Poetry

Selected by Helen Ferris. More than 700 entries from a variety of poets arranged into intriguing categories such as “On the Way to Anywhere” and “Almost Any Time is Laughing Time.” Excerpts from the Bible interspersed throughout (though regrettably without chapter and verse citations), as well as many poems with Christian references.

Bright illustrations, some of which careen and crawl around the text, will be a hit with kids. Many, but not all, of these short contemporary poems are observations and explorations of animals and their diverse traits.

I read this with my kindergarteners, and I’m looking forward to reading through this again with my preschooler next year. It’s a beautiful collection of poems with topics and viewpoints young children can relate to. It was originally published in 1885, but don’t be tempted to think it’s lost its relevance. Some of the language is a little old-fashioned, true, but there’s also a wonderful innocence that comes from that bygone era which can’t be recaptured by modern writers.

A collection of poems for children from the author of Winnie-the-Pooh, these will appeal to all ages because of Milne’s sophisticated understated humor.