Poetry for Preschoolers Educational Books, Toys

One Fish, Two Fish

by Dr. Seuss

For ages 1+ years

It's a silly book. It's a strange book. It's the perfect introduction to Dr. Seuss . In this most nonsensical of nonsense poems, Dr. Seuss teaches rhythm, rhyme and the delights of manipulating (read more)

Comment (12)

Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children

by Caroline Kennedy

For ages 2-6 years

We all probably have, somewhere upon our shelves, a weighty anthology of poetry that we last opened when studying for a college English exam. Now that we are parents, it has crossed our minds that (read more)

Beast Feast

by Douglas Florian

For ages 2-6 years

Not only are these fantastic short poems amusing, but they are almost instantly memorizable. And, trust us, the sound of that little voice you love so much trilling off a little verse will really (read more)

Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstein

For ages 2-6 years

You surely remember this simply spectacular collection of poetry from when you were (ahem) younger. Here's a hint - if you don't want to count exactly how many decades ago that was, don't buy the (read more)

Comment (10)

If Not for the Cat

by Jack Prelutsky

For ages 2-6 years

You could easily think that a collection of haikus is well beyond the ken of our adored preschool set. You could also be wrong. Yes, this is a book you should keep around on the shelves for some (read more)

The Everyman Book of Nonsense Verse

by Louise Guinness

For ages 3-6 years

Okay, we admit it: we think this elegant volume makes a wonderful gift, but we mean that is really a gift for parents. But preschoolers themselves will love it too, and sharing it with their (read more)

Really Big Words

by Magnetic Poetry

For ages 3-6 years

Your little one is fully versed (pun intended) in the joys of rhythm and rhyme, so let him loose! Speak his mind (or write it) and see what clever little thoughts he's got in there. You already (read more)

Sylvia Long's Mother Goose

by illustrated by Sylvia Long

For ages 2-6 years

This quite modern take on the classic rhymes is simply breathtakingly lovely. The pen and watercolor drawings just blow us away. Some lesser known rhymes are mixed in, and many of the poems are (read more)

My First Real Mother Goose

by illustrated by Blanche Fish Wright

For ages 2-6 years

This board book version has almost 20 of the best known rhymes, and it makes them come alive through the vivid, immediately engaging illustrations. The look of the characters is older where it needs (read more)

A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes

by Kady MacDonald Denton

For ages 2-6 years

This volume truly has it all. There are four sections, beginning with the easiest babyhood rhymes and games, moving through the Mother Goose classics to the nonsense chants and games of the (read more)

Each Peach Pear Plum

by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

For ages 2-6 years

This charmingly illustrated book is really a game of "I Spy" masquerading as a romp through the nursery rhyme and other classic folk tale favorites. You can certainly read it happily to a very (read more)

Classic Nursery Rhymes

by Susie Tallman

For ages 2-6 years

Okay, we admit it. We do become a mite desperate at times for someone (anyone) other than us to do the next round of Humpty, Dumpty. Susie Tallman, to the rescue. This CD has 37 (!) tracks of (read more)

Hush Little Baby

by Sylvia Long

For ages 2-6 years

Sylvia Long reworks the classic lullaby we all know and love to wonderful effect. In truth, we're usually a bit wary of attempts to improve on childhood classics. But Long's new lyrics stand on (read more)

Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes

by Alma Flor Ada

For ages 2-6 years

We adore nursery rhymes, especially this lovely collection of Latin American poems, songs, rhymes for children. Many of the Spanish language children's books available today are translations of (read more)

Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young

by Knopf Books for Young Readers

For ages 18 months - 6 years

First published in 1986 and just as fresh and relevant today, this widely acclaimed, child-friendly poetry anthology is now being reissued with a striking new jacket. In his introduction to this (read more)

In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden & Frogs Wore Red Suspenders

by Jack Prelutsky

For ages 2 to 6 years

Yes, you're right. This is an audio CD, not a book. But it's the best audio CD of the year reading one of the best books of 2007, as well as one of the best books of two years ago! And it features (read more)

Jabberwocky

by Lewis Carroll

For ages 4 to 6 years

This brilliant adaptation of Lewis Carroll's famous grown-up poem will knock the socks of both parent readers and preschooler listeners. The magic of Carroll's verse is that its nonsense words tell (read more)

Comment (2)

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore

For ages

Most of us have a preferred version of The Night Before Christmas. All we can do is humbly tell you about our own favorite, the loveliest we've ever seen! The pictures are sweet and old-fashioned, (read more)

Dog Days: Rhymes Around the Year

by Jack Prelutsky

For ages

We do revere Jack Prelutsky's poems, even if they haven't been as close to our hearts for as long as, say, Sendak's Chicken Soup with Rice. And when Mr. Prelutsky turns his talents towards the (read more)

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

For ages

Susan Jeffers's exquisite pictures of the snowy forest and its creatures bring this beloved poem to life for small readers. It's a beautiful reading experience for kids and grownups, and we can (read more)

Elephants Never Forget!

by Anushka Ravishankar

For ages 4-8 years

This is a brand-new book with an old-fashioned soul. It seems almost like a fable that Aesop lost track of, or at least a story from the 50s that just got a retro re-do. The illustrations in the (read more)