April is National Poetry Month, and here at The Writing Barn, we love poetry! Whether rhyming or free verse, lyrical or laugh-out-loud funny, we love it all. Poetry inspires us to look at the world through fresh eyes and use language in unexpected ways.
To celebrate National Poetry Month, we’ve rounded up several kids poetry books that include poems by Writing Barn students, faculty, and staff.
What is Hope?
What is Hope? (Pomelo Books, 2023) includes poems by Writing Barn regulars Rose Cappelli and Joyce Uglow.
“Inspired by a wide variety of diverse and inclusive black-and-white photos, these poems explore the many places where hope pops up in our lives: when we play a sport, water a garden, do volunteer work, visit a hospital, or even when we take a test.”
What is a Family?
What is a Family? (Pomelo Books, 2023) includes poems by Writing Barn regulars Judy Brian, Mary E. Cronin, and Joyce Uglow and instructor Rajani LaRocca.
“The 40 ekphrastic poems in this book—inspired by a wide variety of diverse and inclusive black-and-white photos—explore extended families, blended families, classmates and sports teams as families, animal families, and family occasions such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, funerals, and much more.“
Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving
Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving (Pomelo Books, 2020) includes poems by Writing Barn regular Rose Cappelli and instructors Lesa Cline-Ransome, Miranda Paul, and Carole Boston Weatherford.
“HOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING is an anthology of 100 poems by 90 poets—with STEM and social studies connections, thematic mini-lessons, read aloud tips, and extensive back matter featuring useful activities to help maximize student learning and social-emotional development.”
Things We Feel
Things We Feel (Pomelo Books, 2022) includes a poem by Writing Barn regular Rose Cappelli.
“Kids have been feeling a mix of complex emotions lately, which makes THINGS WE FEEL perfect for sharing. In this alphabet book, you’ll find poems from A to Z along with full-color photos that will help kids talk about feeling amazed, brave, curious, determined, excited, frustrated, grateful, happy, inspired, jealous, kooky, lonely, mad, nervous, and more. The poems are ideal for children in preschool through Grade 2 (ages 3-7) and can also be used as mentor texts for older students.”
Things We Wear
Things We Wear (Pomelo Books, 2022) includes poems by Writing Barn regulars Rose Cappelli and Joyce Uglow.
“In this book, we wear not just clothes — but aprons, boots, costumes, dresses, earmuffs, flip-flops, glasses, helmets, ice skates, jeans, kippahs, life jackets, masks, necklaces, overalls, pajamas, quilts, raincoats, saris, t-shirts, uniforms, visors, watches, x-ray aprons, yukata, and zippers! Readers (and preschool “book-lookers”) will see themselves very clearly in the wide variety of children and activities depicted in these diverse and inclusive photos.“
Pet Poems (also not just pets)
Pet Poems (also not just pets) (Burlwood Books, 2021) was written by Writing Barn instructor Sean Petrie and illustrated by Amanda Hoxworth.
“An ode to the perfect scratch spot. A tribute to lost pets. Poems about dogs and cats, rabbits and geckos. But also lions and jellyfish, sloths and puffins. From Typewriter Rodeo’s Sean Petrie comes this playful collection of animal poems & art, reminiscent of Shel Silverstein & Mary Oliver.”
10.10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways
10.10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways (Wee Words for Wee Ones, 2021) includes a poem by Writing Barn instructor and team member Susan Johnston Taylor.
“This anthology includes 10 categories based on TEN: TENtative, TENderness, TENacity, TEN More Minutes, TENsion, I Wouldn’t Touch That With a TEN-Foot Pole, TEN Little Fingers / TEN Little Toes, Take TEN, TENth_____, I TENd To. These poems are brought to you by 58 poets from around the worlds, both brand new and well established.”
Animals in Surprising Shades
Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures (Gnome Road Publishing, 2023) was written by Writing Barn instructor and team member Susan Johnston Taylor and illustrated by Annie Bakst.
“This book is for young poets who love science and young scientists who love poetry, this thoughtful collection of poems about fascinating and colorful creatures found throughout the world invites readers to linger and wonder on every page.”
Queer and Fearless
Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes (Penguin Workshop, 2024) was written by Writing Barn instructor Rob Sanders and illustrated by Harry Woodgate.
“Young readers will learn about the lives and legacies of seventeen heroes of the queer community from both past and present. Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones, Pauline Park, Richard Blanco, and Pete Buttigieg are just a few of the iconic figures represented in this wonderfully designed and colorful picture book with illustrations by Harry Woodgate.”
Did you enjoy these book recs? Stay tuned for our blog on More Poetry Books by Writing Barn Authors!