19 Poetry Books to Spark Students' Imaginations

Willbee the bumblebee is so embarrassed when he realizes that his black-and-yellow jacket has caught on a rose thorn and completely unraveled, showing his bare bum! With help from Monica the butterfly and Steve the spider, Willbee recovers his jacket and is back to buzzing around the garden in no time.

Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, We Are Here is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions.

Bill Withers's "Lovely Day" is famous for bringing listeners joy. This beautiful picture book adapted from the song's timeless lyrics follows the story of a brother and sister who always find a way to make each other smile, no matter the challenges the day may bring. 

This lively collection is packed with kid-friendly, "pocket-sized" poems of eight lines or less by such well-known poets as Eve Merriam, Karla Kuskin, and the anthologist herself, Bobbi Katz. The easy-to-memorize, pint-sized poems reflect many different facets of children's lives and are embellished with witty, winning art by the beloved Marylin Hafner, making a package that will be welcomed by children and their teachers.

Thirteen classic poems by poets such as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, and David McCord are paired with parodies written by J. Patrick Lewis that honor and play off of the original poems in a range of ways. 

In this collection of twenty-one poems, NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award winner Eloise Greenfield journeys to a place where words, creativity, and imagination abound. This tribute to the written words invites readers to look within themselves and discover what inspires them.

Once there was a little boy named Neftalí who loved wild things wildly and quiet things quietly.

One day, nine-year-old Betita's beloved father is arrested by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported to Mexico. Betita and her pregnant mother are left behind on their own, but soon they too are detained and must learn to survive in a family detention camp outside of Los Angeles. Even in cruel and inhumane conditions, Betita finds heart in her own poetry and in the community she and her mother find in the camp. 

With his signature exuberant, high-energy art, Christopher Myers delivers this radically new interpretation of Carroll's beloved poem, brilliantly reimagining it as a face-off on the basketball court.

In this splendid and playful volume, acclaimed poetry anthologist Paul B. Janeczko and Caldecott Honor illustrator Chris Raschka present lively examples of twenty-nine poetic forms, demonstrating not only the (sometimes bendable) rules of poetry, but also the spirit that brings these forms so wonderfully to life.

Josh and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood. He's got mad beats too. Both brothers must come to grips with growing up, on and off the court, as they realize breaking the rules can come at a terrible price, resulting in a game-changer for their entire family.

Inspired by the author's own childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam as a refugee and immigrating to Alabama, this Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award winner told in verse is sure to capture young readers' hearts and open their eyes.

With a fresh and deceptively simple style, acclaimed author Sharon Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Written as a series of free-verse poems from Jack's point of view, Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course, a dog.

Poet Carl Sandburg takes readers through back roads and busy cities with everyday people and animals. Readers will enjoy the magic of the poetry with the beautiful illustrations that were specially commissioned.

Showcasing the extraordinary Langston Hughes, this collection is edited by two leading poetry experts and features gallery-quality art by Benny Andrews that adds rich dimension to the words.