Children's Books > Children's Poetry

First published in 1885, poet and storyteller Robert Louis Steven-son's classic tribute to the lives of children has delighted readers for more than a century. From flying through the air on a swing to building an imaginary world out of blocks to being tucked into bed for a night of sweet dreams, "A Child's Garden of Verses" is a joyful celebration of imagination, wonder, and what it means to be a child.
Lavishly illustrated by beloved artist Barbara McClintock, this new unabridged edition of these classic verses is sure to c... read more

This is a lively and upbeat collection of nonsense verse for all the family - including classic verse from nonsense greats such as Lear, Carroll, Belloc and Nash, together with the very best of contemporary proponents.

A collection of ribald rhymes featuring characters from fairy tales, fables and nursery rhymes - as you've never seen them before! From "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "Hansel and Gretel" to "Ali Baba" and "Aladdin", these traditional stories will never seem the same again once you have had a taste of Roald Dahl's hilarious verse and Quentin Blake's suitably lively illustrations.

This beautifully illustrated anthology will introduce children to some of the best-loved poems in the English language. The selection includes gems drawn from five centuries of poetry, from Shakespeare and his contemporaries to poets writing today. With almost one hundred poems to choose from, including such favourites as 'The Lady of Shalott', 'Kubla Khan', and 'The Night Mail', and with contributions from Shelley, Blake, Walt Whitman, Lewis Carroll, Philip Larkin, and Roger McGough among many others, this is truly a collection t... read more

This fun collection of poems is perfect for children from 5 to 12. They're about food and colours and cats and dogs and nursery rhymes and odd folk. Some rhyme, some just have rhythm, some play with words and others are just playful. They're great to read aloud and there's plenty of inspiration here for children to write their own poems. Sarah Laing's inventive illustrations add another layer of fun and meaning to each poem.

A collection of six poems, published as Baxter Basics in 1979 in separate booklets: Rain, I'm a Tree, The Tree House, The Seagull, The Ships and The Fireman. Here for the first time in one volume, and accompanied by their original illustrations, they remain some of the finest examples of children's poetry produced in this country.

From the anaconda in a Honda (don't ask him for a ride, you might end up inside), to the zonk (good for nothing and very rude), from the useful catapillow and the reliable teapet to he newt who plays the flute, and the wordfish - who's a swordfish in a state of undress, this is an A-Z of animal poems with a difference! Choose your own favourite from Roger McGough's witty and wicked menagerie of rare breeds real and imaginary.

From Agard to Zephaniah, the very best of children's poetry from the very best of children's poets appears in this wonderful and exciting anthology edited by Michael Rosen, the Children's Laureate. Coinciding with his laureateship and a very welcome public promotion of the need for children's poetry in our education system, this future classic for Puffin will delight readers young and old, and make the perfect gift.

Wriggling worms, precious gemstones, green rainforests, parched deserts and dark caves all have their place in Earth, a collection of poems that celebrates the natural world around us.

Breathing, hurricanes, thunder and lightning, migration and the historic first hot air balloon flight, all are featured in the poems in Air, a collection that captures this essential element. Shape poems, funny and thoughtful poems, traditional and new poems, each very different from the next, and full of surprises, but all sharing an elemental link. The Elements in Poetry series brings together an exciting mix of poetical works form near and far on earth, fire, water, and air, with images that leap off the page. The books are a de... read more

Cats! Some are sane, some are mad and some are good and some are bad. Meet magical Mr Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy and curious Rum Tum Tugger. But you'll be lucky to meet Macavity because Macavity's not there! These lovable cat poems were written by T. S. Eliot for his godchildren and friends in the thirties. They have delighted generations of children since, and inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber's brilliant musical Cats.

This is a wonderful collection of poems that don't rhyme. Poems that don't rhyme? Poems have to rhyme. Well, actually they don't, and here are over fifty to prove it. From Zephaniah to Agard, this anthology collects together some of the very best children's poets ever, from known to unknown, from classic to contemporary, from funny to serious and back again. There are notes at the end of the book on how to write and perform your own amazing poems without rhymes. This is a definitive, classy and stylish book - a little gem.

This is a gloriously illustrated first book of poetry, collecting together verse from a range of well-known authors. "Here's a Little Poem" is a superb selection of over fifty poems by English and American authors, including Wendy Cope, Roger McGough, John Agard, Grace Nichols, Colin McNaughton, Jack Prelutsky, Langston Hughes and many more. Affectionately describing the early experiences of young children, this is a warmly illustrated, imaginative world of first encounters. Simple text and exuberant illustrations make this an idea... read more

New for younger writers! The hugely popular Start Writing series is now available for younger children. Busy Days (fiction writing) and My Own Stories (non-fiction writing)are ideal for helping Key Stage 1 children learn how to write with skill, immagination and confidence. Great resources for the classroom, library or for reinforcing school learning at home.

A nursery collection selected and designed to appeal to the very youngest child, with wonderfully expressive illustrations. Traditional rhymes to listen to, action rhymes to clap and dance to, and lullabies complete with music. Here is a book brimming with opportunities for children and their parents to have fun together.

Old Mother Goose may know all the nursery rhymes, but it's Daddy Goose who knows the stories! Welcome to the Daddy Goose collection of five-minute stories, made from everyone's favourite nursery rhymes, and illustrated by four different artists. Now children everywhere can find out who put Humpty together again, why the cow jumped over the moon, and more! Illustrated by Anna Laura Cantone, Ross Collins, Joelle Dreidemy and Andrea Huseinovic.

Whatever your choice of story, there's a poem for you, because Once Upon a Poem brings together some of the best stories ever told in verse! From the magnificent Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the magical Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll; to Roald Dahl's wicked retelling of Goldilocks and a rip-roaring rap version of Prince Theseus by Tony Mitton. And what's more, each poem has been stunningly illustrated in colour and championed by some of the very best of today's authors: David Almond, Philip Ardagh, Avi, Eoin C... read more