A Month of Poetry

{Family Book Club}

Here in New England, summer is too short. I cannot believe that July is here and if I didn’t have Kenny to look forward to, I’d probably be in mourning! July is one of those crazy-busy months.

From the fourth of July celebrations to the beach days and family vacations, it goes by in a blink! I thought it would be the perfect month to read some poetry. Poetry is a perfect read aloud selection for those days when you are short on time. A poem here and a poem there, spread throughout your busy day, is a great way to bring calm and provide an educational experience. Are you looking to do more family reading this summer? C’mon over and join our Family Book Club!

Week of July 6th:

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Who doesn’t love Silverstein? Silverstein’s wacky and whimsical poems, alongside his sketches, truly inspire children. I received this gem of a book from my uncle on Christmas 1989 (this is why I adore book inscriptions, folks!), and I’ve loved it ever since. I love to read my worn copy with my children. I remember the very first time I read this book with Leo, years ago, he set off to create his very own poetry book – complete with illustrations- when we were finished reading.

Week of July 13th:

It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky

If your kids adore goofy poems and wordplay, they will love this book! Like Silverstein, Prelutsky is a great way to introduce young children to poetry. They will be laughing at the nonsense and silliness contained in this jam-packed book. The very first time we read this book together, we had a poetry tea time. To this day, my kids will request that we read this book and drink tea. It is the cutest, goofiest, most delightful tea party you’ve ever experienced!

Week of July 20th:

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Once again, who doesn’t love Silverstein? Read these poems aloud to your children and you will be instantly connected with your five-year-old self. When we first started reading these books aloud to our children, I was amazed that I still had some of these poems memorized! I guarantee your children will remember reading Silverstein with you for decades to come!

Week of July 27th:

Poetry Speaks to Children by Elise Paschen

I LOVE this book. This was our birthday party gift for one entire year and I have never received so much positive feedback on birthday gifts as I did from this book. Poetry Speaks to Children contains close to one hundred poems and half of them are on the accompanying audio CD. Many of the poems are read by the poets themselves. My children adore the illustrations in this book-there are several illustrators so each page is different and interesting. This is an excellent quiet time book (although parents be forewarned: you’ll want to stick around to listen, too!) and perfect for long car rides.

What are your family’s favorite poetry books? I am always looking for more books to add to our collection!

Are you looking to take your family’s read alouds to the next level? Join the {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies:

All of the books (and more!) from the {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies can be found here:

 

All of the lessons, crafts, and activities based on each book can be found here, listed by title and author:

Visit Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies’s profile on Pinterest.