10 Books That Will Spark Your Tween’s Love for Poetry

Celebrate national poetry month with these collections

By: Hadiya Presswood

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Photo By: Riska

Poems for Tweens

Poetry is mysterious, emotional, and captures brief, deep moments of reflection. While that makes it a beautiful art form, it can be a hard sell to get kids interested in it. Here are a few choices of poetic books and collections that are silly, captivating, and relatable to older kids and tweens.

Just Like Me

These poems explore themes of self-esteem, confidence, and being proud to be your own person. It's a good pick for the young girls you know who are coming of age and becoming more of themselves.

BUY IT: Barnes & Noble, $8.99

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems

The poems in this book are based on familiar fairy tales and can be read top to bottom, as well as bottom to top, from which they tell the story from a different perspective.

BUY IT: Thriftbooks, $4.39

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

This beloved tale of students saving their school is a celebration of learning and of the teachers in their lives who believe in them relentlessly and cheer for their success.

BUY IT: Amazon, $14.99

One Hundred Years of Poetry for Children

This anthology has selections from numerous poets and is divided into sections, including childhood, love, and animals. Tweens will be excited to explore their interests through verse.

BUY IT: Barnes & Noble, $12.95

Kids Pick The Funniest Poems: Poems That Make Kids Laugh

This collection was curated in part by middle-grade students, so there are sure to be poems that your kids will enjoy.

BUY IT: Barnes & Noble, $17.00

Words with Wings

This story, told as a lyrical narrative, shares Gabriella’s journey as she uses poetry to cope with her problems at home. She has a teacher who encourages her to express herself and find beauty during hard times.

BUY IT: Barnes & Noble, $9.99

Other Words for Home

Jude is a young girl who moves to the United States from Syria, who reflects on what her life was like before and after moving and becoming a refugee. This story is an easy, beautiful introduction to poetry as narrative verse.

BUY IT: Walmart, $9.99

The Deepest Breath

This book, written in narrative verse, is about a young girl named Stevie who is exploring her expanding world and sorting out the new feelings she has about Chloe, her best friend.

BUY IT: Barnes & Noble, $7.99

Inside Out & Back Again

In this vulnerable narrative told through verse is Hà's coming-of-age story about becoming a refugee during the Vietnam War and the hardship and triumph she and her family experience.

BUY IT: Amazon, $8.39

How to Write Poetry: A Guided Journal with Prompts

For poets who are ready to put pen to paper—but aren’t quite sure how to start or what makes a "good poem" — is this journal that provides examples of different poetic devices and prompts for writing their own.

BUY IT: Amazon, $12.69

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Celebrate National Poetry Month With These Kids Books, 7 Great Books to Teach Kids About Climate Change, 8 Heartfelt Books About Autism You Should Read with Your Kids

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