I am spending most of the day in my classroom getting it ready for after spring break. As I thought of what picture books to display I immediately knew that I had to celebrate April which is poetry month. So as I pulled all of our favorite poetry(ish) picture books to put them on display, I thought I should share what my students will hopefully be enticed to read. Please add your favorites as well. These are in no particular order.
Winter is Coming by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Jim LaMarche
The Big Box by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison, illustrated by Giselle Potter
What Forest Knows by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by August Hall
Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse illustrated by Jon J. Muth
One Today by Richard Blanko and illustrated by Dav Pilkey
Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beckie Prange
Sail Away by Langston Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Bryan
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Renee Watson and illustrated by Shadra Strickland
Instructions by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Charles Vess
Follow Follow by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse
What You Know First by Patricia MacLachlan engravings by Barry Moser
Diamond Life: Baseball Sights, Sounds, and Swings by Charles R. Smith
Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph by Roxanne Orgill and illustrated by Francis Vallejo
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth
Black Cat Bone by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Gary Kelley
Baseball Is…by Louise Borden and illustrated by Raul Colon
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen
I hope this list is helpful as you find great picture books to add to your classroom. Please add your favorites in the comments and to see our other lists of favorites, go here. Don’t forget about poem in your pocket day on April 21st.
Pernille Ripp 
Great – thanks for the list!
Thanks for these. Here’s somethng online I absolutely adore called Zen Pencils: http://zenpencils.com/comic/ozymandias/
Hi Pernille, I just found your blog–it’s wonderful! I also think picture books offer fantastic teaching opportunities, and your lists are very thoughtful and rich. I recently started a blog you might be interested in. It pairs picture books with a holiday each day and provides a craft or other activity. If you’d like to check it out, it’s at celebratepicturebooks.com. Thanks for your insights–your classroom must be such a fun place to learn!
Thank you so much for sharing these! I love using poetry with my students and have only heard of a few of these titles. Come On Rain is one of my favorite mentor texts to use in writing instruction! Will have to check some of these out!
Reblogged this on O2b heavenly minded and commented:
April is Poetry Month. Check out this great selection of children’s picture books.
What a wonderful list! Some I know of, some I don’t…off on a book look now, thanks to your post. Thank you.
I love that you have books that look like they would be appealing to boys. Sometimes, with some boy (girls, too, I know), the thought of poetry is a huge turn off. If they are reading poems about the ti\hings they love, maybe they will grow to love poetry. Thanks for sharing.