HomeDiscoverChildrens articles13 of the best poetry books for childrenChildren's reading lists13 of the best poetry books for childrenWith a plethora of puns, ludicrous wordplay and completely ridiculous rhythms, these ten books – from the fantastic to downright hilarious – are a great introduction to verse for aspiring poets. Puffin teamFacebookPinterestTwitterEmail Over To You! by Roger McGough (2022) Roger McGough, author of Poetry Pie is back again with another phenomenal collection. As always, he takes readers on an inspiring literary journey. From writing poetry for the first time and mastering haikus, to a lonely starfish and a librarian due to retire, young poets will love the wit and wordplay in Over To You! Let Dem Know by Benjamin Zephaniah (2026) Musical, plain-spoken, playful and powerful, Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry has been lighting up British cultural life since the early 1980s. Written to be performed, his funny, serious poems sing with a rare energy, with subjects ranging from racism, pollution and revolution to the lottery, vegetables and his cat, Danny. This new collection brings together Zephaniah’s three Puffin Poetry books, from his first volume of children’s poetry, Talking Turkeys, to Funky Chickens and Wicked World with a previously unpublished poem and a new foreword by the poet and spoken-word artist George the Poet. A Songbird Dreams of Singing by Kate Hosford & Jennifer M. Potter (2019) Kate Hosford’s beautiful poems are interspersed with interesting facts about how animals sleep. Did you know sperm whales sleep vertically? Or that chimpanzees make pillows out of leaves? And what about flamingos who sleep on one leg to conserve energy? A Songbird Dreams of Singing is the perfect poetry book to share together at bedtime. Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman (2004) For fans of novels but those wanting to get into poetry, this could be the book for you! Cloud Busting follows the unlikely friendship of Sam and Davey. Sam is the class bully and spends his time picking on the new boy Davey. But when Davey saves Sam’s life, the pair end up bonding through the magic of words and rhythm. This funny and sad story is told entirely through verse. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman and Loren Long (2023) Discover this lyrical picture book from presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and No.1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long. Join a young girl as she leads a cast of characters on a musical journey. They learn that they have the power to make changes - big or small - in the world, in their communities, and most importantly, in themselves. Packed with incredible illustrations, rhythmic text and an empowering and joyful message, young (and older) readers will adore Change Sings. Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon (1932) This funny anthology contains a poem about every British monarch, from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II. Meet the ruthless and murderous Henry VIII, or laugh at the dull reign of Queen Anne. This book has been a classic for decades and will delight children and adults alike. Friendly Matches by Allan Ahlberg and Fritz Wegner (2006) A superb collection of football poems by beloved children's author Allan Ahlberg, covering many aspects of the game. Written in a variety of verse forms - sonnets, rhyming couplets and more. Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl (1982) Revolting Rhymes is Dahl’s shortest and most comical children’s book. Turning traditional verse on its head, this reinterpretation of classic fairy tales such as Cinderella and Snow White is completely gruesome and downright daring. You won't find an ordinary 'once upon a time' in this compilation... Laughter is an Egg by John Agard (2024) Crack up with John Agard’s hilarious and heartfelt ode to laughter. This eggstraordinary illustrated collection of forty-eight poems, riddles, jokes and ballads is as silly as it is sincere and is guaranteed to get you giggling. Full of Agard’s signature wit and playfulness, this accessible, joyous collection is a perfect way to introduce young readers to poetry. Gargling with Jelly by Brian Patten (1985) Brian Patten is one of Puffin’s favourite poets, and Gargling with Jelly is one of his best collections! This anthology is both amusing and outrageous and will introduce you to a variety of characters who you’ve never met before. From naughty children to ghosts, you are sure to find something new at every turn. Michael Rosen's Book of Very Silly Poems by Michael Rosen (1996) From festering food and riotous relatives to wondering whether you can pick your nose with your toes, Michael Rosen’s hilarious collection of nonsense poems will delight readers young and old. A great one for those who are new to poetry. Silly Verse for Kids by Spike Milligan (1959) Spike Milligan is an old favourite. Any child will recognise The Ning Nang Nong and many will remember a whole pile of Milligan’s other poems. Dip into this collection if you want some absurd, hilarious, and side-splitting verse. Just don’t blame us if you go a little mad inside… How to Be a Writer: Gloriumptious Poetry by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake (2025) Who can be a writer? You can! Whether you want to write an epic narrative poem, say it all with a three-line haiku or get your friends laughing with a limerick, you can try them all here. These fun activities and writing prompts will help to expand vocabulary and language skills. Find out how to use swashboggling synonyms, awesome alliteration, and whizz-popping onomatopoeia to make your poetry gloriumptious. Get to grips with rhyme and rhythm, and by the end of this book, you’ll have written your own razztwizzling poetry collection.
