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6 Poetry Collections ALL About Animals
Poetry can bring the mysteries of nature to life! It can be silly, informative, educational, and transformative—and these poetry collections for young readers are all about animals. From our feathered friends to slithery snakes, the books featured here celebrate all animals that walk, fly, swim, dig, and crawl.
1. New! If This Bird Had Pockets by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, illustrated by Emma J. Virján
An ideal gift for children who love animals, this picture book is a celebration of Poem in your Pocket Day and a charmingly illustrated collection of playful poems about 19 different creatures.
2. After Dark by David L. Harrison, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
This collection of twenty-two poems explores the fascinating lives of North American nocturnal animals.
3. Boom! Bellow! Bleat! by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Aaron Dewitt
A perfect bedtime read, this playful collection of poems—peppered with an astounding variety of animal sounds—is meant to be read aloud together.
4. This Poem Is a Nest by Irene Latham, illustrated by Johanna Wright
This beautiful poetry collection named both a Kirkus Reviews Best Book and an NCTE Notable Poetry Book introduces readers to the art of found poetry as the poet writes a 37-line poem, “Nest,” then finds 160 smaller poems within it.
5. Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Josée Masse
This thought-provoking collection will evoke a sense of wonder and awe in readers, as they discover the mysterious world underneath us.
6. A Hatful of Dragons by Vikram Madan
Ideal for fans of Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein, this collection of hilarious poems features delicious vocabulary and a wide range of subjects, as well as recurring characters and subplots in the art that weave the poems together and add to the merriment.
