Kids Poetry Give-away

I have always loved poetry and I was thrilled when Cayden's 4th grade teacher assigned them a weekly poetry assignment. Each week Cayden had to pick out a poem with appropriate words and topics (Thanks to Cayden, in Mrs. Vandervert's class you can no longer read poems about dogs going potty on flowers) he had to read it, tell what he liked and didn't like about it and then share it with the class. Despite the beating our poetry books took as they traveled around in his back pack I loved this assignment! The first few months of school Cayden exhausted all of his favorite Shel Silverstein poems. I have always snatched up poetry books at Good Will, Yard Sales and on the Bargain Racks of Book Stores...I had plenty for him to choose from and after trying several other poets here are some of mine and Cayden's favorites.

Shel Silverstein is one of the best know poets to kids of all ages. His most popular books are Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up and The Missing Piece. To put a fun twist on words try Runny Babbit. This is "A Billy Sook" where the first letter of many of the nouns are traded with other words.

RUNNY'S HAND-NEW BRAT

(taken from Runny Babbit)

Runny got a present-

A lovely hurple pat.

He put it on and pasked his als,

"What do you think of that?"

One said, "Ooh, it's storrible!"

One said, "Yuck-it hinks!"

Now Runny Babbit never asks

What other theople pink.

Cayden found a new favorite poet in Bruce Lansky. He offers poetry books both written by him or selections from his favorite finds. Some of his titles are The New Kid on the Block, If Pigs Could Fly, Kids Pick the Funniest Poems I and II, a PIZZA the size of the SUN, and My Dog ate my Homework.

MY PUPPY LOVES FLOWERS

(Taken from My Dog Ate my Homework)

My puppy's in the garden.

He loves to smell the flowers.

To help them grow my puppy always

sprinkles them with showers.

Taken from If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand by Kalli Dakos

IT'S GROSS TO KISS

Sandy's in love with Timmy,

But Timmy's in love with Sue,

Sue's in love with Jimmy,

And Jimmy with Sarah Laroo.

I'm not in love with anyone;

I'm far too young for this.

Besides, I think it's

germy, gross, and yucky

to kiss!

Kenn Nesbitt has written When the Teacher Isn't Looking and The Aliens Have Landed at Our School

MY DOG DOES MY HOMEWORK

(Taken from When the Teacher Isn't Looking)

My dog does my homework at home every night.

He answers each question and gets them all right.

There's only one problem with homework by Rover.

I can't turn in work that's been slobbered all over.

There are also a lot of really good picture book style of Poetry books. These are great for younger readers just beginning to show an interest in poems.

BAD WORDS (Taken from Giant Children)

She actually said it, she said it in class.

It sounded so nasty, It sounded so crass.

The children stared, the teacher scowled,

The custodian cried, the principal howled.

Then pool little Patti, my very best friend.

She opened her mouth and she said it again.

"Bad words, bad words!" We all began to chant.

"Never! Never! Never! Never say the words...I CAN"T."

THE DUNG BEETLE (Taken from Insect Soup)

There's no reason for discretion

(So let us be discreet)

No need for explanation;

Just say it likes to eat.

RAISING FROGS FOR PROFIT (Taken from Pocket Poems)

Raising frogs for profit is a sorry joke.

How can you make money when so many of them croak?

Giles Andreae also wrote Cock-a-doodle-doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo, and Commotion in the Ocean.

CROCKODILE (Taken from Rumble in the Jungle)

When animals come to the river to drink

I watch for a minute or two.

It's such a delight

To behold such a sight

That I can't resist chomping a few.

Each of Alan Katz poems are set to the tune of kids familiar songs. He has also published I'm Still Here in the Bathtub (Which I realize is missing from my library)

I'M FILTHY, I'M DIRTY (Taken from Take Me out of the Bathtub)

(To the Tune of It's Raining, It's Pouring)

I'm filthy, I'm dirty

Got mud on my shirt-y

On a whim I took a swim

In a puddle with a birdie!

I'm smelly, I'm dusty

From head to toe I'm musty

To be a slob's a full-time job

I guess I look disgust-y.

My give-away is for a small collection of kids poetry books, including some mentioned in this post. One winner will be selected on Saturday August 30th. So leave a comment and WIN!