poetic device: Alliteration

Alliteration is not when words start with the same letter but, rather, when the first stressed (or accented) syllable of two nearby words begin with the same consonant sound. This means that there are basically three types of alliterations:

  1. When nearby words start with the same consonants and the same sounds, such as “dancing dogs”, or “big boys.”
  2. When nearby words start with different consonants but the same sounds, such as “cats and kittens” or “jungle gym.”
  3. When nearby words start with different sounds, but have the same sounds at the beginning of their first stressed syllable, such as “normal banana” (which each have an “n” sound on the first stressed syllable) or “regular karate” (which each have an “r” sound on the first stressed syllable).

These poems include alliterations. Some may have just a single alliteration within the poem, while others may include dozens of alliterations.

I Washed Our Dad’s Car
The Monster Mattress Superstore by Kenn Nesbitt
The Monster Mattress Superstore
The Biggest Burp Ever
To B or Not to B
My Brother's Not a Werewolf by Kenn Nesbitt
My Brother’s Not a Werewolf
I’m Practically Perfect
A Christmas Dream by Kenn Nesbitt
A Christmas Dream
My Brother Just Eats Candy
Thanksgiving Dinner by Kenn Nesbitt
Thanksgiving Dinner
Mammals by Kenn Nesbitt
Mammals
I Raised My Hand in Class by Kenn Nesbitt
I Raised My Hand in Class
The School Year Is Over by Kenn Nesbitt
The School Year Is Over
My Puppy Plays Piano
That Explains It!
A Sweet Story
I Went out Exploring by Kenn Nesbitt
I Went out Exploring
I'm Super Excited by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m Super Excited
A Rumble in My Bedroom by Kenn Nesbitt
A Rumble in My Bedroom
Foolish Fiona
Penny Parker's Pencil by Kenn Nesbitt
Penny Parker’s Pencil
On Dinosaur Island
Larry the Librarian
Larry the Librarian
The Sand Looks Like Candy by Kenn Nesbitt
The Sand Looks Like Candy
The Lamps Were All Delighted by Kenn Nesbitt
The Lamps Were All Delighted