Poetry

	Clements, Andrew Dogku Illustrated by Tim Bowers The charming story of a stray dog who finds a loving home is told in haiku in this appealing picture book.
	Creech, Sharon Who's That Baby? Short poems and songs reflect the life of a newborn baby, as he or she meets various relatives and learns about the world.
	Crews, Nina The Neighborhood Mother Goose A cool new take on traditional rhymes, this picture book features photo-collage illustrations with contemporary kids in up-to-date urban settings.
	The Entrance Place of Wonders: Poems of the Harlem Renaissance Selected by Daphne Muse; illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb. A selection of poetry by African-American poets, both famous and lesser known, of the Harlem Renaissance (1917-1935). This anthology features an historical introduction to the Harlem Renaissance and brief biographical sketches on each of the poets, combined with dramatic illustrations for each poem.
	George, Kristine O'Connell Fold Me a Poem Illustrated by Lauren Stringer A boy spends his day folding colored squares of paper into origami animals.
	George, Kristine O'Connell Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems A natural history and a poetry collection in one, this beautifully illustrated volume will charm budding scientists and poetry fans alike. For more poems about birds and nature, look for Pennsylvania author Eileen Spinelli's Feathers: Poems about Birds and In Our Backyard Garden: Poems.
	Grandits, John Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems Poems take some of the most unlikely shapes in this humorous collection. If you enjoy this collection, be sure to check out his follow-up, Blue Lipstick
	Hesse, Karen Witness A true story is the basis of this thought-provoking novel in verse that examines the Ku Klux Klan's attempted infiltration of a small Vermont town.
	A Kick in the Head Edited by Paul B. Janeczko Illustrated by Chris Raschka A brilliant visual and verbal introduction to a wide variety of styles of poetry, this collection is accessible to a wide variety of ages and is sure to inspire readers' creativity.
	Medina, Tony DeShawn Days Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie An imaginative, compassionate ten-year-old boy reflects on "who I live with - who I love," including his extended family, his friends and his life in the city. A wonderful, thought-provoking read-aloud.
	Peters, Lisa Westberg Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up Twenty-two poems are presented about geology. The end notes provide information about the earth's surface and interior, types of rocks, and how volcanoes, glaciers, and erosion modify the landscape.
	A Poke in the I: a Collection of Concrete Poems Selected by Paul B. Janeczko; illustrated by Chris Raschka. This volume of thirty concrete poems (where the shape of the text often echoes the poem's subject) offers a kid-friendly selection, playfully illustrated by Caldecott Award-winning artist Chris Raschka.
	Prelutsky, Jack The Dragons are Singing Tonight Delightful dragon poems, some silly, some scary, some serious. Magical illustrations by Peter Sis help make the poems come alive!
	Prelutsky, Jack Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More Illustrations by Chris Raschka Athletic activities might seem an unlikely subject for poetry, but prolific poet Prelutsky captures the fun of movement in a collection of energetic rhymes. Another unusual collection is Janet S. Wong's Twist: Yoga Poems, illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
	Prelutsky, Jack If Not for the Cat: Haiku Illustrated by Ted Rand Beautiful paintings on over-sized pages accompany haikus that capture the essence of individual animals. Older readers will appreciate the artistry; younger listeners will enjoy their ability to solve the "riddles" posed by the poems.
	Prelutsky, Jack Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme: Poems Illustrated by Meilo So Half the fun of exploring various art forms is experimenting with them-and this engaging collection offers the perfect opportunity to try your hand at writing poetry.
	Scieszka, John Science Verse Parodies of famous poems, each with a focus on a scientific topic, fill this humorous book that is a companion to the author's earlier Math Curse.
	Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets Compiled by Paul B. Janeczko If reading all this poetry inspires you to write your own poems, be sure to check out this collection of ideas and advice offered by a variety of published poets.
	Shange, Ntozake Ellington Was Not a Street Appealing illustrations by Kadir Nelson complement Shange's poem, which introduces famous African-Americans whose contributions may be unfamiliar to some young listeners.
	Sidman, Joyce Song of the Water Boatman: And Other Pond Poems Another collection that combines poetry and science, this stunningly illustrated book captures the natural world in words both lyrical and amusing. Sidman is also the author of Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow.
	Sierra, Judy Monster Goose "Old Mother Goose when conditions did suit her, pecked out these rhymes on her laptop computer." Judy Sierra rewrites traditional nursery rhymes to feature vampire bats, ghouls, mummies, the Loch Ness monster, and other fearsome creatures.
	Silverstein, Shel Runny Babbit: a Billy Sook Runny Babbit's topsy-turvy world is brought to life through wordplay and drawings.
	Stevenson, James Corn Fed (and others in the "Corn" series) Simple poems about familiar topics, from ketchup bottles to bikes, mailboxes to dogs, are made even more appealing by the addition of scratchy, amusing illustrations.
	Zahares, Wade Big, Bad and a Little Bit Scary: Poems that Bite Back A collection of poems with bold illustrations celebrates the famous villains of the animal kingdom, including eels, sharks, sparrow hawks, vultures, lions, and octopuses.

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