In honour of National Poetry Month, I have decided to do a TOP 10 post that features poetry, in particular, nonfiction poetry! Poetry can bring science to life for young children and any one of these books can be linked up to a unit you are studying. From Space, to Bees, to the Arctic and the Savannah, here is my collection of favorite poetry books that combine fascinating facts, delightful language and gorgeous illustrations.
- Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold – Joyce Sidman
If you have never read a Joyce Sidman book, you have been missing out! In my opinion she is the true Queen of Nonfiction Poetry so I have included two of her books on this list. Winter Bees provides insight and information on how plants and animals cope with the cold, winter months told through lyrical poetry and gorgeous lino-cut illustrations.
2. Song of the Water Boatman and other Pond Poems – Joyce Sidman
From algae to a nymph to a frog to a turtle, Joyce Sidman examines the living things in and around a pond through poetry. This would be a perfect book to compliment a unit of study on ponds or habitats.
3. Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars – Douglas Florian
This collection of whimsical, factual poetry about astronomy is by my #1 information poet – Douglas Florian. The book includes poems about each planet, as well as the moon, the sun, black holes, constellations, and other space topics. Includes die-cut pages and a glossary of space terms, making this a perfect anchor book for your study of space and planets.
4. Out of This World: Poems and Facts about Space – Amy E. Sklansky
Love the variety of different poetic forms, combined with fascinating space facts and gorgeous illustrations. A perfect addition to your Space book collection and great anchor to start your study of space!
5. Un-BEE-lievables – Douglas Florian
In fourteen funny, fact-filled poems about honeybees, Douglas Florian (major poet crush on this man!) explores the fascinating and often unexpected wonders of these insects’ lifestyles, families, communities and their importance on our ecosystems. Delightful paintings that will inspire some bee-autiful paintings from your students!
6. Seeds, Bees, Butterflies and More! Poems for Two Voices – Carole Gerber
Kids will have a blast performing these child-friendly poems. These funny, rhyming poems offer a close-up view of the plant and insect worlds, with an amazing amount of information about them. The art is bright, colorful and fabulous! A great book for teaching and performing!
7. A Strange Place to Call Home – the World’s Most Dangerous Habitats and the Animals that Call Them Home – Marilyn Singer
Marilyn Singer’s fascinating poems, accompanied by Ed Young’s collage illustrations, feature unusual creatures whose adaptations allow them to live in challenging and often unappealing habitats. There are helpful end notes which provide more information about each animal. I love how Singer uses a variety of poetic forms from free verse to haiku and sonnets (all defined at the back of the book).
8. When the Sun Shines on Antarctica and Other Poems about the Frozen Continent – Irene Latham
Brand new collection with poems about Antarctic life in the summer, including poems about plants, animals and landscape of this frigid climate. Each page is accompanied by a paragraph of facts and an illustration that captures the frozen landscape.
9. Polar Bear, Arctic Hare: Poems of the Frozen North – Eileen Spinelli
Eileen Spinelli’s delightful collection of factual poems about the Arctic can serve as an anchor for a more in-depth study of Arctic Animals (my favorite topic for nonfiction research writing!) This collection is perfect for reading aloud to and with early primary students. Spinelli’s playful writing style will tickle your tongue! In the back of the book is a helpful list of Arctic facts about each animal.
10. Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Watering Hole – Irene Latham
This collection of creative poems introduces a variety of grassland creatures who frequent this life-sustaining water source over the course of one day. An accurate and vivid account of survival on the Savannah that also includes a brief description of each animal on each double page spread. Entertaining and fascinating! I love the folk-art illustrations.
11. Silver Seeds – Paul Paolilli
While some may think acrostic poetry is easy to write, if done correctly, each new line is not necessarily a new sentence or word. This collection of acrostic poems celebrating nature is my “go to” anchor book for teaching students how to write acrostic poems properly. Simple, but profound poems and gorgeous illustrations.
MOON
Marvelous melon, whole, Or sliced,
Offering sweet flavor to the
Night.
12. Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems About Creatures That Hide – David L. Harrison
This amazing book features nineteen different creatures organized into five categories, each poem highlights interesting facts about the behavior and habitat of a sea creature, reptile, amphibian, mammal, insect or bird. Laroche’s fascinating cut-paper illustrations bring the habitats to life. A perfect book for introducing animal classification and adaptation to environment.
Thanks for stopping by! Which book or books caught your eye?
I have quite a few of these, and will note the others, Adrienne. Wonderful to have so many lovely poetry books to choose from!