Treasury of Children's Poetry

Treasury of Children's Poetry is an outstanding compilation of poems for children of all ages!  They can be read to very young children and older children will surely enjoy the more complex poems.  This book was edited by Alison Sage with poet, Michael Rosen, contributing the Foreword.  The content ranges from traditional nursery rhymes, poems by Grace Nichols and Michael Rosen for young children and poetry by Lewis Carroll and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for older children.  The final section of the book features many classics by Shakespeare and Rudyard Kipling.  This wonderful book includes over 300 poems written by more than 170 poets with beautiful, fun and exciting illustrations by over 50 talented artists.  This is a great addition to the classroom library and will be so enjoyed by the entire family at home as well!

Poetry and Verse

Children of all ages will not only love reading the poetry, but they will be able to relate to the wide range of topics, thoughts, emotions, etc., expressed within the book.  Also, the subject-matter of many of the poems include cultural differences and various time periods which is so beneficial in teaching children about history and respect for one another with varying ethnic backgrounds.

I so enjoyed and loved this book and the illustrations were absolutely amazing!  Every possible media, technique and style of art are illustrated from simplistic graphic and pencil art to beautiful watercolor and oil paintings.  Many of the illustrations are so vivid and textured that you can actually "feel" the art and even visualize yourself in the scene! 

During Reading/Circle Time:

• Select an age-appropriate poem/nursery rhyme and read it to the children.  For example, if the children are toddlers (2-3 years old), the teacher should select one that they may be familiar with or can relate to, such as Hey Diddle Diddle or Humpty Dumpty.  Then, ask the children if they ever heard it before?  
• Ask the children to recite the nursery rhyme with you or recite the line after you read it, then praise them for being poets!

Class Activities:

1. Read the poem Shoes by John Foster.  Then, ask each child to describe the shoes they have on today--what color, do they have buckles or laces, are they best for cold or hot weather, etc.
2. Play a game with the children to help them learn the poem, sorting, cooperating with each other and practicing patience.  Have the children get into small groups depending on the type of shoes they have on--all children with laces, black shoes, new shoes, etc. Next, have them takes turns making up a silly poem or rhyme about their shoes! After each child is done, everyone applauds!!

This excellent poetry book will be enjoyed by students of all ages in the classroom and in the home as the poems are so diversified and geared to children from preschoolers to young adults--parents will so enjoy reading them as well!

Other outstanding books by by Alison Sage and Michael Rosen:

• Hutchinson Treasury of Children's Literature
• Quick, Let's Get Out of Here
• You Wait Till I'm Older Than You

Reference

Sage, A. (1998). Treasury of Children's Poetry. London: Hutchinson.