Keep reading for 30 kids’ poems—from ones written with kindergarteners in mind to short ones and long ones and some of the most famous ones. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
30 Best Poems for Kids
1. “Sick” by Shel Silverstein
“I cannot go to school today,“Said little Peggy Ann McKay.“I have the measles and the mumps,A gash, a rash and purple bumps.My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,I’m going blind in my right eye.My tonsils are as big as rocks,I’ve counted sixteen chicken poxAnd there’s one more—that’s seventeen,And don’t you think my face looks green?My leg is cut—my eyes are blue—It might be instamatic flu.I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,I’m sure that my left leg is broke—My hip hurts when I move my chin,My belly button’s caving in,My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.My nose is cold, my toes are numb.I have a sliver in my thumb.My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,I hardly whisper when I speak.My tongue is filling up my mouth,I think my hair is falling out.My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,My temperature is one-o-eight.My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,There is a hole inside my ear.I have a hangnail, and my heart is—what?What’s that? What’s that you say?You say today is… Saturday?G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
2. “Puzzle” by Matt Goodfellow
Puzzlewe are all jigsaw pieces before we are gone we must find a way to fit together as one
3. “Firefly” by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
A little light is going by,Is going up to see the sky,A little light with wings.I never could have thought of it,To have a little bug all litAnd made to go on wings.
4. “Winter Luck” by Mattie Stepanek
Snowflakes…They come down so slow, And sometimes so fast, Looking like pretty stars Falling down, down, down To the ground. Little stars with little holes, Bigger stars with bigger holes, They are all cuddly snowflake stars. Snowflakes ofthe tiny snows, Snowstars of the bigger snows, I will catch you on my hand Or on my tongue And make a wish…I will make a wish on My falling snowstar, And then have good luck All day, all night, all Ever.
5. “A Worm in My Pocket” by Jodee Samano
One rainy day on my way home from school,I found a big worm and thought it was cool.I picked up the worm with my bare hand,held it up high, thinking how grand!The worm was so cute and wiggled a lot.I put him in my pocket to show Mom what I’d caught.What will she say when I show her my find?Will she let me keep it? I hope she won’t mind.Mom was in the kitchen when I showed her what I’d found.She screamed, “No, way! Put it back in the ground!“Now I’m so angry; she always says, “No.“If she won’t let me keep it, then I will just go!So me and my worm packed a sandwich or two,ran out the door, and down the street we both flew.We walked to the park and sat on a bench.I pulled out my worm and noticed a stench.He looked kind of floppy but wiggled a bit.I thought, “Oh my Gosh, my worm is not fit!“I laid him in the dirt and let him go free.I guess that my pocket was not the best place to be.
6. “Happy Thoughts” by Robert Louis Stevenson
The world is so fullof a number of things,I’m sure we should allbe as happy as kings.
7. “Being Brave at Night” by Edgar Guest
The other night ‘bout two o’clock, or maybe it was three,An elephant with shining tusks came chasing after me.His trunk was wavin’ in the air an’ spoutin’ jets of steamAn’ he was out to eat me up, but still I didn’t screamOr let him see that I was scared - a better thought I had,I just escaped from where I was and crawled in bed with Dad.One time there was a giant who was horrible to see,He had three heads and twenty arms, an’ he came after meAnd red hot fire came from his mouths and every hand was redAnd he declared he’d grind my bones and make them into bread.But I was just too smart for him, I fooled him mighty bad,Before his hands could collar me I crawled in bed with Dad.I ain’t scared of nothin’ that comes pesterin’ me at night.Once I was chased by forty ghosts all shimmery an’ white.An’ I just raced ’em round the room an’ let ’em think maybeI’d have to stop an’ rest awhile, when they could capture me.Then when they leapt onto my bed, Oh Gee! But they were madTo find that I had slipped away an’ crawled in bed with Dad.No giants, ghosts or elephants have dared to come in there’Coz if they did he’d beat ’em up and chase ’em to their lair.They just hang ‘round the children’s roomsan’ snap an’ snarl an’ biteAn’ laugh if they can make ’em yellfor help with all their might.But I don’t ever yell out loud. I’m not that sort of lad,I slip from out the covers and I crawl in bed with Dad.
8. “There’s a Jungle on My Head” by Tony Zhou
9. “All My Great Excuses” by Kenn Nesbitt
I started on my homework,but my pen ran out of ink…My hamster ate my homework…My computer’s on the blink… I tripped and dropped my homeworkin the soup my mom was cooking…My brother flushed it down the toiletwhen I wasn’t looking… My mother ran my homeworkthrough the washer and the dryer…An airplane crashed into our house…My homework caught on fire… Tornadoes blew my notes away…Volcanoes rocked our town…My books were taken hostageby an evil killer clown… Some aliens abducted me…I had a shark attack…A pirate swiped my homeworkand refused to give it back… I worked on these excusesso darned long my teacher said,“I think you’ll find it’s easierto do the work instead.”
10. “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou
Shadows on the wallNoises down the hallLife doesn’t frighten me at allBad dogs barking loudBig ghosts in a cloudLife doesn’t frighten me at allMean old Mother GooseLions on the looseThey don’t frighten me at allDragons breathing flameOn my counterpaneThat doesn’t frighten me at all.I go booMake them shooI make funWay they runI won’t crySo they flyI just smileThey go wildLife doesn’t frighten me at all.Tough guys fightAll alone at nightLife doesn’t frighten me at all.Panthers in the parkStrangers in the darkNo, they don’t frighten me at all.That new classroom whereBoys all pull my hair(Kissy little girlsWith their hair in curls)They don’t frighten me at all.Don’t show me frogs and snakesAnd listen for my scream,If I’m afraid at allIt’s only in my dreams.I’ve got a magic charmThat I keep up my sleeveI can walk the ocean floorAnd never have to breathe.Life doesn’t frighten me at allNot at allNot at all.Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Short Poems for Kids
11. “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne
When I was One,I had just begun.When I was Two,I was nearly new.When I was ThreeI was hardly me.When I was Four,I was not much more.When I was Five,I was just alive.But now I am Six,I’m as clever as clever,So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.
12. “My Best Friend” by Abby Jenkins
Black and whiteThick and furryFast as the windAlways in a hurryCouple of spotsRub my earsAlways comes when his name he hearsLoves his ball; it’s his favorite thingWhat’s most fun for him? Everything!Great big tongue that licks my faceHas a crate, his very own spaceBig brown eyes like moon piesHe’s my friend till the very end!
13. “The Crocodile” by Lewis Carroll
How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail,And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws,And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!
14. “At the Zoo” by William Makepeace Thackeray
First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back;Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw;Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw;Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk;Then I saw the monkeys—mercy, how unpleasantly they smelt!
15. “maggie and milly and molly and may” by e.e. cummings
10maggie and milly and molly and maywent down to the beach(to play one day)and maggie discovered a shell that sangso sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,andmilly befriended a stranded starwhose rays five languid fingers were;and molly was chased by a horrible thingwhich raced sideways while blowing bubbles:andmay came home with a smooth round stoneas small as a world and as large as alone.For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
16. “Caterpillar” by Christina Rossetti
Brown and furryCaterpillar in a hurry,Take your walkTo the shady leaf, or stalk,Or what not,Which may be the chosen spot.No toad spy you,Hovering bird of prey pass by you;Spin and die,To live again a butterfly.
17. “Aim High to the Sky” by James McDonald
Aim high to the sky,In all that you do.Because you just never know,What it takes to be you. Be strong and be brave,But at the same time be kind.And always be sure,That you’re using your mind.
18. “Brother” by Mary Ann Hoberman
I had a little brotherAnd I brought him to my motherAnd I said I want anotherLittle brother for a change. But she said don’t be a botherSo I took him to my fatherAnd I said this little botherOf a brother’s very strange. But he said one little brotherIs exactly like anotherAnd every little brotherMisbehaves a bit, he said. So I took the little botherFrom my mother and my fatherAnd I put the little botherOf a brother back to bed.
19. “Then Laugh” by Bertha Adams Backus
Build for yourself a strong box,Fashion each part with care;When it’s strong as your hand can make it,Put all your troubles there; Hide there all thought of your failures,And each bitter cup that you quaff;Lock all your heartaches within it,Then sit on the lid and laugh. Tell no one else its contents,Never its secrets share;When you’ve dropped in your care and worryKeep them forever there; Hide them from sight so completelyThat the world will never dream half;Fasten the strong box securely-Then sit on the lid and laugh.
20. “Monday’s Child” Nursery Rhyme
Monday’s child is fair of faceTuesday’s child is full of graceWednesday’s child is full of woeThursday’s child has far to go,Friday’s child is loving and giving,Saturday’s child works hard for a living,And the child that is born on the Sabbath dayIs bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
Poems for Kindergartners
21. “Today the Teacher Farted” by Emma Briody
Today the teacher farted.It was an awful smell.It was just like a rotting egg,Straight from the depths of hell!She tried to keep it secretBy sitting in a group.But it was really obvious,When she said, “Who did that poop?“She screwed her bright, red face upAnd blamed it all on Claire.But later when I needed help,The stench was round her chair!She avoided my eye contactAnd ticked my work in green.But she knew that her body smellsWere foul and quite obscene.I asked her what that smell was.She said she’d not a clue.I hope to God that eggy smellWas fart and not a poo!Today the teacher farted.My word, what had she ate?I’ll always remember what she did,And now I’m thirty eight!
22. “Please Mrs Butler” by Allen Ahlberg
Please Mrs ButlerThis boy Derek DrewKeeps copying my work, Miss.What shall I do?Go sit in the hall, dear.Go sit in the sink.Take your books on the roof, my lamb.Do whatever you think.Please Mrs ButlerThis boy Derek DrewKeep taking my rubber, Miss.What shall I do?Keep it in your hand, dear.Hide it up your vest.Swallow it if you like, my love.Do what you think is best.Please Mrs ButlerThis boy Derek DrewKeeps calling me rude names, Miss.What shall I do?Lock yourself in the cupboard, dear.Run away to sea.Do whatever you can, my flower.But don’t ask me!
23. “One fish two fish red fish blue fish” by Dr. Seuss
Here are someWho like to run.They run for funIn the hot, hot sun.Oh me! Oh my!Oh me! Oh my!What a lotOf funny things go by.Some have two feetAnd some have four.Some have six feetAnd some have more.Where do they come from? I can’t say.But I bet they have come a long, long way.We see them come.We see them go.Some are fast.And some are slow.Some are highAnd some are low.Not one of themIs like another.Don’t ask us why.Go ask your mother.Say!Look at his fingers!One, two, three…How many fingersDo I see?One, two, three, four,Five, six, seven,Eight, nine, ten.He has eleven!Eleven!This is something new.I wish I hadEleven, too!
24. “Wee Willie Winkie” by William Miller
Wee Willie Winkie rins through the town, Upstairs and doon stairs, in his nicht-gown,Tirlin’ at the window, cryin’ at the lock,“Are the weans in their bed? – for it’s noo ten o’clock.” Hey, Willie Winkie! are ye comin’ ben?The cat’s singin’ gay thrums to the sleepin’ hen,The doug’s speldered on the floor, and disna gie a cheep;But here’s a waukrife laddie, that winna fa’ asleep. Onything but sleep, ye rogue! – glowrin’ like the moon,Rattlin’ in an airn jug wi’ an airn spoon,Rumblin’, tumblin’ roun’ about, crawin’ like a cock,Skirlin’ like a kenna-what – wauknin’ sleepin’ folk! Hey, Willie Winkie! the wean’s in a creel!Waumblin’ aff a bodie’s knee like a vera eel,Ruggin’ at the cat’s lug, and ravellin’ a’ her thrums:Hey, Willie Winkie! – See, there he comes!
25. “If You Ever Meet a Whale” by Myra Cohn Livingston
If you ever, ever, ever,If you ever, ever, ever,If you ever, ever, ever, meet a whale,You must never, never, never,You must never, never, never,You must never, never, never touch its tail.For if you ever, ever, ever,If you ever, ever, everIf you ever, ever, ever touch its tail,For if you ever, ever, ever,If you ever, ever, everIf you ever, ever, ever touch its tail,You will never, never, never,You will never, never, never,You will never, neverMeet another whale.
26. “Eletelephony” by Laura Elizabeth Richards
Once there was an elephant,Who tried to use the telephant—No! No! I mean an elephoneWho tried to use the telephone—(Dear me! I am not certain quiteThat even now I’ve got it right.)Howe’er it was, he got his trunkEntangled in the telephunk;The more he tried to get it free,The louder buzzed the telephee—(I fear I’d better drop the songOf elephop and telephong!)
27. “Turn Off the TV!” by Bruce Lansky
My father gets quite mad at me;my mother gets upset—when they catch me watchingour new television set. My father yells, “Turn that thing off!”Mom says, “It’s time to study.”I’d rather watch my favorite TV showwith my best buddy. I sneak down after homeworkand turn the set on low.But when she sees me watching it,my mother yells out, “No!” Dad says, “If you don’t turn it off,I’ll hang it from a tree!”I rather doubt he’ll do it,’cause he watches more than me. He watches sports all weekend,and weekday evenings too,while munching chips and pretzels—the room looks like a zoo. So if he ever got the nerveto hang it from a tree,he’d spend a lot of time up there—watching it with me.
28. “Purple Cow” by Gelett Burgess
I never saw a purple cow,I never hope to see one,But I can tell you, anyhow,I’d rather see than be one!
29. “Every Time I Climb a Tree” by David McCord
Every time I climb a treeEvery time I climb a treeEvery time I climb a treeI scrape a legOr skin a kneeAnd every time I climb a treeI find some antsOr dodge a beeAnd get the antsAll over me. And every time I climb a treeWhere have you been?They say to meBut don’t they know that I am freeEvery time I climb a tree? I like it bestTo spot a nestThat has an eggOr maybe three. And then I skinThe other legBut every time I climb a treeI see a lot of things to seeSwallows rooftops and TVAnd all the fields and farms there beEvery time I climb a treeThough climbing may be good for antsIt isn’t awfully good for pantsBut still it’s pretty good for meEvery time I climb a tree.
30. “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourselfAny direction you choose.You’re on your own. Andyou know what you know.And YOU are the guy who’lldecide where to go. You’ll get mixed up,of course, as you already know.You’ll get mixed up withmany strange birds as you go.So be sure when you step.Step with care and greattact and remember thatLife’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed?Yes! You will, indeed!(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU’LL MOVEMOUNTAINS! Next up, the best Would You Rather questions for kids!
