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National Poetry Month
Started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month "celebrates the democratic spirit of American poetry."

From April 16-22, National Poetry Month features Young People's Poetry Week, an annual event sponsored by the Children's Book Council which "highlights poetry for children and young adults and encourages everyone to celebrate poetry -- read it, enjoy it, write it."

Grades K–3
The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose by Arnold Lobel
Dinosaur Dinner (With a Slice of Alligator Pie) by Dennis Lee; illustrated by Debbie Tilley
Dog Days by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Dyanna Wolcott
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
Eloise Wilkin's Poems to Read to the Very Young by Josette Frank; illustrated by Eloise Wilkins
Emily by Michael Bedard
Footprints on the Roof: Poems About The Earth by Marilyn Singer
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Hello School! by Dee Lillegard; illustrated by Don Carter
A Helpful Alphabet of Friendly Objects by John Updike
Imagine That! by Jack Prelutsky
Piping Down the Valleys Wild: A Merry Mix of Verse for All Ages by Nancy Larrick
A Pocketful of Laughs by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Poems for Children Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote by Carl Sandburg; illustrated by Istvan Banyai
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children selected by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
The Read-Aloud Treasury by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Riddle-icious by J. Patrick Lewis
Riddle-lightful by J. Patrick Lewis
A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Laan;illustrated by Sheila White Samtom
20th-Century Children's Poetry Treasury selected by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Meilo So
Wake Up House!: Rooms Full of Poems by Dee Lillegard; illustrated by Don Carter
Wiggle Waggle Fun by Margaret Mayo

Grades 4–5
The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom by Jack Prelutsky
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone by Jack Prelutsky
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Fairy Poems compiled by Stephen W. Hines
The Mermaid's Purse by Ted Hughes; illustrated by Flora McDonnell
Piping Down the Valleys Wild: A Merry Mix of Verse for All Ages by Nancy Larrick
A Pocketful of Laughs by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Poems for Children Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote by Carl Sandburg; illustrated by Istvan Banyai
The 20th-Century Children's Poetry Treasury selected by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Meilo So

The Trial by Jennifer Bryant

Grades 6–8
Animal Sense by Diane Ackerman; illustrated by Peter Sis
The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom by Jack Prelutsky
The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes
For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone by Jack Prelutsky
Girl Coming In for a Landing: A Novel in Poems by April Halprin Wayland; illustrated by Elaine Clayton
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Fairy Poems compiled by Stephen W. Hines
The Mermaid's Purse by Ted Hughes; illustrated by Flora McDonnell
Mind's Eye by Paul Fleischman

Pieces of Georgia by Jennifer Bryant
Piping Down the Valleys Wild: A Merry Mix of Verse for All Ages by Nancy Larrick
A Pocketful of Laughs by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Poems for Children Nowhere Near Old Enough to Vote by Carl Sandburg; illustrated by Istvan Banyai
20th-Century Children's Poetry Treasury selected by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Meilo So

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