April is National Poetry Month, which makes this a perfect time to encourage young writers to try something new—or take their poetry a step further.
The Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest 2026 is now open, and it includes a special category just for poets age 18 and under. Even better, there’s no entry fee, so it’s an easy, low-pressure way for students to write, revise, and share their work.
Every once in a while, a poetry book comes along that feels like pure kinetic energy on the page. That’s exactly the experience I had reading Dinos That Drive by Suzy Levinson, illustrated by Dustin Harbin. From the very first pages, it’s clear this is not a quiet, contemplative collection. This is a loud, lively, engine-revving celebration of dinosaurs, vehicles, and wordplay.
And really, what more do you need than that?
The premise is delightfully simple: dinosaurs are back, and not only are they alive and well, they’re driving everything from motorcycles and taxis to submarines and rocket ships. Each poem introduces a different dino, a different vehicle, and a different comedic scenario. The result is a collection that feels fast-paced, inventive, and consistently surprising.
Welcome back, everyone! It’s that time of the week again for the Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup. I’ve gathered the latest happenings from the world of children’s poetry from the past seven days, and there’s plenty to explore as National Poetry Month gets into full swing!
Every so often, I come across a book that feels like it was made for the exact same reasons I write poems: to spark curiosity, invite laughter, and send readers wandering off into the wilderness of their own imagination. A Catalog of Curious Creatures by Shaun Jex is one of those books.
From the moment I opened it, I felt like I’d stumbled onto an old explorer’s notebook, one filled not with dry observations but with lively, lyrical encounters with the strange and the marvelous. Jex frames the collection as a kind of poetic field guide, and it’s a perfect conceit. These aren’t just poems; they’re sightings, warnings, tall tales, and campfire legends brought to life in verse.
Welcome back, poetry lovers! It’s time again for the weekly Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup. I’ve gathered some delightful news and updates from the world of children’s poetry from the past week, and I’m excited to share them with you. So, let’s see what wonderful words and poetic happenings have been buzzing around!
Hello, poetry pals and wonderful teachers! It’s time again for our weekly Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup. I’ve gathered the latest happenings from the world of children’s poetry from the past week, bringing you news, new poems, and exciting updates from your favorite poets.
The school year may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to bring something special, and memorable, to your students.
I still have openings over the next few months for online author visits, and this is a wonderful time of year to schedule one.
It’s time again for this week’s Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup! I’ve been keeping my eyes open for the latest happenings in the world of children’s poetry, and I’m happy to share some of the interesting news and updates from the past week that I think you’ll appreciate.
Yesterday I was delighted to see a new article appear on The Robb Review highlighting a book that I’m honored to be part of: 40 Poems for 40 Weeks: Integrating Meaningful Poetry and Word Ladders in Grades 3–5 Literacy, edited by children’s poetry champion David L. Harrison and literacy expert Tim Rasinski.
The article focuses on an idea I love: helping students learn not only about poems, but also about the poets who write them. As the authors point out, classrooms often celebrate authors of novels and chapter books, yet the people who create the poems students enjoy are sometimes less visible. Helping kids discover who poets are—what they were like as children, why they write poetry, and how they got started—can make poetry feel more personal and inspiring for young readers.
The book grew out of that philosophy. Harrison and Rasinski invited forty poets who write for children to contribute a poem along with a short, kid-friendly introduction about themselves. Each entry also includes an engaging literacy activity designed to help students interact with the poem in a meaningful way.
It’s time again for this week’s Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup! As always, it’s been a busy and inspiring week in the world of children’s poetry. From new book announcements and exciting challenges to student work and thoughtful reflections, there’s plenty to catch up on. Here’s a look at the news and updates from some of our favorite poets and poetry advocates for the past week.
