Classic Poems to Read Aloud

I bought this for my grandchildren. They are home schooled and my daughter-in-law exposes them to poetry of all genres. I was a little surprised that I didn't recognize any of theses, even though that's why I bought the book. They range in length from a few lines to pages of poetry. I might have purchased a book with more familiar poems had I been able to look through it first. The book was appreciated, but I don't know how often they use it.

I use this book in the classroom. It has a lot of the old forgotten favorites and I am all to happy to introduce a new generation of children to these poems.

I have given this book as a gift perhaps eight times now. It is without a doubt the most amazing collection of poetry...old and new, joyful and sad, silly and profound...that I have ever seen collected under one cover. I've taught English for 30 years and it still remains my favorite. It may appear to somehow be poems for children, but it is poetry for our entire lives. I love this book....

We bought this in the children's section of our local bookstore, but the poetry in the book is aimed at a much broader audience. That's a plus for us -- it means I can read "Adventures of Isabel" and "It's Dark in Here" to the children and follow it up with "The Beautiful" and "A Prayer in Spring." The selections range from Silverstein to Blake to Frost to Wordsworth. All in all, they are well selected, both for their subject matter and their musicality. It's quickly becoming a family favorite.

This is a great selection of poems. James Berry is a poet and has a poet's ear for language. "To Be Read Aloud" is the key to the title. Open the book. Pick a poem and speak the words into the air. Read them to someone you love, young or old. Treat yourself to a poetry reading, by you, for you. This is not lightweight poetry; Yeats and Eliot are not your usual "Children's Poetry". There are classics that children love, such as "The Owl and the Pussycat," but it's not the second-rate poetry that is often pawned off on children who don't know better. If you would like your children to "know better" poetry, this anthology is full of first-rate examples.