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Poetry Books for Kids

72 books in poetry. Every book rated for reading level and content intensity.

Poetry books for kids span a wider readiness range than parents usually expect. The same genre category contains gentle picture books and high-intensity middle-grade novels — Lexile and grade-level scores measure text complexity, not what's actually in the story. A poetry title appropriate for a confident 8-year-old reader could still cover themes a sensitive 12-year-old isn't ready for.

Across HootRated's 72 poetry titles, books span Grade 1–8. About 89% are rated Gentle or Mild — safe picks for sensitive readers and kids reading ahead of their emotional readiness. 0% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end. Average content intensity is 1.5/5.

Use the intensity badges (green → red, low → high) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper detail on how we rate, see our rating methodology.

Graham cracker animals 1-2-3

Nancy White Carlstrom

Cover of Graham cracker animals 1-2-3

Graham cracker animals 1-2-3

Nancy White Carlstrom

Level 2

The Puffin book of magic verse.

Charles Causley

Cover of The Puffin book of magic verse.

The Puffin book of magic verse.

Charles Causley

Level 6

If only -.

Richard Edwards

Cover of If only -.

If only -.

Richard Edwards

Level 3

A merry-mouse book of months

Priscilla Hillman

Cover of A merry-mouse book of months

A merry-mouse book of months

Priscilla Hillman

Level 2

The glass hammer

Andrew Hudgins

Cover of The glass hammer

The glass hammer

Andrew Hudgins

Level 3

Dirty laundry pile

Paul B. Janeczko

Cover of Dirty laundry pile

Dirty laundry pile

Paul B. Janeczko

Level 2

A good kiss

Marshall Stewart Ball

Cover of A good kiss

A good kiss

Marshall Stewart Ball

Level 6

The cantos of Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound

Cover of The cantos of Ezra Pound

The cantos of Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound

Level 8

Index to poetry for children and young people, 1993-1997

G. Meredith Blackburn

Cover of Index to poetry for children and young people, 1993-1997

Index to poetry for children and young people, 1993-1997

G. Meredith Blackburn

Level 8

Q is for crazy

Ed Leander

Cover of Q is for crazy

Q is for crazy

Ed Leander

Level 2

My buttons are blue, and other love poems

Clark, Ron

Cover of My buttons are blue, and other love poems

My buttons are blue, and other love poems

Clark, Ron

Level 3

If we'd wanted quiet, we would have raised goldfish

Bruce Lansky

Cover of If we'd wanted quiet, we would have raised goldfish

If we'd wanted quiet, we would have raised goldfish

Bruce Lansky

Level 3

Joseph and his brothers

Guy Richard Williams

Cover of Joseph and his brothers

Joseph and his brothers

Guy Richard Williams

Level 2

Mandrake's book

Howard Pearlstein

Cover of Mandrake's book

Mandrake's book

Howard Pearlstein

Level 4-5

Old Wounds, New Words

Bob Henry Baber, George Ella Lyon

Cover of Old Wounds, New Words

Old Wounds, New Words

Bob Henry Baber, George Ella Lyon

Level 6

In Search of Color Everywhere

E. Ethelbert Miller

Cover of In Search of Color Everywhere

In Search of Color Everywhere

E. Ethelbert Miller

Level 6

Self-Portrait

John Ashbery

Cover of Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait

John Ashbery

Level 3

Plane song

Diane Siebert

Cover of Plane song

Plane song

Diane Siebert

Level 2

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Cover of Moments in Time

Moments in Time

Mark Phillips

Level 3

Poems, Songs & Stories

John Berryman

Cover of Poems, Songs & Stories

Poems, Songs & Stories

John Berryman

Level 8

Action replay

Michael Rosen

Cover of Action replay

Action replay

Michael Rosen

Level 4-5

Browning

Robert Browning

Cover of Browning

Browning

Robert Browning

Level 7

Activities for Writing Poetry for Ages 9-11 (Writing Guides)

Alison Kelly

Cover of Activities for Writing Poetry for Ages 9-11 (Writing Guides)

Activities for Writing Poetry for Ages 9-11 (Writing Guides)

Alison Kelly

Level 2

Slam

Alloy Books

Cover of Slam

Slam

Alloy Books

Level 4-5

They're Coming For You: Scary Stories that Scream to be Read #1

O. Penn-Coughin

Cover of They're Coming For You: Scary Stories that Scream to be Read #1

They're Coming For You: Scary Stories that Scream to be Read #1

O. Penn-Coughin

Level 4-5

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Cover of One Color

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Level 2

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Cover of One Color

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Level 2

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Cover of One Color

One Color

Vallerie Lewis

Level 2

Dryden the Public Writer, 1660-1685

George McFadden

Cover of Dryden the Public Writer, 1660-1685

Dryden the Public Writer, 1660-1685

George McFadden

Level 7

A Reliable Avenue

Michael Hart

Cover of A Reliable Avenue

A Reliable Avenue

Michael Hart

Level 4-5

The Five Nations

Rudyard Kipling

Cover of The Five Nations

The Five Nations

Rudyard Kipling

Level 8

Beddy bye in the Bay

Priscilla Cummings

Cover of Beddy bye in the Bay

Beddy bye in the Bay

Priscilla Cummings

Level 1-2

Hope Through Heartsongs

Mattie J. T. Stepanek

Cover of Hope Through Heartsongs

Hope Through Heartsongs

Mattie J. T. Stepanek

Level 3

Rumi: Love is a Flame

Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (Maulana)

Cover of Rumi: Love is a Flame

Rumi: Love is a Flame

Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (Maulana)

Level 4-5

The Mentor Book of Major American Poets

Various

Cover of The Mentor Book of Major American Poets

The Mentor Book of Major American Poets

Various

Level 8

Ghost Poems

Frederick Turner

Cover of Ghost Poems

Ghost Poems

Frederick Turner

Level 3

Turtles Like to Sleep I

Jean Elizabeth Ward

Cover of Turtles Like to Sleep I

Turtles Like to Sleep I

Jean Elizabeth Ward

Level 4-5

Turtles Like to Sleep I

Jean Elizabeth Ward

Cover of Turtles Like to Sleep I

Turtles Like to Sleep I

Jean Elizabeth Ward

Level 4-5

Tiger Lilies, Toadstools, and Thunderbolts

Iris McClellan Tiedt

Cover of Tiger Lilies, Toadstools, and Thunderbolts

Tiger Lilies, Toadstools, and Thunderbolts

Iris McClellan Tiedt

Level 6

Child's Garden of Verse Potpourri of Poetry

Robert Louis Stevenson

Cover of Child's Garden of Verse Potpourri of Poetry

Child's Garden of Verse Potpourri of Poetry

Robert Louis Stevenson

Level 4-5

The harp and laurel wreath

Laura M. Berquist

Cover of The harp and laurel wreath

The harp and laurel wreath

Laura M. Berquist

Level 8

Backtracking

Dave Oliphant

Cover of Backtracking

Backtracking

Dave Oliphant

Level 4-5

Old wounds, new words

Bob Henry Baber, George Ella Lyon

Cover of Old wounds, new words

Old wounds, new words

Bob Henry Baber, George Ella Lyon

Level 6

Wall

Ellen Phethean

Cover of Wall

Wall

Ellen Phethean

Level 4-5

Above the water of my sorrows

Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project

Cover of Above the water of my sorrows

Above the water of my sorrows

Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project

Level 3

Even my ears are smiling

Michael Rosen

Cover of Even my ears are smiling

Even my ears are smiling

Michael Rosen

Level 4-5

There's a Hippo in My Bathtub

Brian Lock

Cover of There's a Hippo in My Bathtub

There's a Hippo in My Bathtub

Brian Lock

Level 3

Sounds of a Coo

Kelly Lambert

Cover of Sounds of a Coo

Sounds of a Coo

Kelly Lambert

Level 2
Browse all 72 poetry books

Questions parents ask about poetry books

What are the best poetry books for kids?
HootRated catalogs 72 poetry children's books spanning Grade 1–8. Each is rated on reading level and content intensity. The picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and content appropriateness.
Are poetry books appropriate for sensitive readers?
64 books (89%) are rated Gentle or Mild — safe for sensitive readers. 0 (0%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.5/5. Filter by intensity badge to match your child's emotional readiness.
What reading level are poetry books?
Poetry books in our catalog span Grade 1–8. The typical reading level lands around Grade 3. Reading level measures text difficulty — separate from content intensity, which measures emotional weight. The two often don't track together for gifted readers — the Gifted Kid Paradox.