Does anyone know any good poems intended for children?

Question

My son is 6 years old and I'm looking for 3-4 poems for him.

Thank you.

Answer 1

There are many.  What kind of poems are you looking for?  It would help to be a bit more specific....

Most libraries have books that have collections of poetry in them, even ones designed for children.  There are silly ones such as "Eletelephony" which is, I believe, by Ogden Nash.  There are ones such as "To Catch a Fish" or "The Sailboat Race" that my oldest son recited for a program when he was 6 y.o.  The Children's Book of Virtue has a variety of ones for children that are designed to teach the children something.  Or books like "Science Verse" that has a variety of ones on scientific topics that can help the child to learn a concept while learning a poem--my 6 y.o. loved learning "The Water Cycle" from it when we were studying weather.

Answer 2

Shel Silversten has great poems for kids that are written well.  Robert Louis Stevenson does also.

Answer 3

The book 'The Butterfly Jar' by Jeff Moss is my favorite.  This is the same guy who wrote "Rubber Duckie" and a lot of other songs for Sesame Street.  My kids love it.

Here is an example of what you will find in this book:

Written by Jeff Moss

Well, I'd like to visit the moon

On a rocket ship high in the air

Yes, I'd like to visit the moon

But I don't think I'd like to live there

Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above

I would miss all the places and people I love

So although I might like it for one afternoon

I don't want to live on the moon

I'd like to travel under the sea

I could meet all the fish everywhere

Yes, I'd travel under the sea

But I don't think I'd like to live there

I might stay for a day there if I had my wish

But there's not much to do when your friends are all fish

And an oyster and clam aren't real family

So I don't want to live in the sea

I'd like to visit the jungle, hear the lions roar

Go back in time and meet a dinosaur

There's so many strange places I'd like to be

But none of them permanently

So if I should visit the moon

Well, I'll dance on a moonbeam and then

I will make a wish on a star

And I'll wish I was home once again

Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above

I would miss all the places and people I love

So although I may go I'll be coming home soon

'Cause I don't want to live on the moon

No, I don't want to live on the moon

Answer 4

"A Child's Garden of Verses" has some wonderful stuff in it.  It's by Robert Louis Stevenson (the same guy that wrote Treasure Island and Kidnapped), and they're about his childhood.  He had a pretty severe disease and was bedridden for much of his childhood, but had a fabulous nurse/nanny who encouraged him to live life through his imagination when his reality was difficult.

My son loved them when he was 6-8 :)  You can find a digitized version here http://books.google.com/books?id=ipoNAAA... or an illustrated version at your library.

Answer 5

Try C.J.Dennis. The poems are fun and entertaining and easy-to-read.