The Random House Book of Poetry for Children

As a middle school reading teacher, I host an annual Poetry Reading Competition open to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. For the past several years, this book has been a prize, in addition to plaques for the first and second prize winners. The best review for this book is that the children use it, read it, and often select poems from it for their entry pieces. Even better, perhaps, is that I have had thanks from many parents for awakening an interest in poetry in their children, boys and girls alike. This volume of poetry offers a full range of poems, for short to long, humorous to sublime, and in a wide range of topics. While it is just one of a wide selection of books and poets I offer my students, it is one of the most versatile. Whether teaching rhyme scheme, simile and metaphor, slanted rhyme, figurative language, or stress, this is also an invaluable part of my teaching arsenal.

Not as exciting or holding interest as the 20th Century Anthology by the same author...

Along with funny and cute drawings, good short stories about anything and everything is in this book. I am using this book to read to children, and they like it very much. They laughed.

The copy I bought for my granddaughter Kate in 1990 is tattered and worn. She and I still remember sitting in my recliner, reading to one another. I'm still reading but Kate is a Marine in Iraq right now. I email poems that we shared and others that remind her of home. I won't risk sending her OUR COPY but I've ordered another to put in our next package.

This book provides a new mix of poetry for children and goes beyond the usual mix of the familiar. All of the comforting poems you remember from your own childhoold are there but much, much more. You will love finding gems you've forgotten as well as new delights. I buy this book now for all new parents.