More than Mother Goose

From Mother Goose to Edward Gorey to William Shakespeare, Julie Danielson and Eisha Prather recommend 20 books for your children to read over the holidays.

Lunchbox Poems

Surprise your children with poetic treats in their lunchboxes! Julie Danielson and Eisha Prather recommend poems for them to snack on throughout the school year.

An Xceptional and Xuberant Poet

Conjuring dragons who battle bullies and teachers who write on blackbirds, X.J. Kennedy fills his poems with dexterous wordplay and downright malarkey. Children's Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky shares his delight in the poet's inventive verse.

Thank Goodness It’s (Poetry) Friday

Every Friday, bloggers in the kidlitosphere enthusiastically offer up their favorite poems for kids. Susan Thomsen takes a tour through this billowing online community.

She Speaks in the Voice of a Child

Jack Prelutsky, the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate, discusses the work, writing habits, and fashion preferences of his friend, children's novelist, and poet Nikki Grimes, sharing a few of her newest, unpublished poems along the way.

Dragons Pulling Wagons

As the first ever Children's Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky is turning the high-beam from all the publicity on other fine poets writing for children today. Each month during his tenure, he'll tell you a bit about a poet he admires, and then select a few favorite poems and books by that author.

With A Little Help from Dr. Angelou

In partnership with Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University, Dr. Maya Angelou, and the Target Corporation, the Poetry Foundation has developed curriculum for teaching essential African American poetry to students of all ages.

Robert Frost in the Petri Dish

Do your students forget scientific facts an hour after the quiz? The rhythms and rhymes of Robert Frost’s poems can make them stick. Karen Glenn steps you through how to find the science in Frost’s poems about fireflies, birches, the solstice, and growing fruit.

“Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork”

After entertaining kids with his wild and wacky verse for over 30 years, Jack Prelutsky has been named Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. Just what is it that makes his poems such a hit with kids? Karen Glenn clues us in.

Essential Collection

We asked nationally respected children's literature experts to put together for librarians, educators, and parents a list of books essential to a superb children's poetry library. The list includes anthologies, collections of contemporary and classic poetry by individual authors, and poetry collections that include audio recordings on tape or CD.