The following selections of poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate for young readers.
Find poetry lesson plans, essays about teaching, a glossary of poetry terms, and other educator resources on our Materials for Teachers page. Visit our Poetry for Teens page to find more selections of poems tailored to a high school audience. Encourage students to participate in the Dear Poet project. And, celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day virtually on April 30.
Poems Kids Like
Read a selection of poems kids love by poets like Lewis Carroll, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and more.
Animals: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about animals by poets like Alberto Blanco, Elizabeth Bishop, William Blake, Lewis Carroll, and more.
Arab American Heritage Month: Poems for Kids
To celebrate Arab American Heritage Month in April—and the rich tradition of Arabic poetry all year long—browse this selection of poems by classic and contemporary poets.
Autumn: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about the autumn season by poets like Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Brenda Hillman, Edward Hirsch, Amy Lowell, and more.
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Poems for Kids
Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month the following selection of poems features poets like Chen Chen, Tina Chang, Li-Young Lee, Marilyn Chin, and more.
Beginnings: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about beginnings by poets like Naomi Shihab Nye, Theodore Roethke, Walt Whitman, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and more.
Black History Month: Poems for Kids
The following poems celebrate Black History Month with poets like Jericho Brown, Kwame Dawes, and more.
Caribbean American Heritage Month: Poems for Kids
To celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month in June—and the rich tradition of Caribbean American poetry all year long—browse poems by both classic and contemporary poets.
Cities: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about cities, such as “New York at Night” by Amy Lowell, “In a Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound, “Passers-by” by Carl Sandburg, and more.
Environment: Poems for Kids
A selection of poems about the environment and climate crisis by poets like Jeffrey Bean, Camille T. Dungy, Joy Harjo, and more.
Family: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about family by poets like Richard Blanco, Nikki Giovanni, Yesenia Montilla, and more.
Father’s Day: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about fathers and fatherhood by poets Jorge H. Aigla, Tina Chang, David St. John, E. E. Cummings, and more.
Food: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about food that are appropriate for young people like “Tamales on Christmas ” by Christian Robinson, “This is Just To Say ” by William Carlos Williams, and more.
Friendship: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about friendship by poets like Lucille Clifton, John Keats, Joanna Fuhrman, and more.
Graduation: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about graduating, moving forward, and getting older, with poems like “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, “Dreams” by Langston Hughes, and “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón.
Halloween: Poems for Kids
The following classic and contemporary poems are great for celebrating Halloween, including “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, “Black Cat” by Rainer Maria Rilke, “Dusk in Autumn” by Sara Teasdale, and more.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Poems for Kids
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, the following selection of poems features poets like Francisco X. Alarcón, Brenda Cárdenas, John Olivares Espinoza, and more.
Holidays: Poems for Kids
To celebrate the holiday season, read a selection of holiday-themed poems like “Christmas Trees” by Robert Frost, “The Feast of Lights” by Emma Lazarus, “The Passing of the Year” by Robert W. Service, and more.
Hope: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about hope by poets like Maya Angelou, Jane Hirshfield, Langston Hughes, and more.
Humor: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of funny poems that are appropriate for young people like “Mother Doesn't Want a Dog” by Judith Viorst, “The List of Famous Hats” by James Tate, and more.
Immigration: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about immigration featuring poets Lory Bedikian, Richard Blanco, Marilyn Chin, Kwame Dawes, and more.
LGBTQ Pride Month: Poems for Kids
Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month, the following poems feature poets like Chen Chen, A. E. Housman, Donika Kelly, and more.
Libraries: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about libraries, librarians, and the joys of reading from poets like Nikki Giovanni, Philip Metres, Alberto Ríos, and more.
Love: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about love, friendship, romance, and devotion like “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Love Comes Quietly” by Robert Creeley, and more.
Mother’s Day: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about mothers and motherhood like “Wonder Woman” by Angelo Geter, “Remember” by Joy Harjo, “La suavecita” by Lupe Mendez, and more.
Myths and Fairy Tales: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about fables, fairy tales, folklore, legends, and myths by poets Homer, Saeed Jones, Kim Addonizio, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, and more.
Native American Heritage Month: Poems for Kids
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, the following poems feature poets like Richard Calmit Adams, Joy Harjo, Lois Red Elk, M. L. Smoker, and more.
Nature: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about nature, wildlife, and the outdoors like “Pursuit” by Elizabeth Bradfield, “Patience Taught by Nature” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more.
Politics: Poems for Kids
Read the following poems about politics, elections, and government by poets like Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco, Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, and more.
Reading and Writing: Poems for Kids
The following poems explore the themes of reading, writing, and poetry by poets like Yves Bonnefoy, Emily Dickinson, Martín Espada, and more.
School: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about school, learning, and the classroom by poets like Catherine Barnett, Eamon Grennan, Brenda Hillman, and more.
Social Justice: Poems for Kids
Read the following poems about social justice, identity, and human rights by poets like Elizabeth Alexander, Maya Angelou, Ross Gay, Amanda Gorman, and more.
Spanish: Poems for Kids
A selection of poems in Spanish and English include “Arbolé, arbolé/Tree, tree” by Federico García Lorca, “Despedida/Farewell” by Francisca Aguirre, and more.
Sports: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about sports, including baseball, basketball, track, and wrestling with poems like “Victory” by Sherman Alexie, “The Trouble Ball” by Martín Espada, and more.
Spring: Poems for Kids
Read the following poems about spring, growth, and renewal by poets like E. E. Cummings, Toi Derricotte, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, John Keats, and more.
Summer: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about summer and warm weather with poems like “A Boat, Beneath a Sunny Sky” by Lewis Carroll, “Fishing on the Susquehanna in July” by Billy Collins, and more.
Technology: Poems for Kids
Read a selection of poems about technology, invention, and information by poets like James Arthur, Hannah Brooks-Moti, Noah Eli Gordon, and more.
Thanksgiving: Poems for Kids
To celebrate gratitude and the Thanksgiving season, read the following poems by poets like Joy Harjo, Lydia Maria Child, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and more.
Travel: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about vacations and travel like “Vacation” by Rita Dove, “Passing through Albuquerque” by John Balaban, “Road Trip” by Kurt Brown, and more.
Valentine’s Day: Poems for Kids
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the following classic and contemporary poems about love, heart, and friendship, are appropriate for young people.
Visual Art: Poems for Kids
The following poems are about paintings, sculptures, and other forms of visual art, as well as poems about artists and the artistic process.
War: Poems for Kids
Read the following classic and contemporary poems about war, wartime, and veterans by poets like Rita Dove, Jori Graham, June Jordan, and more.
Winter: Poems for Kids
The following poems explore the themes of winter, snow, and cold weather like “[‘Tis the first snow—]” by Matsuo Basho, “London Snow” by Robert Bridges, and more.
Women’s History Month: Poems for Kids
The following poems celebrate Women’s History month and honor the legacy of women poets.