Poetry for Young People: Maya Angelou, Writtenby Maya Angelou, Edwin Graves Wilson, Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

Poetry for Young People: Maya Angelou

Written by Maya Angelou and Edwin Graves Wilson

Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue 

Grades: 3-8

These poems are written about many different things that were important to Maya Angelou. It is about her life, heritage, and the United States. The illustrations are beautiful and just as moving as some of the poems. The poems also honor people of her past and those she admires. From the people around her that have a lot of power to the mom who runs her household. It is a beautiful book. 

Barking Spiders 2, Written and Illustrated by C.J. Heck

Barking Spiders 2

Written and Illustrated by C.J. Heck

Awards: Cybils Award Nominee for Poetry 2011

Barking Spiders 2 is a lot like the first one. It is a book filled with poems that children can relate to. It deals with everyday things and events. If you have the first Barking Spiders and Other Stuff, you need the second one too! They are both wonderful books by C.J. Heck!

Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff, Written by C.J. Heck, Illustrated by Michelle Lenkner

Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff

Written by C. J. Heck
Illustrated by Michelle Lenkner

Grades: PreK-4

This is a great book that is full of wonderful poems. The Toe Jam is really funny because that is what my husband tells my kids. I don't think that they would really wonder about eating it though. At least I hope not. These are poems about everything. They are really cute and kids can relate to them. My son is the Pockets poem. He puts some stuff in his and I do find all sorts of weird things when I do laundry. She also has a  follow up to this book. Called Barking Spiders 2.

Runny Babbit, Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Grades: 1-3

This book is written in spoonerism, the verbal game of transposing words' first consonants. Readers are introduced to Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Goctor Doose, and Millie Woose, and are encouraged to plunge headlong into this phonemic flip-flop world of funny poems. Kids will love the poems and rhymes. My son made up his own words all day after reading the book!

Alligator Pie, Written by Dennis Lee Illustrated by Frank Newfield

Alligator Pie

Written by Dennis Lee

Illustrated by Dennis Newfield

Grades: Prk - 3

Awards: 

CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (1975)
IODE Jean Throop Award (1974)

This silly and funny book of rhymes about alligators, skyscrapers, and other fun things is also illustrated wonderfully. I love the opening poem about Alligator Pie. Of course being from Louisiana, we eat Alligator. So I would be  saying, "don't give away my Alligator pie!".  I also liked the poem,  Willoughby, Wallaby, Woo and the elephant but, I don't think I would want him to sit on me. This is a great book of poems.

A Giraffe and A Half, Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

A Giraffe and A Half

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Grades:K-3

This is a great book about my most favorite animal a Giraffe! This is a great rhyming book about all the things a giraffe has on him. He is looking cute in a suite, with a rose on his shoe, and a bee on his knee. I thought if they kept stacking stuff on poor giraffe he was going to break. Then Giraffe makes all the stuff get off and stuff leaves. Mr. Giraffe is back to just being a Giraffe and a half. 

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Grades: 1-3

Awards:

George C. Stone Center for Children's Books Recognition of Merit Award (1984)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (1976)

Golden Archer Award for Intermediate (1996)

New York Times Notable

ALA Notable Children's book

Amazon.com customers favorite

Parent and Child Magazine's top 100 books

This book of poems has something for everyone. It has poems that are quiet funny and some serious. The girl who eats a whale. The crocodile who goes to the dentist, then eats the dentist while he is doing the exam. I liked the one about the wrens living on top the boys head in the hat. The hippo sandwich was cute too.  It is a really great book of Poems. There is a reason is is on a lot of list for being a one of the best books. It has also been in publication for over 40years. 

Revolting Rhymes, Written by Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Revolting Rhymes

Written by Roald Dahl

Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Grades: 1-4

Awards: Vlag en Wimpel Penseeljury (1983)

This twist on classic stories is very funny. It makes the stories rhyme and the reader laugh out loud. "Little Red Riding Hood's eyelid flickers and she pulls a pistol from her nickers!" She kills the wolf and then takes his fur and makes a coat. In the Three Little Pigs, the third pig calls Little Red Riding Hood to kill the wolf! She comes and again "pulls the pistol from her knickers" to shoot the wolf dead. She is then seen with another Wolf coat and a pig skin satchel. The other stories are just as twisted! Cinderella never marries the prince. Goldilocks is a thief and gets eaten because baby bear is hungry. Jack and the Beanstalk is about taking and bath so the Giant doesn't smell him. This is a great book!

Me With You, Written by Kristy Dempsey, Illustrated by Christopher Denise

Me With You

Written by Kristy Dempsey

Illustrated by Christopher Denise

Grades: PrK - K

This is a cute little rhyming book about a girl and her grandfather. How she is with him when they do different activities. It is a very sweet little book. It has very colorful illustrations. Reminds me of my daughter and her Poppie, especially when he is waiting for her with a sponge and bucket of soap to clean her up. 

Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems Written by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Illustrated by David Diaz

Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems 

Written by: Lee Bennett Hopkins, Illustrated by: David Diaz

Grades: 3-7

Awards: California Collections

Young Hoosier Book Award Master List (IN)

This book of poems has 12 for each of the four seasons. The colors are bright and very beautiful. The poems are a mix of different varieties and styles. Other authors have also contributed to this book. It would be great to own and keep in the classroom. It can be used not only for the seasons, but compare and contrast. The poems could also be read to the students while they draw pictures of what the poem is saying about the season.