Poetry Recommendations

Here are the favorite books and poetry recommendations from the last Charlotte Mason Meeting in Portland.  I’ve linked the ones that are available on Amazon.  I don’t get a commission,  just linking in case I missed part of the title, authors or illustrators (quickly typing).  A big thank you to everyone who brought books and ideas!  Gina, thank you also for the Native American selections as this is a special interest of ours.  There are many more great ideas on Gina’s website Secular Charlotte Mason. 

POETRY BOOKS:
Poetry for Young People by Lewis Carroll
Paul Revere’s Ride by Longfellow Ill. Ted Rand
Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
A Hat So Simple by Jerry Smath (pretty)
Wish You Were Here (and I Wasn’t) by Colin McNaughton (boy silly)
Two-Legged Four-Legged No-Legged Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis
Talking Like the Rain by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy M. Kennedy
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutzky ill. Mark Brown
The Dragon’s are Singing Tonight by Jack Prelutsky ill. Peter Sis
Catching Life by the Throat: How to Read Poetry and Why (with CD) by Josephine Hart
A Child’s Introduction to Poetry (with CD) by Michael Driscoll
Stories from Shakespeare by David Timson read by Juliet Stevenson & Michael Sheen (series)
Math Talk by Theoni Pappas
Joyful Noise Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman ill. Eric Beddows
Chinese Poems by Arthur Waley
American Indian Poetry by George W. Cronyn
Don’t You Turn Back Poems by Langston Hughes
Spirit Walker by Nancy Wood
All the Colors of Race by Arnold Adoff  (I liked the poems in this book.)
In the Eyes of the Cat: Japanese Poetry for All Seasons by Demi
Civil War Poetry and Prose by Walt Whitman
Good Books Good Times by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Beowolf by Seamus Heaney
The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology by Snorri Snurluson
Hailstone and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill
Around the Seasons by Eleanor Farjeon
Animal Poems by John Hollander ill. Simona Mulazzani
A Journey in Poetry by Oregon Homeschoolers 2003
Joyful Noise I am Phoenix performed by John Bedford Lloyd & Annie Twomey
Poetry Speaks to Children (with CD) read by the Poets, compiled by Elise Paschen
A Family of Poems by Caroline Kennedy
Edgar Allan Poe Poetry for Young People (series)

CURRICULUM:
Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization by Andrew Pudewa
This is for 8 years and older, recite a repertoire of poems so you never forget what you learn.  The poems that are short, fun and silly are good for 8 year olds.  Longer poems might be harder for younger children.  The only criticism is of the CD, the reader’s voice was a bit condescending.

QUICK NOTES:
Do one poem per week or per month.  Kristal suggested a way to foster a love of poetry is let children listen to poetry recited well.  She recommended many of the books that come with CD’s above.  She said listening to the poet recite their own poems is a good thing sometimes but not always.  The reader is important.  Rote memorization or poetry memorization helps with overall memory later and should be introduced when child is ready.  Clapping rhymes from the playground also help with memorization.  Poetry is helpful for reading prose like Beowolf Legends. Recitation is early public speaking.  Songs are poetry set to music.