help reading fluency and literacy as repeated reading of poems helps children improve their pronunciation and understanding.
Besides language skills, poetry can help nurture emotional intelligence. Poems capture complex feelings in accessible ways, helping children understand and express their own emotions. Reading about diverse experiences aids in the development of empathy and understanding different perspectives. Additionally, poetry encourages children to use their imaginations to visualize images and concepts described in the poem.
One of the most exciting developments in children's literature has been the growing popularity of novels written entirely in verse. Award-winning titles like Kwame Alexander's basketball-themed The Crossover, Sharon Creech's Love That Dog about a boy's poetry journey, and Jacqueline Woodson's memoir Brown Girl Dreaming demonstrate how verse novels combine the emotional impact of poetry with engaging narratives. These books particularly appeal to reluctant readers; the white space on the page appears less intimidating than dense prose, while the emotional directness creates immediate connection, making them perfect gateway books for children who might otherwise avoid reading.
During this National Poetry month, we invite you to explore the children’s poetry in our Library. We have both collections of short poems as well as verse novels in our display on the first floor and even more in our PK-12 Collection.