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Poems, Froot Loops and Dinosaurs: 3 Ways a Child and Caregiver Can Celebrate National Poetry Month

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Happy National Poetry Month! Grownups, how would you like to participate in the #nationalpoetrymonth discussion on Twitter? Share what works and what doesn’t with your young poetry readers.

Photo Credit: Kids’ Stage via Pinterest Katie Milne-Feldt



Did you know the “beginning reader” and “early reader” books vary by publisher? This means that one pre-1st level book by one publishing house can be much more difficult than another pre-1st level book by another publisher. Just ask a youth librarian. I did last week at the beginning of National Poetry Month, April! 

Compare for yourself. Contrast Random House Kids with Chronicle Books.

Does that mean that caregivers must pick poems at random and just hope that the selected poem pleases a young reader? Nah.

Though taste is subjective, it’s possible to raise your success rate of finding poems that will win over the child. Poetry is not meant to be taken like an unpleasant but good-for-you vitamin. Instead, it is meant to be a joy and a fresh way to use words.


Here’s a set of Thought-starters:


Doug Macleod wrote “Ode to an Extinct Dinosaur”. His poem in an anthology called Dragons Dinosaurs Monster Poems collected by John Foster and Korky Paul.


1. Go for the easiest bridge. Does your young reader have an interest in dinosaurs? Look for poetry that bridges his/her interest.

Photo Credit: Scholastic Lesson Plans Bridges



2. Reward the reader for identifying one part of speech. Most kids like to be told they are right. Why not give him/her a sticker or a Froot Loop for every noun found? For instance, “Ode to an Extinct Dinosaur” has more than a handful of easy-to-spot persons, places or things in its two stanzas. This means that nouns such as nails, scales, jaws and claws can be worth a small prize!

Photo Credit: My Sister’s Suitcase Cereal Necklace



3. Switch roles. Once he/she feels a sense of accomplishment, why not have the young reader take the spotlight. The grown-up becomes the audience and listens while the child recites/reads. Poems like Shakespeare’s plays are meant to be spoken aloud. For a dinosaur poetry book, wouldn’t it be fitting to add sound effects?