Child Poetry

Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know much else. So one night, they ask her to tell them her story. As they get ready for bed, their mama spins two tales: that of her youth as a strong-willed middle child and immigrant; and that of the young life of Mayari, the mythical daughter of a god. Both are tales of sisterhood and motherhood, and of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance.

A riveting middle grade novel in verse for any kid who has ever felt unwanted, uncomfortable, or unsure of where they fit in. Lilac has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin ever since her mom died. She already feels like an “extra” member of a family that doesn’t have enough money or space. Then she finds out her aunt is pregnant with twins, due soon after Lilac turns thirteen. How could they possibly want her around when they’ll have two more kids in their crowded home?

In her dedication Safia Elhillo writes, “The January Children are the generation born in Sudan under British occupation, where children were assigned birth years by height, all given the birth date January 1.” What follows is a deeply personal collection of poems that describe the experience of navigating the postcolonial world as a stranger in one’s own land. The January Children depicts displacement and longing while also questioning accepted truths about geography, history, nationhood, and home.

Samira thinks of her life as before and after: before the burning and violence in Burma (now Myanmar), when she and her best friend would play in the fields, and after, when her family was forced to flee. There's before the uncertain journey to Bangladesh by river, and after, when the river swallowed her nana and nani whole. And now, months after rebuilding a life in Bangladesh with her mama, baba, and brother, Khaled, there's before Samira saw the surfer girls, and after, when she decides she'll become one.

Claire's mom and dad don't talk to each other much anymore. And they definitely don't laugh or dance the way they used to. Their tense, stilted stand offs leave thirteen-year-old Claire, an only child, caught in the middle. So when the family takes their annual summer vacation, Claire sticks her nose in a book and hopes for the best. Maybe the sunshine and ocean breeze will fix what's gone wrong.

Growing up with a mother suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and a mostly absent father, Nikki Grimes found herself terrorized by babysitters, shunted from foster family to foster family, and preyed upon by those she trusted. At the age of six, she poured her pain onto a piece of paper late one night - and discovered the magic and impact of writing. For many years, Nikki's notebooks were her most enduing companions. In this accessible and inspiring memoir, Nikki shows how the power of those words helped her conquer the hazards - ordinary and extraordinary - of her life.

Maya is the pragmatic twin, but her secret anxiety threatens to overwhelm her. Chaya is the outgoing twin. When she sees her beloved sister suffering, she wants to tell their parents—which makes Maya feel completely betrayed.

There once was a very hungry king. Who needed a cook like anything...but the king is very fussy; he tries all the cooks in the kingdom, but no one is good enough. Then he spots Wobbly Bob. Maybe Bob can whip up his favourite dinner? But how will Bob be able to cook for the king when he’s scared of...well, everything?!

東風の吹く日に，こうもり傘につかまって，空からバンクス家にやってきた，ちょっと風変わりな保母の物語．彼女が語るお話は，子どもたちをふしぎな冒険の世界へと導きます．

Twelve-year-old Raj is happiest flying kites with his best friend, Iqbal. As their kites soar, Raj feels free, like his beloved India soon will be, and he can’t wait to celebrate their independence. But when a British lawyer draws a line across a map, splitting India in two, Raj is thrust into a fractured world. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families are torn apart—and Raj’s Hindu and Iqbal’s Muslim families are among them.

Lula Viramontes aches to one day become someone whom no one can ignore: a daring ringleader in a Mexican traveling circus. But between working the grape harvest in Delano, California, with her older siblings under dangerous conditions; taking care of her younger siblings and Mamá, who has mysteriously fallen ill; and doing everything she can to avoid Papá’s volatile temper, it’s hard to hold on to those dreams.

Ebony and De’Kari (aka Flow) do not get along. How could they when their cafeteria scuffle ended with De'Kari's ruined shoes, Ebony on the ground, and both of them with ten days of at-home suspension? Now Eb and Flow have two weeks to think about and explain their behavior—to their families, to each other, and ultimately to themselves. Single-parent homes, tight funds, and sibling dynamics provide a balancing act for the growing tweens. And whether they realize it or not, these two have a lot more in common than they think.

Inspirados pelas pipas de Portinari, dez poetas lançam seus versos ao vento, celebrando a infância, a liberdade e o sonho. Em cada página, uma obra de arte e uma forma poética: cordel, haicai, soneto, parlenda, limerique... formas que ganham nova vida entre as tintas do artista e as palavras dos autores. Inspirados nas telas de Candido Portinari — mestre das cores, da terra e da alma brasileira — dez poetas premiados lançam ao vento poemas que dançam como pipas em tardes de brincadeira.

Our experiences are arrows on our backs to draw upon in the heat of life’s journey. They will always be with us. To collect arrows is to live in gratitude for every step along the way. No matter what happens, we’ll always have a quiver of experience and our spirit as a bow. Each day is a memory we get to shape and craft. We’re sharpening the arrows to stow on our backs with every second we appreciate life for the gift that it is. The beauty of California and the Pacific Northwest serve as the backdrop of this uplifting and often humorous tale.

A boisterous baker's dozen of silly rhymes presents rollicking and whimsical scenarios about what a young person would do rather than frighten a goose, including feeding pajamas to piranhas and walking on knees past a hive full of bees.

Good-bye, hello, welcome, and good night. Introducing the wonderful world of Sir Silly. He was born before time, and so he has no time for such time that was before that time. He thinks in rhyme and always lets his imagination dance freely. Sir Silly is all he can be, to be as silly as he can. Sir Silly is very serious about being silly.

Spend quality time with your little ones as you listen to these poems with newborns and young kids. This book is organized so that you and your baby can enjoy a poem every day of the year. With poetry, you will stimulate the early development of literacy skills and build your baby's vocabulary and imagination. Whether you're soothing your baby to sleep or it's story time, there is a poem to make every day special.

15-year-old Dylan has always felt like an outsider in his small town. Isolated when he was younger as the result of his unpredictable, now absent mother and feeling like a disappointment to his grandfather who has stepped in to raise him, Dylan finds relief in the woods behind his grandfather's auto shop. Amidst the cool quiet of the trees, Dylan thrives on bird watching and writing poetry. But one afternoon after spotting an injured hawk, Dylan finds himself pushing out of his comfort zone to track down help for the bird—and ends up rescuing a part of himself in the process.

The reflections presented here are the offspring of the author's own silence and slow time in caves, forest monasteries, and countless retreats. Written with the wisdom, humility, and humor of one who has taken the time to examine one's self and the nature of the human condition, this new collection of story-poems regards concerns of the experienced meditator.

Join the enchanting journey of mythical creatures as they overcome obstacles and discover the true meaning of friendship and courage in Poetry for Kids. Written in verse, this collection of poems takes you deep into a magical forest where unicorns, dragons, and other fantastic creatures come to life. Each poem tells a unique and heartwarming story that will delight children and inspire them to believe in the power of imagination and the beauty of nature.