Poems for Children — Animals, Play, Family, and Seasons
Introduction
Poems are like SONGS without music. They have RHYMING words and a RHYTHM that makes them FUN to read aloud.
'Reading poetry aloud makes you feel the BEAT of the words — like a drum in your ears!'
Poem 1 — I'm a Little Teapot
I'm a little teapot, short and stout, Here is my handle, here is my spout. When I get all steamed up, hear me shout: 'Tip me over and pour me out!'
— Traditional
About This Poem:
This is a NURSERY RHYME that you can ACT OUT! Make a handle with one hand and a spout with the other. When you 'tip over' — pour to one side!
Poem 2 — Little Bo-Peep
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And doesn't know where to find them. Leave them alone, and they'll come home, Wagging their tails behind them.
— Traditional
About This Poem:
Bo-Peep is a SHEPHERDESS who has LOST her sheep. The poem says if she STOPS looking for them, the sheep will COME HOME on their own!
Poem 3 — Pussycat, Pussycat
Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? I've been to London to look at the Queen. Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair.
— Traditional
About This Poem:
A FUNNY poem about a cat who goes to see the QUEEN of England — but instead of looking at the queen, she chases a MOUSE under the chair!
Poem 4 — Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass, Rain on the tree, Rain on the housetop, But not on me!
— Traditional
About This Poem:
A SHORT, happy poem about RAIN. The child likes watching rain from INSIDE — where they are DRY and SAFE!
Poem 5 — I Had a Little Nut Tree
I had a little nut tree, Nothing would it bear But a silver nutmeg And a golden pear.
The King of Spain's daughter Came to visit me, And all for the sake Of my little nut tree.
— Traditional
About This Poem:
A MAGICAL poem about a nut tree that produces silver nutmegs and golden pears. Even the King of Spain's daughter comes to SEE it!
Poem 6 — Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day, That was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play To see a lamb at school.
— Sarah Josepha Hale
About This Poem:
This FAMOUS poem is based on a TRUE story! A girl named Mary brought her pet LAMB to school, and it waited outside until she came out.
'At first, the lamb made the children laugh. But then... the teacher sent it away — because LAMBS don't belong in school!'
Poem 7 — One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe; Three, four, knock at the door; Five, six, pick up sticks; Seven, eight, lay them straight; Nine, ten, a big fat hen!
— Traditional
About This Poem:
A COUNTING rhyme that helps children learn NUMBERS through rhythm. Each pair of numbers has an ACTION: 'Buckle my shoe' (1,2), 'Knock at the door' (3,4)!
Fun Activity
Write a FOUR-LINE poem about your FAVOURITE animal. Make the LAST WORDS of lines 2 and 4 RHYME!
Example: I have a little CAT (line 1) Who wears a funny HAT (line 2 — rhymes with cat) He sits upon a MAT (line 3) And that is THAT (line 4 — rhymes with mat)
Common Mistakes in Reading Poetry
- 'Read poems SLOWLY. Let the words SINK IN. Poetry is NOT a race!'
- 'When a poem has dialogue (like "Tip me over"), use a DIFFERENT voice for the character reading.'
- 'POEMS don't have to make COMPLETE grammatical sense. They use special language for RHYTHM and RHYME.'
Self-Test
Q1: In 'I'm a Little Teapot', what does the teapot do when it gets steamed up?
Q2: What did Little Bo-Peep lose?
Q3: Where did the pussycat go in the poem?
Q4: In 'Rain on the Green Grass', where does it rain?
Q5: What did Mary's lamb do?
Q6: What action goes with 'One, two' in the counting poem?
Answers:
A1: It shouts 'Tip me over and pour me out!' A2: Her SHEEP. A3: To London, to see the Queen. A4: On the green grass, on the tree, and on the housetop — but NOT on the child! A5: It followed Mary everywhere, even to SCHOOL. A6: 'Buckle my shoe.'
