Selecting Poems for "Poetry Break!"
An Excellent First Poetry Experience:
Besides presenting an actual "Poetry Break!" one of my most favorite things to do is search for just the right poem. I am always on the lookout for new poetry collections and anthologies but I love rereading through my collection of books. One of my most favorite anthologies of poems for young children is Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young selected by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Marc Brown.
Well-known and loved poet, Jack Prelutsky has selected many short and wonderfully child-like poems by numerous poets. Poems are grouped together by popular themes and topics of childhood, such as; play, animals, seasons, holidays, foods, weather, daily routines, and much more. Every page contains two or three short poems that are accompanied by Marc Brown's (award-winning author and illustrator of the Arthur books) delightfully playful, color illustrations.
Poem seekers will find helpful indexes, listing poems by first line, title, and by author.
Check out this great Reader's Guide for Parents and Educators. Jack Prelutsky offers great advice for sharing this book with young children!
Read-aloud expert, Jim Trelease provides readers with an interesting and insightful introduction to this poetry anthology that was created with the youngest of children in mind. Trelease makes this excellent point about the value and importance of sharing poetry with children:
Unlike the toys we buy our children, poems cannot break. Their flavor will last longer than a hundred boxes of candy. They come already assembled and need only one battery - a reader connected to one child. And that reader can start a glow that lasts a lifetime.
Go ahead . . . "ignite the glow" in a child today - take time for a "Poetry Break!"
Today's Poetry Friday Round-Up is being hosted at Dori Reads. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful poetry posts!
