Roses are red
Violets are blue
Here’s some new poetry for kids
That adults might like too.

Salsa by Jorge Argueta
Half poem and half recipe, this picture book in English and Spanish takes kids through gathering and preparing tomatoes, limes, garlic, and other delicious ingredients. (If you’re still hungry for poetry, try Argueta’s earlier cooking-related books: Guacamole, Tamalitos and Sopa de Frijoles.)

(Ages 4-8.)

 

 

 

Something Sure Smells Around Here by Brian P. Cleary
“There once was a man from Nantucket” can step aside: The 26 limericks in this book are funny, punny, and perfectly appropriate for kids.

(Ages 6-12.)

 

 

 

 

Won Ton and Chopstick by Lee Wardlaw
This sweet story of a cat dealing with a new puppy is told entirely in haiku form:

“Some parts of 'woof' I
will never understand. But…
practice makes purrfect.”

(Ages 4-8.)

 

 

 

The Golden Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
The queen of children’s books is back, more than 60 years after her death, with a newly republished collection that had been out of print for decades. These 17 poems and stories all center on rabbits, accompanied by sweet illustrations of fluffy woodland critters.

(All ages.)

 

 

 

The Death of the Hat, compiled by Paul Janeczko
A moth, a peach blossom, a candle, a haunted palace… this anthology traces the history of poetry through 50 archetypal objects.

(Ages 8-12.)

 

 

 

Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection by Charlotte Zolotow
Several decades of Zolotow’s work are represented here, with dozens of classic poems about nature in every season.

(All ages.)

 

 

 

Hypnotize a Tiger by Calef Brown
Brown’s bold black-and-white drawings complement his bold poetry in this new collection that’s perfect for fans of Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky.

(Ages 6-12.)

 

 

 

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your choices! Leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.