by Heidi Chopskie

Spring cleaning always brings surprises. While sorting through a stack of boxes left behind as my kids launch out of the house, I uncovered a familiar stack of children’s poetry collections by Jack Prelutsky. The fun covers and whimsical titles instantly brought back memories of my kids in elementary school. Before long, I found myself flipping through the pages, smiling at the playful rhymes and imaginative characters.

April is National Poetry Month, and the library is the perfect place for young readers and families to celebrate the joy of poems together. Poetry invites readers to play with words, sounds, and ideas, all while building literacy skills in a low-pressure, fun way.

One favorite I rediscovered, “Bleezer’s Ice Cream” by Jack Perlutsky, creates a vivid image of unique flavors at an ice cream store: 

“COCOA MOCHA MACARONI

TAPIOCA SMOKED BALONEY

CHECKERBERRY CHEDDAR CHEW

CHICKEN CHERRY HONEYDEW”

In true Prelutsky style, the poem is silly, surprising, and full of personality. It introduces the reader to twenty-eight unconventional flavors using alliteration and inventive words. Poems like this help children see reading as fun, and they often spark laughter, curiosity, and repeated reading. 

Poetry can be empowering and bring readers into everyday life. In picture books, Amanda Gorman’s “Change Sings” uses rhythmic verse to celebrate the big and small ways we can change the world. “Windsongs: Poems about Weather” by Douglas Florian uses playful rhymes and concrete poetry to inform and connect kids to weather. 

For older readers, try a verse novel!  In “Love that Dog” by Sharon Creech, a young boy discovers poetry as a way to express his feelings and love for his dog. “It’s All or Nothing, Vale” by Andrea Beatriz Arango follows a young fencing star who finds herself again after a life-changing accident. In “Becoming Muhammad Ali” by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson, a young Cassius Clay grows into the legendary Muhammad Ali through grit and determination.

Throughout the month, stop by the Youth Services area and browse the curated poetry display. Discover lyrical and rhyming picture books, joke-filled poetry collections, and novels in verse for older kids and teens. Read a new poem at bedtime, share a favorite when eating a meal together or bring a collection along when you travel. Poetry’s short format makes it easy to enjoy, even on busy days. 

Who knows, you might find a new favorite flavor of ice cream!