For poems fun and fancy-free,
Bookworm is the place to be.
Take some time, check out a book.
You'll be glad you took a look.

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? All over the country publishers, booksellers, teachers, librarians, and, of course, kids, are celebrating. Maybe you like to read funny poems out loud. Maybe you have a favorite poem you know by heart. Or perhaps you like to make up your own rhymes. Even if you've never explored poetry before, our collection of books is sure to capture your imagination. Among the poems by Doug Florian, Judith Viorst, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, and many others, you're sure to find something special. Happy Reading!

  --------- Shannon Maughan

ALL THE SMALL POEMS AND FOURTEEN MORE
by Valerie Worth
illustrated by Natalie Babbitt
Sunburst
ISBN: 0374403457
All ages

In these 100-plus small but mighty poems, Worth and Babbitt offer childlike observations on everything from caterpillars to dinosaurs to sidewalks. A joyful collection to be read again and again.

CASEY AT THE BAT: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888
by Ernest L. Thayer
illustrated by Christopher Bing
Handprint Books
ISBN: 1929766009
All ages
32 pages

The famous poem about an exciting baseball game in Mudville first appeared in the newspaper The San Francisco Examiner in 1888. The illustrations here turn this into a cool scrapbook, featuring baseball cards, tickets and more. A great book for baseball fans of any age.

CELEBRATE AMERICA IN
POETRY AND ART
edited by Nora Panzer
illustrated with full color reproductions from the National Museum of American Art
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786813601
Ages 10-up
96 pages

Take a beautiful field trip with this volume filled with wonderful words and amazing art. More than 50 poems by such noted Americans as Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes are accompanied by paintings, sculpture and photographs.

THE CHILDREN'S OWN LONGFELLOW
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0618118543
Ages 8-up
104 pages

This reissued edition of the original contains new illustrations and new cover art in addition to some of Longfellow's most kid-friendly works. Poems here include "The Song of Hiawatha," "The Castle-Builder," and "Paul Revere's Ride."

DAYS LIKE THIS
by Simon James
Candlewick
ISBN: 0763608122
Ages 7-12
48 pages

Sometimes everything goes just right and the day turns out to be perfect. It doesn't have to be when you're doing something exciting --- it can be when you're camping out, having a picnic, drawing a picture or even jumping on the bed! These 19 poems are about the magic that can happen in our everyday lives.

FALLING UP
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060248025
171 pages

On these pages filled with fun-to-say poems and wordplay, you'll meet Headphone Harry, the Terrible Toy-Eating Tookle, and a cast of other colorful characters.

HOW TO WRITE POETRY (A Scholastic Guide)
by Paul B. Janeczko
Scholastic Reference
ISBN: 0590100785
Ages 9-14
128 pages

Maybe you're a poet and you don't even know it. Find out when you try your hand at writing. This book tells you how.

INSECTLOPEDIA
by Douglas Florian
Harcourt Brace
ISBN: 0152013067
Ages 5 to 10
48 pages

Learning about 21 insects has never been more fun than through the eyes of Douglas Florian. His often dramatic choice of words adds the feel of thunder or even a whisper soft breeze to his poetry, depending on the topic undertaken. Factor in his strange, modern art multi-media illustrations, and you have an unusual book of poetry with genuine appeal.

IS IT FAR TO ZANZIBAR?
by Nikki Grimes
illustrated by Betsy Lewin
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0688131573
Ages 6-up
32 pages

The bright and bustling African country of Tanzania is the star of this poetry collection. Poems like "Rainy Season" and "Many Mangoes" introduce you to the sights and sounds of a wonderful culture.

IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD: A Century of Women's Voices in Poetry
edited by Neil Philip
Dutton
ISBN: 0525463283
Ages 11-up
96 pages

All kinds of women tell it like it is --- what their lives, work and families have been like --- in a collection that includes works by famous poets Gwendolyn Brooks, Adrienne Rich, Lucille Clifton and Sylvia Plath.

IT'S RAINING PIGS AND NOODLES
by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by James Stevenson
Greenwillow
ISBN: 006029194X
Ages 5-up
160 pages

Here are more than 100 zany poems and drawings that will have you reading aloud, and laughing out-loud, too. Go ahead --- dig in and tickle your funnybone.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER: Poems
by James Stevenson
Greenwillow
ISBN: 0688173039
Ages 56

From the thoughts of umbrellas, to a diner that is going out of business, to all the ways a person can enjoy ice cream, noted poet and cartoonist Stevenson shares many wonderful images gathered from his imaginative daydreams. The 26 poems range from those that will have you giggling to ones that may even spark your own imagination.

LIZARDS, FROGS, AND POLLIWOGS
by Douglas Florian
Harcourt Brace
ISBN: 015202591X
Ages 5-10
48 pages

Florian delivers his sixth volume of animal poems, this time inviting readers into the land of reptiles and amphibians. You'll meet lots of colorful characters in these 21 funny poems starring creatures that range from slithery to scaly to downright slimy. Come along for the fun of rhymes like "The Crocodile and the Alligator": "The crocodile's smile is wide/Enough to stuff a pig inside./But did you know that alligators/Sometimes swallow second graders?"

A LUCKY THING
by Alice Schertle
illustrated by Wendell Minor
Harcourt Brace
ISBN: 0152005412
Ages 8-up
32 pages

A young poet with writer's block finds some inspiration in the world around her --- and in her imagination. She goes on to create 14 terrific poems in this unusual picture book/poetry collection.

MORE SPICE THAN SUGAR: Poems About Feisty Females
compiled by Lillian Morrison
illustrated by Ann Boyajian
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 0618068929
Ages 9-up
80 pages

This nifty anthology contains poems about true girl power --- the expression of an independent spirit and strength, even when facing difficult situations and circumstances. There are inspiring works here by such famous poets as Emily Dickinson, Eve Merriam and Nikki Giovanni. We're sure you'll find something here that will move you.

ODDHOPPER OPERA: A Bug's Garden of Verses
by Kurt Cyrus
Harcourt Brace
ISBN: 0152022058
Ages 5-10
32 pages

Just step outside on a warm spring or summer day and you're bound to hear the "music" of one kind of insect or another. And if you take an up-close look at your backyard, garden, or front stoop, you'll probably see some kind of bug at work. Ants march, crickets chirp, bees buzz --- this collection of poetry celebrates them all. There's something for everybuggy in here!

PIECES: A Year in Poems and Quilts
by Anna Grossnickle Hines
illustrated by Name
Greenwillow
ISBN: 0688169635
Ages 5-up
32 pages

In this truly beautiful picture book, HInes weaves together images of colorful patchwork quilts and the amazing changes of season throughout the year. She lovingly designed and hand-stitched the quilts that illustrate this book, using memorable depictions of snowmen, pumpkins, flowers, birds, flowers, trees and stars. You'll look at the natural world --- and at quilts --- in a whole new way after exploring this title.

A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN
by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by James Stevenson
Greenwillow
ISBN: 0688132359
All ages

Mama mia! Here's one hilarious bunch of poems sure to have readers asking for seconds. "Eyeballs for Sale" and "I'm Wrestling with an Octopus" are but two of the clever works that will have kids laughing out loud.

POEMS FOR CHILDREN: Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote
by Carl Sandburg
illustrated by Istvan Banyai
Knopf
ISBN: 0679889906
Ages 10-up
48 pages

This was the only book of poetry that the famous poet Carl Sandburg wrote specifically for children. See what makes his writing special. And you'll have a blast poring over the nifty illustrations by the author/illustrator of the visually-challenging ZOOM.

THE RAINBOW HAND: Poems About Mothers and Children
by Janet S. Wong
illustrated by Jennifer Hewitson
Margaret K. McElderry
ISBN: 0689821484
Ages 10-up
32 pages

Wong delivers a sensitive collection based on her own feelings as both a daughter and a mother. You just might find a poem that speaks to you --- and reflects your relationship with your mother --- in selections like "Mother, May I?" and "Meat Loaf Again, Mother?"

THE RANDOM HOUSE BOOK OF POETRY FOR CHILDREN: A Treasury of 572 Poems for Today's Child
selected by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Random House
ISBN: 0394850106
Ages 3-up
256 pages

From funny to thoughtful, you'll find poems of every mood in this terrific anthology. Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Lewis Carroll and Eve Merriam are but a few of the wonderful poets featured here, writing about nature, the seasons, animals, family and food. Try reading a few of these selections at your house --- you won't be sorry.

ROOTS AND FLOWERS: Poets Write About Their Families
by Liz Rosenberg
Holt
ISBN: 0805064338
Ages 11-15
256 pages

Forty accomplished poets share stories and photos of their own families, as well as sharing some of their poems. This very special anthology offers readers a look at the people and places that have helped inspire such American talents as Stanley Kunitz, Naomi Shihab Nye adn Robert Bly. It's a fascinating read that just might have you thinking about your own family.

SAD UNDERWEAR AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS: More Poems for Children and Their Parents
by Judith Viorst
illustrated by Richard Hull
Aladdin
ISBN: 0689833768
Ages 7-upXX
80 pages

Snappy poems on everything from the first day of school, to favorite fairytale characters to why adults can be so weird --- you'll find them all in this terrific book.

SALTING THE OCEAN: 100 Poems by Young Poets
by Naomi Shihab Nye
illustrated by Ashley Bryan
HarperCollins/Greenwillow
ISBN: 0688161936
Ages 8-up
111 pages

For more than 25 years, Naomi Shihab Nye has worked with children in schools. Here, she has collected some amazing poems from 100 students, ranging from first-graders up through seniors in high school. Check them out --- you might be inspired to craft a poem of your own.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF WEIRDOS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
by Colin McNaughton
Candlewick
ISBN: 0763613797
Ages 6-12
128 pages

Get ready for a good laugh, because McNaughton has a very out-there sense of humor. His poems are the irreverent, slightly naughty kind you'll want to read when Mom and Dad aren't around. Some of the highlights include "Picking Noses" and "A Poem to Send Your Worst Enemy." And if you like this collection (complete with zany illustrations), check out the companion book WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY PORRIDGE?

THIS SAME SKY: A Collection of Poems from Around the World
selected by Naomi Shihab Nye
illustrated by Name
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
ISBN: 0689806302
Ages 10-up
224 pages

Many voices from many lands feel right at home in this first-rate anthology. Young readers can travel the world through imagery and imagination. An unforgettable trip.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060256672
166 pages

More than 130 poems, from sweet to silly, fill this favorite collection. Check out "The Land of Happy," "The Worst" and "Dancing Pants," for just a taste of fun.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060256672
166 pages

More than 130 poems, from sweet to silly, fill this favorite collection. Check out "The Land of Happy," "The Worst" and "Dancing Pants," for just a taste of fun.

WORDS WITH WINGS: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art
selected by Belinda Rochelle
HarperCollins/Amistad
ISBN: 0688164153
All ages
48 pages

This beautiful and powerful anthology contains poems from 20 noted poets paired with the stunning artwork of 20 acclaimed African-American artists. The work here represents a broad range of life experience --- sure to prove enlightening for any reader.

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