Poems to Learn by Heart

by Caroline Kennedy

For this companion to her New York Times bestselling collection "A Family of Poems," Caroline Kennedy has hand-selected more than a hundred of her favorite poems that lend themselves to memorization. Some are joyful. Some are sad. Some are funny and lighthearted. Many offer layers of meaning that reveal themselves only after the poem has been studied so closely as to be learned by heart.
In issuing the challenge to memorize great poetry, Caroline Kennedy invites us to a deeply enriching experience. For as she reminds us, "If we learn poems by heart, not only do we have their wisdom to draw on, we also gain confidence, knowledge and understanding that no one can take away."
Illustrated with gorgeous, original watercolor paintings by award-winning artist Jon J Muth, this is truly a book for all ages, and one that families will share again and again. Caroline's thoughtful introductions shed light on the many ways we can appreciate poetry, and the special tradition of memorizing and reciting poetry that she celebrates within her own family.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Anthologies, Classics, Humor

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2012

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is an American author and attorney. She is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. An older sister, Arabella, died shortly after her birth in 1956. Brother John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999. Another brother, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died two days after his birth in 1963.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to improve on the The Random House Book of Poetry for Children edited by Prelutsky and illustrated by Arnold Lobel for a good children's poetry anthology--particularly for preschoolers and early elementary students. But when you need an anthology for those elementary-middle school students (and up!), this is the one to turn to. Muth's watercolor illustrations are gorgeous (as always) and do such an excellent job of capturing the mood and tone of each poem as well as its content. Kennedy's selection of poetry for this volume is wonderful: funny poems, somber poems, classic poems, contemporary poems--it's outstanding. There's even a short section in the back of longer poems for those who like an extra memory challenge. Indeed, this volume is full of poems to learn by heart.

Index of first lines and authors as well as a clear table of contents makes it easy to find particular poems.

[Noninuna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although, I'm not familiar with majority of the poetry, I still enjoyed reading them and I was totally in love with the art!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.

I am that girl you knew in school - the one who loved to read and never minded the poetry sections of literature class. So, admittedly, I am a tad biased.

Caroline Kennedy edited this book in the same fashion as "She Walks in Beauty," her last collection of poetry. That means that the poems are grouped by subject - sports, war, school, etc. My only complaint with "She Walks in Beauty" was the lack of "The Lady of Shalott" and "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summers Day."

That is not an issue with this book.

The selections are outstanding. Frost, Dickinson, Hughes, Shakespeare, Kipling, Silverstein, Stevenson... all present. The Gettysburg Address, Micah 6:8, "Casey at the Bat" and St. Paul's gorgeous First Corinthians ("and have not love, I am nothing") are all accounted for as well. The section labeled "Extra Credit" is where you will find Chaucer, "Kubla Khan" and "Paul Revere's Ride."

Highly, highly recommended... for all ages.

[Julie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people have raved about this collection of poetry so I may be the lone voice who doesn't totally agree. Don't get me wrong. I really don't have anything against the poems. Many of the poems in this collection are familiar to me and many of them are fabulous. I especially liked "Voices Rising". The illustrations are beautiful as well. So what is the problem? I just don't find it very kid friendly. I have a copy. I will put it in my library. But who will check it out? Poetry doesn't get checked out by students much. Occasionally Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky will get checked out but unless it's April (Poetry Month) and they are required to my poetry books don't circulate. Teachers check poetry books out more. I love poetry, I really do but in order to get kids really interested it needs to be unique and different. I just don't think the book will have a lot of kid appeal.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, nelly. This book took forever for us to get through. Part of the problem was that the book is (or at least was) very popular at our local library and there were always holds on it, so we could never renew it. Then we'd have to put it back on hold and sometimes wait for weeks or months before we'd get it again.

Also, we would read a poem or two and then set it aside for several days or a week. I have to admit that we never attempted to memorize any of the poems, although we did revisit a few of them.

This book offers a comprehensive and entertaining collection of poems that the author suggests should be memorized. The practice of learning poems by heart is not as common as it once was, and Caroline Kennedy states that it is a powerful way of gaining wisdom and understanding.

Poem topics include family, love, myths, nonsense, school, sports, nature, war, and others. The poems vary in length and some are quite mature in content. I would recommend this book for older children, or at least that parents consider a child's readiness for some of the poems.

Overall, we thought it was a good collection and we really enjoyed reading them together, even if we didn't memorize them.

interesting quotes (and poems):

"If we learn a poem by heart, it is ours forever - and better still, we can share it with others, yet not have to give it away." (p. 10)

The Parent by Ogden Nash

"Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for." (p. 45)

new word: perorations

[LauraR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful anthology was compiled by Caroline Kennedy, a New York Times number 1 best-selling author. This award winning book features a collection of poems about a variety of subjects that connect to the happenings of everyday life. These poems, although all different and connected in some way, deal with life's tellings of both the good and the bad. A reader, has the opportunity to explore each section in depth depending on what their "mood" is that day.
The illustrations are watercolor paintings that have been created specifically for this piece of text. Each illustration truly depicts the emotions gathered from each individual poem, yet, allow for a reader to interpret the meaning and significance from each illustration. Some of the pictures extend beyond the pages allowing readers to think about how each poem and illustration relate to the real world, while others are clean, crisp, and to the point.
This must have book is a wonderful addition to any classroom or school library based on the different subject areas covered, as well as the varied difficulty level of the text. Student's have the ability to read as many or as little as they like and do not need to read the poems in a specific order. This allows for more flexibility with reading that many books do not offer. I highly recommend this book for any teacher to have in grades K-12.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading poetry aloud with Jack has been a wonderful experience. This book includes an array of poems across many centuries, genres and styles, collected by themes. The humorous, short verses were predictably Jack's favourites, but we both enjoyed reading the longer, more famous poems of Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shakespeare, and noticing familiar lines and passages.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a beautiful book, it was amazing with it's rhymes, and I thought it was very clever. It was incredible to read poems that were written up to 400 years ago! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves poetry and loves history.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of poems.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice collection of new and old poems with informative introductions to each section. The artwork is beautiful.

[Chelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems can be read by multiple grades and is useful within the classroom. From William Shakespeare and Robert Frost to poems from the Bible, this compilation of poems can reach far and wide of personalities and beliefs.

[Abby Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Kennedy has said that her mother Jackie encouraged her children to recite poetry from memory as gifts to her growing up, a tradition I thought was both charming and educational. In her companion book to her previous compilation of poetry for children, Caroline Kennedy here selects her favorite poems that she thinks children (and others) should be able to recite by heart. This author has a real gift for selecting poems with true emotional depth, and I say this as someone who has now bought three of her collections and yet has never considered herself a poetry fan! This particular work stands out among her others because of its impressive illustrations. This is a beautiful coffee table type of book that I look forward to sharing with my children as they grow, although I'm not quite sure I'll force them to memorize any lines.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than 100 poems, some classic and some written recently, are provided in this anthology. Caroline Kennedy asked some of the members of DreamYard Prep, an arts-based high school in the Bronx, to help select the poems for the book. The book is divided into nine different sections, ranging from poems about the self to poems about school to poems about sports and games and poems about war. Although the collection is pitched to children and teens, many adults will be drawn to this collection since several of the poems prompt reflection. Perennial favorites such as Robert Frost's "Dust of Snow" and Emily Dickinson's "Bee! I'm expecting you!" linger alongside thoughtful meditations about words and deeds in Octavio Paz's "Between What I See and What I Say..." and simply must be read aloud or memorized. The lovely illustrations add additional emotional resonance to the poems.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my best-loved poems "Under the Bed" is included in Caroline Kennedy's compilation of more than 100 poems. Classic and new authors are featured with topics ranging from family to history to sports. Kennedy arranges her poems into chapters and includes her thoughts in the introduction to each chapter.

There are poems included for all ages and grade levels. This book could be used as an introduction to poetry, for more advanced study, or simply for reading pleasure. The watercolor illustrations are subdued, while still bringing life to the words on the page. I appreciate having many of the poems I have loved for years, along with the ones I have just discovered, in one book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. I love the illustrations in this book, and the selection is a nice mix of poems for children. Adding this to my list of books to purchase for myself, and for gifts in the future. I already noted a few that I would like to use for story time.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite diverse with poems from Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Bible scriptures, Jack Prelutsky, and the Gettysburg Address.

[Jessica López-Barkl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zia (my daughter) and I began reading this book last July, (a poem a day, that I would read 4 times - the meaning of her name has four meanings because of the 4 directions, 4 seasons, 4 times of day, and 4 stages of life - a nice theme, I think). Anyway, I read about this book in a blog about traveling with children and the essential books to carry that can last a long time.

Zia and I just finished reading this the first time last week, and we have started reading it again from the beginning, after all, the title is: poems to learn by heart, and memorization is all about repetition, repetition, repetition.

I enjoyed the themes of the sections of the collection: Poems about the self; poems about family; poems about love and friendship; poems about fairies, ogres, and witches; nonsensical poems; poems about school; poems about sports and games; poems about war; poems about nature; and extra credit poems (poems that may have gone out of style, but are still worth memorizing).

I enjoyed having the daily devotion of a new poem everyday for Zia to begin to hear and understand rhythm and literary conceits. I'm not sure if it is particularly age appropriate (she's currently 15 months, and we started reading these when she was only 4 months), but I think I learned some of the literary techniques of poetry by being obsessed with Dr. Seuss books, as a child (which we have already read all his books, and return to often), so...why can't she learn and hear poems early on...?

[Allison Kirchner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful hardcover that I bought for myself several years ago. I don't know why it took me so long to commit to reading it -- perhaps because it is imagined as a book that a parent might share with a child, and my children are all grown up (and not much hope of grandchildren). I was surprised at how many poems I recognized, and I found myself wondering if my children would have recognized half as many. I had to memorize that exact passage of The Canterbury Tales in high school. Did my sons? Maybe, but they never mentioned it.

I have never chosen to spend time with poetry as an adult. Shame on me. I can be a lazy reader, and appreciating poetry takes concentration and conscious thought. I'd often rather just have someone else tell me what to think. Although many of these poems are appropriate for children and young adults, many were complex enough that I'll need to return to study them another time (with the internet or other analysis handy).

Once I understand the meaning, or at least have developed my own interpretation of the poems, then I can imagine trying to learn them by heart. I just finished reading the novel "Run" by Ann Patchett, and one of the characters had memorized so many political speeches that he could easily call to mind a piece of oratory pertaining to almost any situation. It was very interesting. I guess Shakespeare scholars can do that all the time also.

I loved the artwork. My mother was a painter and always preferred watercolor.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2025, I began a new routine of reading poetry aloud each morning. So, I’m always on the lookout for collections that will be fun, introspective, and pleasant. In further proof that “face out displays work,” at my public library, I was on my way to adult nonfiction to find a new-to-me poetry collection and, as I passed by the children’s nonfiction section, I picked up Poems to Learn by Heart at the library as it was displayed on the endcap.

While I did not learn any of these poems by heart, I was reminded of poems I love, such as Shel Silverstein’s “Sick” and Martin Niemöller’s “First They Came for the Jews.” I also discovered new favorites, such as the Navajo prayer “In beauty may I walk” and Christina Rossetti’s “What are heavy?” There were so many that brought smiles to my face or made me pause and think. Together with the lush illustrations, it truly is a remarkable collection.

What was extra special about this volume is that Caroline Kennedy assembled it with the help of two teen members of DreamYard Prep, a spoken word program in New York City. If every you need a reminder that our future is in good hands, the signs are there—and here is one of those signs.

[Rachel Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Awards: None
2) Grades: Kindergarten and up
3) This book has a plethora of different poems for all ages. The poems are divided into different categories to make it easier to find a poem you are looking for or on a topic that you like. For example, some of the categories are self, family, friendship and love, and school.
4) I love this book. I admire Caroline Kennedy and I love the poems that she has chosen and the categories she has put them in. I also love the paintings, they are beautiful and describe main points of the poems they are illustrating.
5) One use in the classroom is to introduce poems to children. It has a wide variety of categories so the student can pick what they want to read about first. It can also be used as a great read aloud to students. There is one poem in particular called “Sick” by Shel Silverstein that children usually love and it gets them interested in poetry in a fun way.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can get lost in other worlds

This is a most excellent selection of poems. Just when you think you found the best the next one is even better. Before you start you will have some favorites and by the end some new favorites. Of course, if you are in a hurry there is an index in the back; however, I like to stumble upon them.

This is a great survey of different writers so you can get a feel of what you want to read next. It even included Shakespeare Crispin's speech.

What I found fun is remembering the different movies and books that contain the poems in passing. I had been watching "The Nine Tailors" and never realized what they were referring to when they talked about "Young Lochinvar" until I read this book. I am sure you will also have revelations.

Do not overlook the paintings by Jon J Muth; as they add to the experience. I was also surprised that this is a Disney publication.

[Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miss 5 really likes the children's poetry collection that we have at home so I thought I'd try another collection from the Children's section of the library. She didn't like this collection at all. There are some beautiful and poignant poems in this collection (like Martin Niemoller's famous "First They Came for the Jews") and some are that less poetry and more Americana (such as Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address). There are few poems in the collection that are more likely to appeal to children (i.e "I'd love to be a fairy's child" by Robert Graves) but overall I would see this as aimed more at YA / adults.

Miss 5 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful poetry in this general anthology has over one hundred classic and modern poems penned by famous poets from around the world. This collection is special because the poems were selected for children to learn by heart. Caroline Kennedy explains that memorizing poetry is valuable because it provides children with understanding and wisdom that they can use to find joy in life and meaning and to help them overcome adversity. The collection explores diverse topics such as identity, religion, school, and war. The stunning watercolor illustrations painted by Caldecott Honoree Jon J. Muth are evocative and complement the poetry. Ancillaries include a table of contents, a bibliography, an author index, and an index of each poem’s first line is available. The content and the language will appeal to children in the fifth grade and up.

[Hannah Goble · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of poetry, I was absolutely delighted to read a book that brings an appreciation of poetry to the younger generation. This book has it all; poems that make one laugh, smile, cry, and wonder. Through poems, Caroline Kennedy expresses her belief that learning poetry can add value to life of children in a way that nothing else can. The poems in the book are written by many different poets, from more modern poets, to older master poets. The book is beautifully illustrated using bright, water-colored imagery that adds value to the poems and makes them easy for children to relate to. This book would be a perfect addition to any school or classroom library, as well as for kids (and adults) of all ages.

[Adam Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was tracking down the poem, “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” and found it here.
I’d love a longer sections of “nonsensical” (besotted by wordplay) and “extra credit” (uncategorizable) poems and less “war” and “nature.” That’s probably uninspired high school education talking, which overemphasizes the latter.
Glad to be introduced to Milne’s “Disobedience” and Cummings “if everything happens that can’t be done,” among others.
A bonus: terrific illustrations.

[Molly]

lovely illustrations and an interesting collection of poems. i wonder at the theme - some of these poems would not be my first choice to memorize (more rhymes, please), and i don't know if these are the first poems kids would pick to read. one of the sections is themed around the brutality and sadness of war. i needed more silly goofy ones in the mix. also the inclusion of bible verses and the gettysburg address threw me off - some interesting choices indeed

[Linda Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of almost 200 poems, a companion to "A Family of Poems," Caroline Kennedy's New York Times #1 Bestseller from 2005. This beautiful volume is filled with poetry of all sorts: about one's self, family, friendship, and love. There are poems about sports and games, about school. Nonsensical poetry, poems about fairies, ogres, and witches are included too. There are deeply touching poems about war, poetry about nature, Bible verses, and so much more are scattered together and throughout this fine book.

"Poets distill life's lessons into the fewest possible words. But those tiny packages of thought contain worlds of images and experiences and feelings." Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy writes about the importance of memorization of poetry in her introduction. "If our circumstances change and things seem to be falling apart, we can recall a poem that reassures us. If we find ourselves in unfamiliar or frightening surroundings, a poem can remind us that others have journeyed far and returned safely home. If we learn poems by heart, we will always have their wisdom to draw on, and we gain understanding that no one can take away."

As a Bible verse is memorized and tucked into my heart, even if only in part, it will be there when I need it the most. Poetry can be a similar strength in a weaker time.

This anthology has works of art by well known poets from the past such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They remind me of poetry I once read, maybe even memorized for a class. Geoffrey Chaucer's General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is even etched into this book. (I read the whole of The Canterbury Tales when I was in high school from the Old English translation, no less, each night for homework, translating it into "readable" English for Senior English class/Mrs. Lee! I recall the assignment well. I did not tuck any of that away for those weaker moments, I am afraid!) Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, along with Ogden Nash, Carl Sandburg, and many others remind parents of poems they may have memorized or read.

Poetry by A.A. Milne, Nikki Giovanni, Shel Silverstein, Jane Yolen, and Jack Prelutsky represents some of the newer poets yet each stands tall among those of years gone by.

Caroline Kennedy worked regularly with the DreamYard Preparatory School in the Bronx who authored a lengthy poem (or more) in this book as well. These young people are the DreamYard Slam Team. She dedicates the book to them and their futures.

The watercolor paintings of Jon J. Muth are gentle and excellent for each and every page, each and every poem. As one example, on page 35, the Bible verse, Micah 6:8, is written upon an array of blues suggesting the heavenly realm spread over the double-page:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Yes, Bible verses can also poetry.

This is another fine collection from Caroline Kennedy. She is an advocate for poetry as she was brought up with it in her family. They shared poetry at gatherings of the whole Kennedy clan as well as amongst their own smaller family. Caroline said her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy, loved poetry and encouraged her children to engage with it, to memorize it. Rose Kennedy, Caroline's grandmother, was another encourager along this creative avenue.

Reading Level: Preschool and up

Author

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is a lawyer, author, education advocate, and lifelong supporter of the arts. Ms. Kennedy attended Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, England from 1975-1976. She earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Radcliffe College at Harvard University in 1980. Ms. Kennedy received her J.D. from Columbia University Law School in 1988. She is the Ambassador to Japan from the United States of America.

She is the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis , sister to John Kennedy.

She has written many books and articles, subjects ranging from legal issues, family and children, the Kennedy family, and poetry.

Illustrator

Jon J Muth is an American artist, born and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loved to draw as a boy, and he also painted. His mother was an art teacher and took him to museums all over the US. He studied stone sculpture in Japan; paintings, prints and drawings in Austria, Germany, and England. Most of his education as an artist came from an informal apprenticeship with fine artists.

"My work in children's books really grew out of a desire to explore what I was feeling as a new father," says Muth. "I was working in comics and that is a natural forum for expressions of angst and questioning one's place in the universe. When the children came it became important to say other things about the world. With the birth of my children, there was a kind of seismic shift in where my work seemed appropriate."

Jon Muth has illustrated (and written some) picture books of high acclaim. They are beloved around the world.

Muth lives in upstate New York with his wife and four children. Jon can be found @ jonmuth.com or on Pinterest or @ RMichelsonGalleries or http://www.rmichelson.com/illustratio... for many paintings from this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of poems. It contains some classics by Frost,Shakespeare and Kipling. Each section has a thoughtful introduction written by Caroline Kennedy. She writes of her family memories and love of poetry. The illustrations in the book are watercolors and beautiful. This is a book to pick up and read. It is timeless.

[Kathleen]

I'm not a poetry expert, but every now and then I enjoy sitting down with a good compilation and working through it a few pages at a time. This particular anthology, would probably say it's aimed at children because it has colorful pictures. I've found that an illustration goes a long way in helping me enjoy a poem. Classics, sad ones, happy ones, confusing ones. They are all in here.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am more a fan of rhymed verse when learning and memorizing poetry, there are many thoughtful inclusions of free verse in this anthology that are worthy of attention. I especially enjoyed seeing excerpts from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, for example. Kudos to Caroline Kennedy for such a lovely and approachable collection of poems.