I’m a sucker for poetry! I love adding it to my childrens’ lessons and I love browsing it myself, too. Give me a good poem by Emily Dickinson any day of the week. I’m also a lover and collector of picture books. Combine the two, and you better believe I have a hard time not pressing “buy now” when I come across a poetry picture book! I’ve compiled a list of awesome picture books about poetry just for you so you can fall in love with these books like I have!

Here is a handy table of contents for you to easily jump to whatever type of poetry picture book you’d like:

Picture books about Famous Poets

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

 

Oh, I just love this book’s illustrations! They are so simple with just a few colors, but the details are just amazing. Every time we read this poem, I want winter to come so badly. I have great memories of playing in the snow and love that we get to make those same memories with our children. 

Poetry for Kids: William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

 

Break the ice. In a pickle. Knock, knock. Who’s there? All these sayings came from Shakespeare. I love that they have made a book for children with his poetry. It’s so much fun to dive into old poems and have discussions with your children about that time in history. Definitely check out this book.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

 

Do you want to laugh until you cry while reading poetry? Then Shel Silverstein is your poet! His silly poems make us laugh and shake our heads at the same time. There’s a boy who turns into a tv or a poem about washing your shadow. You never know what the next poem will be about. I think everyone should own a copy of this book!

The Illustrated Emily Dickinson by Ryan G. Van Cleave

 

I added this book to my home library as soon as I saw it! I love that so many of Emily Dickinson’s poems are nature based, perfect to add to our science and nature lessons. The illustrations in this are the icing on the cake.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou

 

This is a book for all ages! Maya Angelou first read this poem at the 2005 White House Christmas Tree Lighting, and now it has been illustrated and presented to adults and children alike. This is a great book to pull out at Christmastime for a reminder to let the dark things go away and to focus on the good during such a joyous season.

This is my Dream by Langston Hughes

 

I learned about Langston Hughes in upper elementary school and I remembered being captivated by him for some reason (I think his Harlem upbringing intrigued me!) You can enjoy one of his words, This is my Dream, along with the artwork that brings this poem to life.

Picture Books with Haiku Poems

One Leaf Rides the Wind by Celeste Davidson

 

Having been to Japan a few times, I was instantly drawn to this book. The haikus on each page are accompanied by illustrations to take you on a journey to your very own Japanese garden. This book also goes with one of our lessons on haikus in Rabbit Trails through Literature, Volume 2.

Whoo-Ku Haiku: A Great Horned Owl Story by Maria Gianferrari

 

I love that this book tells an entire story in the form of haiku! Follow these owls as they go from hatchlings to independent owls, exploring the world on their own.

Won Ton by Lee Wardlaw

 

Have you adopted a pet from the shelter before? If you have, then you’ll relate to this touching story well! This haiku tells of a cat who gets adopted by a boy and will definitely warm your heart.

Dogku by Andrew Clements

 

Dogku… get it?! I love a good pun. I also love dogs. If you’re a dog lover, here is another haiku of animal adoption, this time of a stray dog.

Don’t Step on the Sky by Miriam Chaikin

 

Another nature book to add to your list! This book will take you throughout the day, from morning to night. It’ll make you ready to go out and play in the puddles, but be careful! Don’t step on the sky. 

Basho and the Fox by Tim Myers

 

This book is a little different from the other books in this section. It tells the story of Basho, a famous haiku poet. I included it here, because it also has some of his haikus. Enjoy learning about a real life poet.

Concrete Poetry Picture Books

Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka

 

Concrete poems are so much fun to read and write. This book is full of great poems about many different topics, not just wet cement. Your children will love reading them. This book also goes with one of our lessons on concrete poems in Rabbit Trails through Literature: Volume 3.

A Poke In The I: A Collection Of Concrete Poems by Paul Janeczko

 

When reading concrete poems, you need to spend time looking at the shape the words are. There’s a fun one called Easy Diver and the words actually dive down. So much fun.

Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs by Douglas Florian

 

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

 

I absolutely LOVE Douglas Florian’s poems. We have included some in our science units. It adds fun poetry into lessons about space, dinosaurs, or reptiles and amphibians. Definitely check out his many books!

Outside the Lines by Brad Burg

 

We are always taught to color inside the lines. This book is encouraging you to do the opposite. Instead of just writing down your words to your poems, write them in a shape so it shows action. 

Doodle Dandies by J. Patrick Lewis

 

This last concrete poetry book is more of the same as the 5 above. It has some fun animal poems written in the shape of animals. Maybe after studying concrete poems, your whole family will have to try writing some yourself.

Picture Book about Poetry

The Way the Cookie Crumbled by Lizzy Judge

 

If you’re looking for funny and entertaining, this is the book for you! This is a book for upper elementary kids that will be sure to please.

How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander

 

What do you get when you mix a Newberry medalist with a Caldecott Honoree? This beautiful picture book that you’ll be absolutely enchanted by.

Sing a Song of Seasons by Fiona Waters

 

I have looked at this book so many times. The illustrations are so amazing! They really help make these poems come to life. I couldn’t pass it up. It’s the perfect nature poetry book to get some poetry into your life everyday.

National Geographic Book of Nature Poems by J. Patrick Lewis

 

This book is HUGE! You will be reading this book for a long, long time! The author included poems by other poets too. It was a great poem book for our Rabbit Trails through Science: Biomes unit.

On Wings of Song J.D. McClatchy

 

This book has so many beautiful poems in it. If you are a bird lover, you need this book! While it doesn’t have pictures in it, we still needed to inlcude it because the contents are worth it. Want to learn more about birds? This book is one of the main books in our Rabbit Trails through Science: Birds unit.

It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky

 

This book is full of over 100 poems! If that alone isn’t enough to make you check it out, the fun illustrations and zany words are what will hook you in.

Homestead Poetry by Christine Zell

This book is filled with fun farm poems for your children to enjoy. There are poems about chickens, farming, horses, and more. Plus, it’s written by me! And my homeschool son illustrated it.

Picture Books about Poetry for Kids

Do you have a favorite poetry book that we didn’t mention here? We’d love your suggestions to add to this list! You can let us know down in the comments or in our online homeschool community.