poems for kids

Subject: poems for kids
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:34 AM

Hey everyone,

My boys (ages 6 and 9) are on a real poetry kick. We've read through the Shel Silverstein books, and now we're into longer poems. I've read them the following:
- The Cremation of Sam McGee
- The Shooting of Dan McGrew
- The Owl and the Pussycat
- The Walrus and the Carpenter

As well as their personal favourite: Penny-Sue and the Big Pea-Burp (okay, I wrote that one; how cool is it that it's still their favourite?)

We tried The Raven -- which was way over their heads, of course. I'm looking for more longer stuff like this, but have no ideas. I would love to hear your suggestions.

A bit of a story-line is important, as is language that's not too old for them (but not too young either).

Thanks,
Paul

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Little Robyn
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 01:47 PM

"their personal favourite: Penny-Sue and the Big Pea-Burp"
That sounds interesting.
Would you like to share that one with us?
We used to enjoy Matilda (told such awful lies, it made one gasp and stretch one's eyes....) and also Johnny Crow's garden.
There are lots of kids poems online these days.
Robyn

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 02:41 PM

I'll check those out Robyn, thanks. I've tried to find some stuff online, but just don't know where to find it.

Sure, I don't know if anyone other than my own kids would enjoy it, but here it is:

-- Penny-Sue and the Big Pea-Burp --

There was a girl named Penny-Sue,
Who would not eat her peas.
Her dad would try to boil and fry
And cover them with cheese

Her mom would cook them in a sauce
With pepper, salt and herbs
But Penny-Sue said, "No peas please.
I'd rather lick the curb".

Her dad once told her of a troll
So tall and brown and mean
Who cooked up non-pea-eating girls,
And ate them with ice cream.

"There isn't such a thing," she said.
That Penny-Sue was smart.
"Don't speak to me of trolls and things
That go bump in the dark".

One day while playing in the park
She heard a mighty roar.
The sky got dark. The earth shook like
It never had before.

Something tall and brown and mean
Was blocking out the sun.
Somebody yelled, "The Pea Troll's here!
Everybody run!"

The children ran and screamed and cried.
That troll was mighty scary.
His feet were big. His teeth were sharp.
His beard was long and hairy.

He wore a coat down to his knees
That smelled like pickled beets
And when he opened up his mouth
It stank of sweaty feet.

He roared, "I need a hearty meal.
A little girl would do."
He sniffed around throughout the park
And said, "Oh Penny-Sue.

"You smell good enough to eat.
I'll eat you with ice cream."
Poor Penny thought, "This can't be real.
I must be in a dream."

They made their way back to his cave
Just outside of town.
Another messy, smelly cave
Like this could not be found.

The troll put Penny on a shelf
And said, "Don't squirm or scream
I have to mix a special sauce
To put on my ice cream."

He started with some onions,
Mixed in garlic, salt and prunes,
A cup of muddy water,
And a couple small raccoons.

A cow, a mule, two dogs, three cats,
A dozen dragonflies,
Three cups of chocolate frog legs,
And some crocodile eyes.

While all of this was happening,
Poor Penny watched in fear.
She knew that she liked ice cream
But she wouldn't like it here.

She sat there crying, feeling very
Sorry for herself.
She didn't even notice someone else
Was on that shelf.

A little elf had just appeared
And said, "Now don't you cry"
I have a little treat for you.
It's something you should try."

The elf held out a plate of peas
To give to Penny-Sue.
He told her, "These are special peas.
You'll know what to do."

With that, the elf just disappeared
As quickly as a sneeze.
Where once he was, he now was not.
He'd left behind those peas.

Penny-Sue said, "What's the use?
I may be eaten soon.
I'll try these peas. I'll eat them up.
I'll lick them off the spoon."

So Penny popped the smallest pea
And heaved a mighty sigh.
She didn't choke. She didn't gag.
She didn't faint or die.

In fact, this pea was pretty good.
In fact, this pea was great.
So Penny-Sue kept eating peas
Until she'd cleaned her plate.

Just then, the troll grabbed Penny-Sue
And with a mighty toss,
He dropped her in his ice cream bowl
And covered her with sauce.

That ice cream bowl was mighty cold.
That sauce was mighty gross.
That mean old troll looked hungry
As his spoon was getting close.

Then Penny-Sue felt something
That was rising from inside.
She knew she couldn't stop it,
Wouldn't matter how she tried.

A mighty BURP came through her lips
And Penny gave a frown.
For peas don't taste as good
Coming up as going down.

A greenish fog spread through the cave
And poured outside as well.
The troll reared back his ugly head,
And then asked, "What's that smell?"

"It doesn't smell like broccoli",
The troll said, as he wheezed.
"It doesn't smell like anything,
Except ... Oh no, NOT PEAS!"

Penny-Sue stood watching
As he hid behind a chair.
He cried and moaned, "Please don't do that.
It really isn't fair!"

"Please don't burp your peas at me,"
He whimpered and he frowned.
"Go on and leave me all alone.
Please go on back to town."

Penny-Sue thought, "What a break!"
And ran home to her room.
A tasty plate of peas had
Delivered her from doom.

And now, when it is suppertime,
And someone offers peas,
Penny-Sue holds out her plate
And answers ...

    "YES PLEASE!"

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:18 PM

We started our son on poetry before he was two, and he loves it. I can recommend no book better than Donald Hall's Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems, which he absolutely LOVES. He has his favorite poems, of course, and they switch from time to time, but it's wonderful bedtime reading. And the poems are good, quality poems - some of them silly, but by no means all of them. It's wonderful for the an adult as well.

Dan

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:27 PM

Try your public library.

When we were kids, we had a set called "the Junior Classics." they came with the World Book. The poetry book in that set was very good.

When my niece was born, my sister entered 'dibs' on the Junior Classics on her behalf.

I'm pleased to hear that your and your children are enjoying poety together.

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:33 AM

Thanks, guys. I'll try those.

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Willa
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:25 PM

Here's a good selection. I bought the Puffin one for my grandsons, 4 and 5. The illustrations add to the pleasure of the poetry. I liked Hillaire Belloc's poems and tales as a youngster.

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Willa
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:27 PM

Forgot the link!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=children%27s+poems&x=23&y=36

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Micca
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:34 PM

Here in the UK Roger McGough has written some real good Childrens poetry

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:42 PM

The Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee

Ho, for the Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee!
He was as wicked as wicked could be,
But oh, he was perfectly gorgeous to see!
The Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee.

His conscience, of course, was as black as a bat,
But he had a floppety plume on his hat
And when he went walking it jiggled - like that!
The plume of the Pirate Dowdee.

His coat it was crimson and cut with a slash,
And often as ever he twirled his mustache
Deep down in the ocean the mermaids went splash,
Because of Don Dirk of Dowdee.

Moreover, Dowdee had a purple tattoo,
And stuck in his belt where he buckled it through
Were a dagger, a dirk, and a squizzarmaroo,
For fierce was the Pirate Dowdee.

So fearful he was he would shoot at a puff,
And always at sea when the weather grew rough
He drank from a bottle and wrote on his cuff,
Did Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee.

Oh, he had a cutlass that swung at his thigh
And he had a parrot called Pepperkin Pye,
And a zigzaggy scar at the end of his eye,
Had Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee.

He kept in a cavern, this buccaneer bold,
A curious chest that was covered with mold,
And all of his pockets were jingly with gold!
Oh jing! went the gold of Dowdee.

His conscience, of course, it was crook'd like a squash,
But both of his boots made a slickery slosh,
And he went through the world with a wonderful swash,
Did Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee.

It's true he was wicked as wicked could be,
His sins they outnumbered a hundred and three,
But oh, he was perfectly gorgeous to see,
The Pirate Don Dirk of Dowdee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll post a few more when I have more time, today.

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 03:12 PM

Paul - have you considered the fact that many traditional collected "ballads" are epic stories in rhyme. Let's face it, many would be totally unsingable as a song, unless you had an hour or two to sit and listen.
I had this thought after reading a thread which refers to a Robin Hood song in the Digital Tradition.
Looking at the lyric, it seems to fit what you are looking for.
If I have guessed right, you could go on to check out sources such as the Child Ballads .

Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 03:35 PM

Hi Paul, I've just read your poem to my grandaughter and she also enjoyed it.
It's similar to the Cautionary tales we used to read - like Matilda.
Click here for all you need to know about Cautionary tales

Robyn

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:54 PM

Hey Kat: We love Don Dirk. Please keep them coming!

I've looked up a few Cautionary Tales, Robyn. Fantastic stuff! What could be better than a poem that scares the hell out of the kids? It turns out that Matilda was one of my wife's favourite poems when she was a kid. She has a book of these somewhere that she is going to dig out for me ... and I'm glad your daughter liked Penny-Sue.

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone!

Paul

Subject: RE: poems for kids
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:55 PM

Oops! GRANDdaughter.