Kids' Corner

Celebrate Poetry! 

April is National Poetry month;  take the opportunity to read some terrific poems, and perhaps create a few of your own.   Here are some recently published children’s books in HPL’s collection-    pick  a poem and share it with a friend. 

Billy & Milly, Short & Silly   by Eve Feldman
Thirteen very short (3 or 4 words!) rhyming stories about two friends,  with bright, humorous illustrations.     For preschool – grade 2 

African Acrostics:  a Word in Edgeways     by Avis Harley
Striking color photographs accompany these clever poems about 18 African animals.  This is an excellent introduction to acrostics.     For grades 2 – 6 

Falling Down the Page: a Book of List Poems   edited by Georgia Heard
Among the 32 poems are a list of “Things to do if you are a pencil” (be sharp! is one of them) and “Ways to greet a friend” (how to say hello in 11 languages).    For grades 3 – 6 

The Tree That Time Built:  a Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination
Selected by Mary Ann Hoberman  and Linda Winston
This is a thought-provoking collection of poems about the science and mysteries of the family tree of all life on earth.  And it includes an audio cd of some of the poems, read by the poets. For grades 3 – 7 

Spot the Plot:  a Riddle Book of Book Riddles   by J. Patrick Lewis
Thirteen poems give clues to well-known and well-loved children’s books-  can you name the books? For grades 2 – 6 

Odd Owls and Stout Pigs:  a Book of Nonsense     by Arnold Lobel
This is a funny, silly, and exuberant collection of rhyming stories;  the first half is about owls and the remainder is about pigs.      For preschool – grade 2 

Rufus and Friends:  School Days     by Iza Trapani
Rufus and his other puppy friends invite readers to hop on the school bus and spend the day rhyming.     For ages 4 – 8 

An Egret’s Day     by Jane Yolen
A day in the life of a Great Egret, from sunrise to sunset, in poems.  The fascinating  photographs are by the author’s son,  Jason Stemple.        For grades 3 – 6 

Happy Rhyming!

Ellen Xydias, 
Children’s Librarian