Children's poetry is

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...

written for, appropriate for, or enjoyed by children. Children's poetry is one of the oldest art forms, rooted in early

oral tradition Oral tradition, or oral lore, is a form of human communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas and cultural material is received, preserved, and transmitted orally from one generation to another. Vansina, Jan: ''Oral Tradition as History'' (1985) ...

, folk poetry, and

nursery rhymes A nursery rhyme is a traditional poem or song for children in Britain and many other countries, but usage of the term dates only from the late 18th/early 19th century. The term Mother Goose rhymes is interchangeable with nursery rhymes. From t ...

. Children have always enjoyed both works of poetry written for children and works of poetry intended for adults. In the West, as people's conception of childhood changed, children's poetry shifted from being a teaching tool to a form of entertainment. The first glimpse of children being shaped by poetry was noted by The Opies, renowned anthologists and literary historians. They saw that before the mid-eighteenth century there wasn't much written for children aside from encouraging phrases.

Ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

s of the 18th century launched the modern genre of children's poetry. Today, many poets (such as

Dr. Seuss Theodor Seuss Geisel (;"Seuss"
'' Shel Silverstein Sheldon Allan Silverstein (; September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer / songwriter, musician, and playwright. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended university before ...

, and

Jack Prelutsky Jack Prelutsky (born September 8, 1940) is an American writer of children's poetry who has published over 50 poetry collections. He served as the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate (now called the Young People's Poet Laureate) from 2006–08 ...

) are primarily known for their work aimed at children; many poets who primarily write for adults (such as

Ogden Nash Frederic Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971) was an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes, he was declared by ''The New York Times'' the country's bes ...

and Robert Frost) are also known for beloved children's poetry.

History

Early children's poetry

Poetry is universal throughout the world's oral traditions as songs and folklore passed down to younger generations.Ntuli, Cynthia Danisile Daphne (20 December 2013). " Children's oral poetry: A reflection on the role of Imilolozelo (lullabies) as Art Performance in Zulu". ''Muziki''. 10 (sup1): 13–23. doi:10.1080/18125980.2013.852739.

ISSN An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs ...

1812-5980.

S2CID Semantic Scholar is an artificial intelligence–powered research tool for scientific literature developed at the Allen Institute for AI and publicly released in November 2015. It uses advances in natural language processing to provide summaries ...

192177851. Retrieved 10 August 2021. The oldest works of children's poetry, such as Zulu imilolozelo, are part of cultural oral traditions. In China, the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom ...

became known as the Golden Age of Chinese poetry with the invention of the movable type.The Evolution of Children's Stories
. ''www.mykabook.com''. Retrieved 10 August 2021. Some poets chose to write poems specifically for children, often to teach moral lessons. Many poems from that era, like "Toiling Farmers", are still taught to children today. In Europe, written poetry was uncommon before the invention of the

printing press A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink. It marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing methods in which the ...

.Adcock, Joshua. "Publishing Shakespeare: A History of the Printing Press.". Most children's poetry was still passed down through the oral tradition. However, some wealthy children were able to access handmade lesson books written in rhyme. With the invention of the printing press, European literature exploded. The earliest printed poetry for children is nearly all educational in nature. In the fifteenth century and sixteenth century, courtesy books aimed at children sought to teach them good manners and appropriate behavior. Les Contenances de la Table, published in 1487, is a French example; The Babee's Boke and Queen Elizabethe's Academy are both English examples, printed in the 1500s.Ward, Adolphus William; Trent, William Peterfield (1907–21). ''The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes, Volume 11'' (bartleby.com ed.).

ISBN The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier that is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition an ...

1-58734-073-9. Retrieved 10 August 2021. The first children's book printed in the New World was John Cotton's ''Milk for Babes, Drawn out of the Breasts of Both Testaments, Chiefly for the Spiritual Nourishment of Boston Babes'' in either England, but may be of like use for any children.Cotton, John, BD; Royster, Paul (1646). ''Milk for Babes. Drawn Out of the Breasts of Both Testaments. Chiefly, for the Spirituall Nourishment of Chiefly, for the Spirituall Nourishment of BostonBoston Babes in Either Babes in Either EnglandEngland: But May Be of Like Use for Any Children (1646) : But May Be of Like Use for Any Children''. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Retrieved 10 August 2021. Published in 1646, it was a child's Puritan catechism. While the first edition was not in verse, later editions were rewritten into the earliest American children's poetry. Another notable work of early children's poetry is

John Bunyan John Bunyan (; baptised 30 November 162831 August 1688) was an English writer and Puritan preacher best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory ''The Pilgrim's Progress,'' which also became an influential literary model. In addition ...

's ''A Book for Boys and Girls'', first published in 1686, and later abridged and re-published as ''Divine Emblems''. It consists of short poems about common, everyday subjects, each in rhyme, with a Christian moral. Mother Goose riding

Eighteenth century

In the eighteenth century, a separate genre of children's literature, including poetry, began to emerge. As before, many works of children's poetry were written to teach children moral virtues. Isaac Watts' Divine Songs are an example of this concept. They were reprinted for a 150 years, in six or seven hundred editions. In fact, they were so popular that

Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (; 27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet and mathematician. His most notable works are '' Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865) and its sequ ...

parodied them two hundred years later in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.Murdoch, Lydia. "Alice and the Question of Victorian Childhood - Archives & Special Collections Library - Vassar College". ''specialcollections.vassar.edu''. Retrieved 10 August 2021. JR Townshend argues that

Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...

was the first true poet for children. For the first time since the invention of the printing press, children's poetry was being written to entertain. Nursery rhymes became popular for children in the mid-eighteenth century. The first published book of children's nursery rhymes was likely

Tommy Thumb's Song Book ''Tommy Thumb's Song Book'' is the earliest known collection of British nursery rhymes, printed in 1744. No original copy has survived, but its content has been recovered from later reprints. It contained many rhymes that are still well known. ...

, published in 1744 by a woman named Mrs. Cooper. Most of the nursery rhymes contained in the Song Book are familiar to modern audiences, and were most likely passed through the oral tradition before being written down. In the late eighteenth century,

John Newbery John Newbery (9 July 1713 – 22 December 1767), considered "The Father of Children's Literature", was an English publisher of books who first made children's literature a sustainable and profitable part of the literary market. He also supported ...

, the first publisher of English children's books, began to publish children's poetry. He first published the

Mother Goose The figure of Mother Goose is the imaginary author of a collection of French fairy tales and later of English nursery rhymes. As a character, she appeared in a song, the first stanza of which often functions now as a nursery rhyme. This, howeve ...

rhymes in the 1760s and then

A Little Pretty Pocket-Book ''A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, intended for the Amusement of Little Master Tommy and Pretty Miss Polly with Two Letters from Jack the Giant Killer'' is the title of a 1744 children's book by British publisher John Newbery. History It is generall ...

a few years later.

Nineteenth century

In the nineteenth century, children's poets continued to write for children's entertainment.

Ann Taylor Ann or Anne Taylor may refer to: *Ann Taylor (writer, born 1757) (1757–1830), English writer *Ann Taylor (poet) (1782–1866), English poet and children's writer, daughter of the above *Ann Taylor (actress) (born 1936), British actress, hostess a ...

and Jane Taylor wrote several books of children's poetry that contained poems such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "My Mother".

The Cambridge History of English and American Literature ''The Cambridge History of English and American Literature'' is an encyclopedia of literary criticism that was published by Cambridge University Press between 1907 and 1921. Edited and written by an international panel of 171 leading scholars and ...

claims that their poems are 'proverbial'. Cautionary tales like Miss Turner's Cautionary Stories became popular around this time, and were reprinted well into the twentieth century. These 'cautionary tales' follow the pattern of the Divine Songs and Courtesy Books of past centuries- they are short verses about children who do something terrible and face the consequences. They became enough of a cultural staple to be parodied by writers such as

Hilaire Belloc Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (, ; 27 July 187016 July 1953) was a Franco-English writer and historian of the early twentieth century. Belloc was also an orator, poet, sailor, satirist, writer of letters, soldier, and political activist. H ...

and

Edward Gorey Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925 – April 15, 2000) was an American writer, Tony Award-winning costume designer, and artist, noted for his own illustrated books as well as cover art and illustration for books by other writers. Hi ...

. Other moralist authors, like Charles and Mary Lamb, wanted to educate more than preach. Their best-known work for children, Tales from Shakespeare, attempted to simplify and censor the works of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

to be suitable for young minds. Critics praised the clarity of the writing, but even at the time, argued that it might be too complicated for children to understand. Also during this time, society started seeing childhood as a different state from adulthood, an innocent state that should be focused on gentle education and play. One of the most significant works from the early nineteenth century was

William Roscoe William Roscoe (8 March 175330 June 1831) was an English banker, lawyer, and briefly a Member of Parliament. He is best known as one of England's first abolitionists, and as the author of the poem for children ''The Butterfly's Ball, and the G ...

's 1807 The Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast. Despite a mixed reception from critics, its significance cannot be understated, and all modern picture books owe something to its influence. Other stories-in-verse followed, including A Visit From Saint Nicholas (better known as 'Twas the Night before Christmas) and Robert Browning's

The Pied Piper of Hamelin The Pied Piper of Hamelin (german: der Rattenfänger von Hameln, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to ...

. These works, written by 'respectable' members of society, proved that public opinion was changing. Children's literature was as likely to be fanciful as it was moralizing. Around this time, the

Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm ( or ), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), were a brother duo of German academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers, and authors who together collected and published folklore. They are among the ...

began collecting folklore. Romantic ideals of nationalism and aestheticism suddenly gave fairy tales a new significance. Many nineteenth century authors began to write new fairy tales, some in prose and some in verse. This new cultural acceptance of romanticism and lack of meaning in children's literature led to the creation of a new genre of children's poetry: nonsense verse, whimsical poetry that focuses more on sound than sense. Although nonsense verse existed for most of human history, it was rare to see original nonsense verse in print until the 1800s. One of the first modern poets to write nonsense verse was Edward Lear - his limericks focus on absurd, whimsical situations, and his later poetry revels in made-up words and ridiculous concepts. Lear's most notable poems include The Jumblies,

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat "The Owl and the Pussy-cat" is a nonsense poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1870 in the American magazine '' Our Young Folks: an Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls'' and again the following year in Lear's own book ''Nonsense Songs, ...

, and The Pobble Who Has No Toes.

, author of

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creature ...

, also is well known for writing nonsense verse. His parodies of famous children's poetry, such as How Doth the Little Crocodile, shine an amusing light on Victorian children's moral lessons. At the turn of the century,

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

wrote a number of notable poems for children.Karlin, Daniel (23 December 2015). "Kipling and the origins of the 'Just-So' stories". ''OUPblog''. Retrieved 27 August 2021. Most of them are contained in the

Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' (1894) is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...

or in the

Just So Stories ''Just So Stories for Little Children'' is a 1902 collection of origin stories by the British author Rudyard Kipling. Considered a classic of children's literature, the book is among Kipling's best known works. Kipling began working on the ...

, an anthology of stories that Kipling wrote for his daughter Effie. Pied Piper2

Twentieth century

Children's poetry continued to diversify and expand through the twentieth century, adopting new forms and new methods of expression."Poetry for Children." ''The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature''. Edited by Daniel Hahn. Oxford University Press, Inc., Oxford, UK, 2015 One of the twentieth century's pioneers of picture books was

Leonard Leslie Brooke Leonard Leslie Brooke (24 September 1862 – 2 May 1940) was a British artist and writer. Early life and education Brooke was born in Birkenhead, England, the second son of Leonard D. Brooke.General Register Office index of births registered i ...

, who wrote picture books about a character named Johnny Crow. Unlike previous illustrated books for children, they were single poems with each line of verse illustrated, rather than a series of poems each with their own illustration. Children's magazines like St. Nicholas Magazine were also instrumental in the growth of children's poetry during this period. Notable authors like

Lucy Maud Montgomery Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a collection of novels, essays, short stories, and poetry beginning in 1908 with ''Anne of Green Gables''. She ...

and

William Makepeace Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray (; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was a British novelist, author and illustrator. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his 1848 novel ''Vanity Fair'', a panoramic portrait of British society, and t ...

published poetry in these magazines, and many young poets published their first works thanks to the contests the magazine regularly held.Shaw, John McKay (1965). ''poems, poets & illustrators of St. Nicholas magazine, 1873-1943''. Talahassee: Florida State University, Strozier Library. Retrieved 5 February 2022. Other notable children's poets of the early 20th century include

Eleanor Farjeon Eleanor Farjeon (13 February 1881 – 5 June 1965) was an English author of children's stories and plays, poetry, biography, history and satire. Several of her works had illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. Some of her correspondence has also been ...

Laura E. Richards Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (February 27, 1850 – January 14, 1943) was an American writer. She wrote more than 90 books including biographies, poetry, and several for children. One well-known children's poem is her literary nonsense verse " ...

, and

Walter de la Mare Walter John de la Mare (; 25 April 1873 – 22 June 1956) was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for a highly acclaimed selection of ...

. Richards was described by

May Hill Arbuthnot May Hill Arbuthnot (August 27, 1884 – October 2, 1969) was an American educator, editor, writer, and critic who devoted her career to the awareness and importance of children's literature. Her efforts expanded and enriched the selection of bo ...

as 'the American Poet Laureate of Nonsense for Children', and started her career writing poetry for St. Nicholas magazine. She published many short, narrative poems in magazines, and her first book, 'Tirra Lirra', in 1932. The late 1970s saw several notable poets taking a playful attitude to children's poetry, specifically with the rise of ‘urchin verse’ in the United Kingdom. Notable authors exhibiting this kind of poetic technique include:

Michael Rosen Michael Wayne Rosen (born 7 May 1946) is a British children's author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster and activist who has written 140 books. He served as Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009. Early life Michael Wayne Ro ...

Allan Ahlberg Janet Ahlberg (21 October 1944 – 15 November 1994; née Hall) and Allan Ahlberg (born 5 June 1938) were a British married couple who created many children's books, including picture books that regularly appear at the top of "most popular" lis ...

, and

Benjamin Zephaniah Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (born 15 April 1958)Gregory, Andy (2002), ''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002'', Europa, p. 562. . is a British writer and dub poet. He was included in ''The Times'' list of Britain's top 50 post-wa ...

all of whom critically influenced the shaping of the modern educational and playground experience for children.

Twenty-first century

Recent children's poetry has been confined to the medium of picture books and, as a result, aimed at younger children as the audience. In the United States,

Julia Donaldson Julia Donaldson (born Julia Catherine Shields; born ) is an English writer and playwright, and the 2011–2013 Children's Laureate. She is best known for her popular rhyming stories for children, especially those illustrated by Axel Scheffler, ...

, Shell Silverstein,

, and

Theodor Geisel Theodor Seuss Geisel (;"Seuss"
''

Importance

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803April 27, 1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champ ...

suggested poetry helps children learn the power of a few words.Kuskin, Karla. "Poetry in Children's Literature." ''Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature''. Edited by Bernice E. Cullinan, and Diane G. Person. Continuum, London, UK, 2005 He proposes that through any form of verse, children can be introduced to both language and rhythm held within poetic structure. Sandra Lennox expands on this point with her studies suggesting poetry helps children strengthen their oral and written language skills along with their mental understanding of the world around them.Lennox, Sandra. "The Potential of Poetry for Early Literacy Learning: Why, how and what?" ''Practically Primary'', vol. 19, no. 3, 2014, pp. 21-24. EBSCOhost; Education Source She also suggests that the rhythmic nature of poetry helps children hoan their vocabulary and word meaning abilities. Poetry helps children develop their literacy skills such as phonemic awareness through pitch, voice inflection, and volume; memorization through patterns and sequences; physical awareness of breath, and movements of the mouth and other gestures as they align to the rhythm of the poetry."5 Benefits of Poetry Recitation in a Child's Literacy Development , Scholar Base". ''scholar-base.com''. Retrieved 2018-11-19. Scholars also see that poetry and nursery rhymes are universal throughout cultures as an oral tradition. Furthermore, Krystyna Nowak-Fabrykowski found, in her analysis of poems published by children in Canadian elementary school, that poetry helps guide children to express themselves in a more creative and descriptive nature. Also, Mika and Tsitsi Nyoni found, through their study of the African Indigenous Knowledge System, that poems cannot be treated as solely an element of “play” for children because of the loaded content children need to interact with to engage in the activity.Nyoni, Tsitsi, and Mika Nyoni. "The Form and Content of Children's Poetry and Games on a Kaleidoscopic Cultural Terrain." ''Theory & Practice in Language Studies'', vol. 3, no. 2, 2013, pp. 233-243. EBSCOhost; Education Source They go on to explain that poems instill values and attitudes that direct the child throughout the rest of their lives while remaining in the comfort of their own homes. Inspired by Hollindale's Signs of Childness in Children's Books (1997), Debbie Pullinger reviewed various poetry as a case study to show how linear progression and the presence of a child protagonist are the two central literary elements that divide children and adult poetry. Lastly, despite modern society being largely urban and, as a result, the majority of children's poets having this environment be a big part of their lived experience, very few poets have engaged with this topic in their work.Russell, David L. "“The City Spreads its Wings”: The Urban Experience in Poetry for Children." ''Children's Literature in Education'', vol. 29, no. 1, 1998, pp. 31-42. EBSCOhost; Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson) A few of the exceptions are Richard Margolis, Paul Janeczko, and

Gary Soto Gary Anthony Soto (born April 12, 1952) is an American poet, novelist, and memoirist. Life and career Soto was born to Mexican-American parents Manuel (1910–1957) and Angie Soto (1924-). In his youth, he worked in the fields of the San Joaqui ...

who all had their point of view driven by social issues.

Awards

Awards that are given for children's poetry: * United States - In the United States children's poetry awards include the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, established in 1977, awarded annually by the

National Council of Teachers of English The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is a United States professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum ...

and the position of Young People's Poet Laureate, a two-year appointment awarded by the

Poetry Foundation The Poetry Foundation is an American literary society that seeks to promote poetry and lyricism in the wider culture. It was formed from ''Poetry'' magazine, which it continues to publish, with a 2003 gift of $200 million from philanthropist Rut ...

to an author of children's poetry. *

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

- In the United Kingdom the Poetry for Children: Signal Award was published in the journal, Signal: Approaches to Children's Books, from 1979 to 2001. *

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

- The Lion and The Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry, established in 2005, is annually awarded by the

Johns Hopkins University Press The Johns Hopkins University Press (also referred to as JHU Press or JHUP) is the publishing division of Johns Hopkins University. It was founded in 1878 and is the oldest continuously running university press in the United States. The press publi ...

Notable children's poets

is an English writer known for several best-selling children's books, both full of poetry and children's literature, illustrated by his wife Janet. *

Arna Bontemps Arna Wendell Bontemps ( ) (October 13, 1902 – June 4, 1973) was an American poet, novelist and librarian, and a noted member of the Harlem Renaissance. Early life Bontemps was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, into a Louisiana Creole family. His a ...

(1902 - 1973) born in Alexandria, Louisiana and raised in California, is one of the most well known black writers of the twentieth century.Bracks, Lean'tin. "Arna Bontemps (1902–1973)." ''African American Almanac''. Visible Ink Press, Canton, MI, USA, 2012 He edited a volume of children's poetry in 1968. * Barbara Wersba (b. 1932) born in San Francisco, California and raised in New York City during her teen years, has published nine children's books including two books of children's poetry. *

Charles Lamb Charles Lamb (10 February 1775 – 27 December 1834) was an English essayist, poet, and antiquarian, best known for his ''Essays of Elia'' and for the children's book ''Tales from Shakespeare'', co-authored with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–18 ...

(1775–1834), best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children's book Tales from Shakespeare, co-authored with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–1847). * Dennis Lee (b. 1939) is known as one of the most popular Canadian children's poets.Gilbertson, Irvyn G. "Lee, Dennis." ''Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature''. Edited by Bernice E. Cullinan, and Diane G. Person. Continuum, London, UK, 2005 He was awarded the Canadian Library Association Award, Ruth Schwartz Award, and International Board on Books for Young People for his book of poetry for primary children entitled Garbage Delight (1977). * Edward Lear (1812–1888) was the first to use limericks in his writing, authoring A Book of Nonsense in 1846 and featuring silly poetry and neologisms."10 Wonderful Children's Poets You Should Know". ''Literary Hub''. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2018-11-19. *

Eugene Field Eugene Field Sr. (September 2, 1850 – November 4, 1895) was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. He was known as the "poet of childhood". Early life and education Field was born in St. Louis, Missour ...

(1850 - 1895) born in St. Louis, Missouri, is known for renowned children's poetry, such as “Little Boy Blue” and the “Dutch Lullaby”. *

Eve Merriam Eve Merriam (July 19, 1916 – April 11, 1992) was an American poet and writer. Writing career Merriam's first book was the 1946 ''Family Circle'', which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize. Her book, ''The Inner City Mother Goose'', was described ...

(1916 - 1992) is an American writer known for her poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and plays for children.Zaidman, Laura M. "Merriam, Eve 1916-1992." ''The Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English''. Edited by Victor Watson. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2001 In the world of children's poetry, she was consistently praised for her skillful metered verse, free verse, nonsense verse, and social conscience. *

Francisco X. Alarcón Francisco Xavier Alarcón (21 February 1954 – 15 January 2016) was a Chicano poet and educator. He was one of the few Chicano poets to have "gained recognition while writing mostly in Spanish" within the United States. His poems have been also ...

(1954–2016) first started writing poetry for children in 1997 after realizing there were very few books written by Latino authors. His poems are minimalist and airy, and often published in bilingual editions. *

Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein (February 3, 1874 – July 27, 1946) was an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny West neighborhood and raised in Oakland, California, Stein moved to Paris ...

(1874 - 1946) an American poet and writer, is known for insisting that all of her poetry should be classified as children's poetry.Flynn, Richard. "Stein, Gertrude (1874–1946)." ''The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales''. Edited by Jack Zipes. Oxford University Press, Inc., Oxford, UK, 2015 She often experimented with children's genres, specifically breaking the boundaries of what we define as children's literature traditionally. *

(b.1940) - Author of such works as A Gopher in the Garden and Other Animal Poems, Jack Prelutsky was selected the inaugural Young People's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation in 2006. *

Jacqueline Woodson Jacqueline Woodson (born February 12, 1963) is an American writer of books for children and adolescents. She is best known for '' Miracle's Boys'', and her Newbery Honor-winning titles ''Brown Girl Dreaming'', ''After Tupac and D Foster'', ''Fea ...

(b. 1963), writer of Newbery Honor-winning Brown Girl Dreaming, an adolescent novel told in verse. *

Jane Taylor (poet) Jane Taylor (23 September 178313 April 1824) was an English poet and novelist best known for the lyrics of the widely known "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". The sisters Jane and Ann Taylor and their authorship of various works have often been co ...

(1783–1824) co-wrote the ubiquitous Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star with her sister. *

Jean Sprackland Jean Sprackland (born 1962) is an English poet and writer, the author of five collections of poetry and two books of essays about place and nature. Biography Originally from Burton upon Trent, Jean Sprackland studied English and Philosophy at th ...

(b.1962), is an English poet, the author of three collections of poetry published since 1997. *

John Greenleaf Whittier John Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 – September 7, 1892) was an American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Frequently listed as one of the fireside poets, he was influenced by the Scottish poet ...

(1807 - 1892) based in Massachusetts, is remembered for his abolitionist and Quaker beliefs, ballads, and long narrative poems. *

Judith Viorst Judith Viorst (; née Stahl,Aarons, Leroy ''People (magazine)'', February 18, 1980 Vol. 13 No. 7. Accessed August 4, 2016. "Born in Maplewood, N.J., the daughter of an accountant and a mother 'who was a reader and a bridge player,' Judith Stahl ...

(b. 1931) is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. *

Mary Howitt Mary Howitt (12 March 1799-30 January 1888) was an English poet, the author of the famous poem '' The Spider and the Fly''. She translated several tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Some of her works were written in conjunction with her husband, ...

(1799 - 1888) based in the UK, is credited with introducing humor to children's poetry with her remembered poem “The Spider and the Fly” (1834). *

(b. 1946) is a broadcaster, children's novelist and poet.Lockwood, Michael. "Rosen, Michael (Wayne) 1946-." ''The Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English''. Edited by Victor Watson. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2001 He is remembered for his use of humor and irony in his children's poetry along with tackling social justice and sensitive issues. *

Nikki Giovanni Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. (born June 7, 1943) is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world's most well-known African-American poets,Jane M. Barstow, Yolanda Williams Page (eds)"Nikki Giovanni" ''E ...

(b. 1943) is one of the world's most well-known African-American poets. Her work directly addresses the African American experience in Spin a Soft Black Song and others. * N. M. Bodecker (1922 - 1988), born in Denmark, was both a prominent children's poet and children's literature illustrator.Rapport, Rebecca. "Bodecker, N.M. (Niels Mogens)." ''Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature''. Edited by Bernice E. Cullinan, and Diane G. Person. Continuum, London, UK, 2005 He is most remembered for his humor and use of figurative language in his poems. *

Paul Fleischman Paul Fleischman (born 1952) is an American writer of children's books. He and his father Sid Fleischman have both won the Newbery Medal from the American Library Association recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American lite ...

(b.1952) is best known for his collection Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices, winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal. *

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has be ...

(1916–1990) is one of the most successful children's writers in the world: around thirty million of his books have been sold in the UK alone.Once upon a time, there was a man who liked to make up stories ... ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' (Sunday, 12 December 2010) Dahl's collection of poems Revolting Rhymes is a re-interpretation of six well-known fairy tales, featuring surprise endings in place of the traditional happily-ever-after. *

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...

- author of such works as A Child's Garden of Verses. *

Shel Silverstein Sheldon Allan Silverstein (; September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer / songwriter, musician, and playwright. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended university before ...

- author of such works as Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, Silverstein also wrote The Giving Tree. *

Theodor Geisel Theodor Seuss Geisel (;"Seuss"
''

Tony Mitton (1951 –2022) was an English writer. He won the 2014 Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) / CLIPPA poetry award for the poem 'Wayland' *

Valerie Bloom Valerie Bloom MBE (born 1956)Jeffrey Wainwright''Poetry: The Basics''(2004), 2nd edition, Routledge, 2011, p. 21. is a Jamaican-born poet and a novelist based in the UK. *

Poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...