April is poetry month, and these types of books are one of my favorite genres. Poetry, through its unique medium of language, highlights the power and limitations of words, pushing them beyond everyday usage to create new meanings, evoke emotions, and explore the world in fresh ways. All the books below are picture books with words good for ages three to eight unless otherwise noted.

Cover of the children’s poetry book You’re a Poet by Sean Taylor, illustrated with vibrant watercolor and ink by Sam Usher, featuring a piglet exploring a whimsical forest.

You’re a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems, by Sean Taylor and delightfully illustrated with watercolor and ink by Sam Usher, showcases Piglet as he takes you through five different adventures pointing out ways to think about and write poetry along the way. There are wonderful examples of different types of poems that will surely motivate all who read this inspiring book to help discover the poet within.

The Poet and the Bees: A Story of the Seasons Sylvia Plath Kept Bees, by Amy Novesky and gorgeously painted with watercolor and ink by Jessica Love, is truly a celebration of the intricate balance and beauty of life. Ms. Novesky has based her descriptive poems on the short life of an iconic American poet that died early in her life. The imagery and alliteration blend perfectly with each painting.

If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility, selected by Irene Latham & Charles Waters and perfectly illustrated using mixed media by Olivia Sua, is a compilation of some of our poets of today. The book is divided into four sections: Everyday Magic, The Power of You, Kinfolk and Companions and Anything is Possible. Here is a book that is an inspiration of language and the many possibilities that await each of us! Best for ages seven to ten.

Quiet is Strength, by Mary Rand Hess and illustrated using Photoshop and scanned colored pencil texture by Dow Phumiruk, has a lyrical flow of sparse words that celebrate silence and listening. This ode, rich with a free verse feel, magnifies the majesty of being aware of the beauty that surrounds you and the peaceful quiet solitude.

Cover of Haiku Kaiju Ah-Choo! by George McClements, a playful haiku poetry book for kids, featuring a blue monster sneezing in a cityscape.

Haiku Kaiju Ah-Choo!, by George McClements, is a wonderful book to effectively teach what haiku is in a captivating story. The entire story is told in haiku. The first page defines what makes up haiku poetry along with defining what a kaiju means. (It’s a Japanese creature.)  A giant blue creature has developed a cold and goes in search of help. The storyline is fun, interesting and a nice blend of kindness and adventure, (all in haiku!). The fantastic illustrations are mixed media collage done in pencil, ink, paint and paper.

Wise Up! Wise Down!, by international poets John Agard and Jon Arno Lawson and creatively illustrated using ink and watercolor by Satoshi Kitamura, is a smallish sized book packed with fun and humorous poems. The perfectly drawn illustrations for each poem help bring smiles throughout this wonderful book. Here is a poetry book kids, ages seven through twelve, will not only enjoy but enlighten them to the profundity of words and rhyme.

Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams, by Chiara Columbi and brightly illustrated digitally by Scott Magoon, is a rhyming tale about a rocket ship looking forward to heading to the moon and exploring the surface there. But when she learns she is just dropping off a spacecraft to do exploration, she is disappointed. What happenes between these two space vehicles has much to be explored including space travel, jealousy and friendship.

Cover of My Dear Sea by André Carrilho, a rhyming picture book about a young girl’s relationship with the ocean, illustrated with watercolor, pencil, and digital touches.

My Dear Sea, by Andre Carrilho, is a beautifully told story all in rhyme about what the sea means to a young girl. She plays in the waves and builds sandcastles. Her dad warns her throughout the book to respect the sea. The ocean is rich in life and movement with the tides. The sea has a rhythm. I should have kept track./ It ebbs far, flows near,/ recedes right back. The beautiful illustrations, done with watercolor, pencil and digital editing, show this little girl laying on the sand drenched in sea water. This book is a perfect read aloud with the rhyming story which all ages can enjoy.

Blake the Snake Bakes a Cake, by Amy Young and vividly illustrated using digital watercolor by Alison Young, uses the rhyming words of Blake and Snake throughout the entire book. As Blake continuously attempts to bake a cake for his friend Drake, he constantly runs into problems. This clever book is fun and funny and may motivate kids to create their own rhyming tale.

Smiling Eyes, by Linda Sue Park and beautifully illustrated using gouache and colored pencil by Lenny Wen, is a simple yet powerful rhyming ode to eyes. Smiling eyes/ bright eyes/ twinkling eyes-wink! Shining eyes/ wide eyes/ surprised eyes-blink! The open-page is filled will bright color. Be sure to check out the glorious end-pages.

Cover of Stopping by Jungle on a Snowy Evening by Richard T. Morris, a poetic parody of Robert Frost’s famous poem, creatively illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch.

Stopping by Jungle on a Snowy Evening, by Richard T. Morris and cleverly illustrated digitally on the open-page by Julie Rowan-Zoch, is a unique and humorous take on the famous Robert Frost poem: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. It begins with Frost’s poem but then takes quite a detour when a young boy changes the next part of the poem by riding on a hippo instead of a horse. Between the wonderful illustrations and interesting segue into a different take on this poem, kids of all ages will appreciate the traditional poem. And perhaps they will desire to try their own poetry creation. Be sure to check out the end-pages where you’ll find the original poem.