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100 Best Poems for Children
This is a wonderful collection of contemporary and classic poems chosen by children from schools around the UK. Roger McGough made the final selection and wrote the introduction.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 3, 2019
I really enjoyed this book of poetry, even as an adult! I enjoy writing my own poetry for both adults and young children. This book will be enjoyed by old and young alike.
December 2, 2016
I have had to read this book for a Children's Literature module I'm studying at present, however, I have to say I love this book. For me it's probably the sense of nostalgia of childhood it brings, reminding me of a childhood favourite 'Please Mrs Butler' which until this point was a distant memory. Not only that but I greatly enjoyed reading some of the classic poems to my children, for instance the 'Jabberwocky' and Mcavity: The Mystery Cat'. This book makes for a lovely edition to some family fun as we enjoyed sharing and listening to each other read.
June 16, 2019
This is a fantastic poetry anthology for children! There are so many brilliant poems that I thoroughly enjoy reading myself and will certainly use in my future practice. I will ensure that this, along with several other forms of poetry, are accessible to the children in my classroom, potentially using ideas such as 'Poem of the Week'.
October 9, 2022
(For one of my uni modules)
July 13, 2020
How beautiful a collection is this! What a great book to read and to have in a collection. Must.
August 8, 2018
I've only read a few of these poems, as there are so many. It's a good book to dip in and out of. My favourite one so far is Roald Dahl's 'Little Red Riding Hood And The Wolf.' It's a modern retelling of the classic fairytale, with Dahl making Red Riding Hood a feisty, strong and formidable fighter, rather than her being typecast in her usual role as a victim. She did not need saving by the woodcutter, but managed to defend herself and slay the wolf. These the last few lines of that poem:
" A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, 'Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry WOLFSKIN COAT.'
" A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, 'Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry WOLFSKIN COAT.'
March 25, 2024
I hate poetry, but some of these poems are not bad.
Read in June 2016
Read in June 2016
December 6, 2022
This is a large collections of poems covering a range of subjects, all of which are written for children. Overall, I do like this book but I do have some mixed feelings about the some of the poems in this collection.
First, the variety in this poem collection is wonderful. You have short and long poems, poems that include different poetry techniques and poems for older and younger children, along with the fact that these poems cover subjects such as fairy tales, weather, months, family, friends, school and so many more. This means that this collection would be incredibly helpful when looking for poems to include in circle time, topic work or Literacy lessons. At the end of this review, I will include some of my favourites and what ideas they inspired regarding lessons or activities. Another positive to this collection is that some of the poems contain uncommon words or language usage for effect. For example, there are some old English phrases included in a poem which exposed the children to , though a familiar language, unfamiliar aspects of said language.
On the other hand, one thing that I dislike about this collection is that some of the poems contain quite strong themes described by strong words. For instance, one is about a family member dying and it uses the word 'corpse' and mentions how the little boy sees the body. For some children and parents, this might be inappropriate. For this reason, it would not be a book which could be left out for free reading due to the strength of some themes. The next point links to the previous, some of the language used may not be appropriate depending on the age of the children and policy of the setting. An example of this is that there are poems that talk about fighting people, punching, pushing and spitting as well as using the term 'naughty'. From experience, I know these subjects and terms may not be tolerated in some setting due to the policy they have around appropriate language. This would be a aspect to consider when using this book or planning to use it.
Overall, I did enjoy this poem collection and here are a couple of my favourite poems from this collection.
1) November Night Countdown - Moira Andrew (Firework night topic)
2) Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - Roald Dahl (A different input of a familiar story)
3) Water Voles and Moles - Gavin Ewart (Simple rhyming and animals topic)
4) The Tree in Season - Robert Fisher (Seasons topic)
5) Friends - Elizabeth Jennings (PSED)
6) The Sound Collector - Roger McGough (Music)
7) Far Over the Misty Mountains - J. R. R. Tolkien (Rhyming and Environments topic)
8) The Grateful Dragon - Raymond Wilson (PSED and bringing Drama into Literacy)
9) The Magic Box - Kit Wright (Circle time and PSED)
First, the variety in this poem collection is wonderful. You have short and long poems, poems that include different poetry techniques and poems for older and younger children, along with the fact that these poems cover subjects such as fairy tales, weather, months, family, friends, school and so many more. This means that this collection would be incredibly helpful when looking for poems to include in circle time, topic work or Literacy lessons. At the end of this review, I will include some of my favourites and what ideas they inspired regarding lessons or activities. Another positive to this collection is that some of the poems contain uncommon words or language usage for effect. For example, there are some old English phrases included in a poem which exposed the children to , though a familiar language, unfamiliar aspects of said language.
On the other hand, one thing that I dislike about this collection is that some of the poems contain quite strong themes described by strong words. For instance, one is about a family member dying and it uses the word 'corpse' and mentions how the little boy sees the body. For some children and parents, this might be inappropriate. For this reason, it would not be a book which could be left out for free reading due to the strength of some themes. The next point links to the previous, some of the language used may not be appropriate depending on the age of the children and policy of the setting. An example of this is that there are poems that talk about fighting people, punching, pushing and spitting as well as using the term 'naughty'. From experience, I know these subjects and terms may not be tolerated in some setting due to the policy they have around appropriate language. This would be a aspect to consider when using this book or planning to use it.
Overall, I did enjoy this poem collection and here are a couple of my favourite poems from this collection.
1) November Night Countdown - Moira Andrew (Firework night topic)
2) Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - Roald Dahl (A different input of a familiar story)
3) Water Voles and Moles - Gavin Ewart (Simple rhyming and animals topic)
4) The Tree in Season - Robert Fisher (Seasons topic)
5) Friends - Elizabeth Jennings (PSED)
6) The Sound Collector - Roger McGough (Music)
7) Far Over the Misty Mountains - J. R. R. Tolkien (Rhyming and Environments topic)
8) The Grateful Dragon - Raymond Wilson (PSED and bringing Drama into Literacy)
9) The Magic Box - Kit Wright (Circle time and PSED)
April 14, 2018
Please Mrs Butler - Allan Ahlberg
Allan Ahlberg is a British writer along with his wife Janet. Please Mrs Butler is a fun poem which talks about a boy called Derek Drew who copies, cheats and calls children names. It is a fun poem with a rhythm to the verses. There is 3 verses with start with 'Please Mrs Butler' and is laid out like a speech between Mrs Butler and the student. It is punchy and rhyming couplets. I like this poem because my boyfriends mum is called Mrs Butler and she is a primary school teacher so I always feel like it relates to her. Its a comical and humorous poem. There is other Mrs Butler poems as well. Its very lighthearted and can be read to children of all year groups as it relates to scenarios in schools and therefore can inspire children to write their own poems about school such as school time, play time, dinner, excuses, classroom and home time.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - Roald Dahl
I like this poem as its based around the well known story about Little Red Riding Hood which all children will know so they can easily relate to it. It's a long poem but includes speech and tells the story. Its in rhyming couplets and is easy to read. It can be read to any age group with lots of acting and dramatisation. Roald Dahl was a British writer again writing mostly in 1940s and is on of the best selling authors in the world.
In Flanders Field - Lt. Col. John McCrae
Flanders Field is a beautifully written poem about WWI and written about the poppies which lie in the field representing the soldiers who have lost their lives. Its very sensitively written and descriptive about the life in the trenches and the war. It will make you feel emotions such as sadness, empathy and hatred for war. Its easy to read and understand. Its a key poem to read around the time of Remembrance and then children can write their own poems of remembrance.
I have studied this poem / did work on it with a year 5 class who were old enough to empathise and understand the meaning of things such as 'quarrel with foe' and actually appreciate it.
Its written in three stanzas with rhyming couplets.
Allan Ahlberg is a British writer along with his wife Janet. Please Mrs Butler is a fun poem which talks about a boy called Derek Drew who copies, cheats and calls children names. It is a fun poem with a rhythm to the verses. There is 3 verses with start with 'Please Mrs Butler' and is laid out like a speech between Mrs Butler and the student. It is punchy and rhyming couplets. I like this poem because my boyfriends mum is called Mrs Butler and she is a primary school teacher so I always feel like it relates to her. Its a comical and humorous poem. There is other Mrs Butler poems as well. Its very lighthearted and can be read to children of all year groups as it relates to scenarios in schools and therefore can inspire children to write their own poems about school such as school time, play time, dinner, excuses, classroom and home time.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - Roald Dahl
I like this poem as its based around the well known story about Little Red Riding Hood which all children will know so they can easily relate to it. It's a long poem but includes speech and tells the story. Its in rhyming couplets and is easy to read. It can be read to any age group with lots of acting and dramatisation. Roald Dahl was a British writer again writing mostly in 1940s and is on of the best selling authors in the world.
In Flanders Field - Lt. Col. John McCrae
Flanders Field is a beautifully written poem about WWI and written about the poppies which lie in the field representing the soldiers who have lost their lives. Its very sensitively written and descriptive about the life in the trenches and the war. It will make you feel emotions such as sadness, empathy and hatred for war. Its easy to read and understand. Its a key poem to read around the time of Remembrance and then children can write their own poems of remembrance.
I have studied this poem / did work on it with a year 5 class who were old enough to empathise and understand the meaning of things such as 'quarrel with foe' and actually appreciate it.
Its written in three stanzas with rhyming couplets.
December 4, 2023
Roger McGough's anthology is comprised of poetry chosen by teachers and children from over a hundred schools around the UK. Many of the poems are likely to appeal to teenagers, although some are certainly appropriate for younger children too. Poetry anthologies tend to run chronologically across a period of centuries or decades. McGough's is different. His selections appear alphabetically. This ensures that his volume is presented irrespective of writers' themes, contexts and historical significance. Consequently, the editorial arrangement places nineteenth century classics, for example, Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shalott', side by side with postcolonial verse such as Grace Nichols' vivid reflections on her upbringing in 'Wha Me Mudder Do'. Moreover, traditionally rhyming pentameters nod towards starkly blank verse, while charming shape poems like Jo Shapcott's amusing 'Penguin Complaints' rub shoulders with the arresting absurdities and possibilities presented through Edward Lear's nonsense verse. These selections emphasise the richly cultural cornucopia that comprises children's verse, by largely avoiding suggestions of old-fashioned hierarchies, elitism and literary status which could unwittingly put up barriers for younger readers.
Sheila Moxley's cameo illustrations are also intriguing. They combine a warmth of pastel colours, but appear casually etched, as if by a child artist. Her illustrations never detract from the poetry itself. Yet their impact certainly offers clues to possible interpretations, and their generally cheery cartoon feel naturally makes the poems seem the more appealing and accessible.
These poems collectively entertain through their humour, themes and forms; they provoke some startlingly emotional responses; and they fondly depict aspects of childhood both through writers' nostalgic vantages and a welcome collision of poetical insights garnered from verse lines ranging from Shakespeare right through to McGough himself.
Of course, there is no reason why adult readers should not thoroughly enjoy this anthology as well. However, it affirmingly affords a stimulating point of access to the world of verse for children who otherwise might not feel inclined to delve into the delights of verse literature.
Sheila Moxley's cameo illustrations are also intriguing. They combine a warmth of pastel colours, but appear casually etched, as if by a child artist. Her illustrations never detract from the poetry itself. Yet their impact certainly offers clues to possible interpretations, and their generally cheery cartoon feel naturally makes the poems seem the more appealing and accessible.
These poems collectively entertain through their humour, themes and forms; they provoke some startlingly emotional responses; and they fondly depict aspects of childhood both through writers' nostalgic vantages and a welcome collision of poetical insights garnered from verse lines ranging from Shakespeare right through to McGough himself.
Of course, there is no reason why adult readers should not thoroughly enjoy this anthology as well. However, it affirmingly affords a stimulating point of access to the world of verse for children who otherwise might not feel inclined to delve into the delights of verse literature.
Read
June 19, 2022This is a really great collection of poetry for children of all ages. Lots of poems based on classic traditional tales to expose children to a new genre of text with a familiar story. I think this is a good way to introduce poetry to children so they can see the differences between story writing and poetry of a story they are aware of. There are illustrations to go with the poems which can help children begin to write their own poems based on these.
There are also lots of contemporary poems throughout the book which encompass a lot of different poetry styles covering a range of themes so that poetry can be incorporated into many different units of work. The importance of exposing children to poetry will help them to become familiar with the style and features of poems to help them become better readers and writers through exploring their imagination and providing opportunity for them to be creative.
There are also lots of contemporary poems throughout the book which encompass a lot of different poetry styles covering a range of themes so that poetry can be incorporated into many different units of work. The importance of exposing children to poetry will help them to become familiar with the style and features of poems to help them become better readers and writers through exploring their imagination and providing opportunity for them to be creative.
September 30, 2019
This Poetry anthology has been well sourced and thought out. It is a beautiful easy to read book. There are poems for all ages of children,covering a wide variety of themes from Halloween to The songs of Hiawatha. There are humorous poems like The day I fell down the toilet to the spellbinding Highwayman. There are Lots you will recognise like Spike Milligan's the Ning Nang Nong to The Daffodils by William Wordsworth. This book is a must have for any classroom or would make a lovely gift for any child.
May 6, 2025
100 Best Poems by Roger McGough really struck a chord with me, especially since poetry has always been such a passion of mine. I find so much joy in the way words can stir emotions, and McGough does that effortlessly. His poems are clever and funny, but also have a depth that’s really moving. There’s something about the simplicity and beauty of his writing that keeps drawing me back. Whether it’s a lighthearted verse or one that makes you pause and think, this collection is a great reminder of why I’ve always loved poetry. It’s definitely a book I’ll keep coming back to and cherish.
May 30, 2021
This collection of poems is fantastic! There are many themes in this book from school to frogs, every poem for every occasion.
When on BSE I read every day to a small group of children and they found enjoyment in picking out poems to read as a group. I also asked children to pick a random number which added a surprise element of which poem would be read aloud.
My favourite poem so far is 'Please Sir!' which was also a favourite for the group of children I read to.
When on BSE I read every day to a small group of children and they found enjoyment in picking out poems to read as a group. I also asked children to pick a random number which added a surprise element of which poem would be read aloud.
My favourite poem so far is 'Please Sir!' which was also a favourite for the group of children I read to.
December 16, 2021
These selection of poems make for a great anthology that will open children up to the world of poetry as they become enriched with these great works of literature. The book contains works of classic and contemporary poems from notorious writers such as Shakespeare, Dr Seuss and Michael Rosen.
December 10, 2017
This is an excellent introduction to poetry for children. The choices are fiercely eclectic, including poems especially written for children, poems that are simply classics for children and adults alike, and traditional poems. Each poem is exquisitely illustrated.
May 21, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book to children. All the children in my class were laughing at the rhymes, onomatopoeia and many other aspects of different poems. I loved it so much I had to buy a copy just for myself and read it everyday before the school day ends to children.
December 19, 2019
I loved these poems, a great collection.
July 29, 2020
Read as part of UK Open University's EA320 - Children's literature. Not my favourite topic.
February 24, 2022
There is some incredible poetry in here.
February 24, 2022
Some amazing and diverse poetry.
September 19, 2023
There's a good mix of classic and modern poetry in here. While I did not love every poem, my children certainly enjoyed the ones that I didn't!
October 30, 2023
Mange klassikere, noen utdaterte, en del gode - men til bruk på mellomtrinnet og oppover, og der befinner ikke jeg meg!
December 20, 2021
I have read this book as part of my PGCE, and I love it. It throws you back many years into your own childhood. It is a fantastic book for children and there are so many amazing poems, including a variety of different themes, that I enjoyed reading myself and I will use them in my future career. It is important to expose children to poetry because it creates imagination and creativity. The large variety of themes in this anthology allows teachers to select specific poems that relate to their term topic. For example, if you are looking at the War then In Flanders Field could be an amazing addition to your English lessons.
My favourite poem was Please Mrs Butler, which sparked some distant memories from my own childhood, which is why I like this poem so much.
“Keep it in your hand, dear.
Hide it up your vest.
Swallow it if you like, my love.
Do what you think best.”
This poem talks about Derek Drew who copies work, steals, and calls children names. There are 3 verses. I read this poem to the children in my placement class and from the class feedback, it was clear that they could relate to the poem which made them want to read more. Additionally, they thought the teacher’s suggestions were very silly but funny. One pupil asked why she thought it was acceptable to swallow a rubber. They insisted I read a poem to them every day, so I managed to make my way through this book quickly.
This book was an amazing opportunity to introduce my placement class to the world of poetry and we developed this through the term. At the end of the term, we were able to create our own poems and make a class anthology about Christmas and winter wonderlands.
My favourite poem was Please Mrs Butler, which sparked some distant memories from my own childhood, which is why I like this poem so much.
“Keep it in your hand, dear.
Hide it up your vest.
Swallow it if you like, my love.
Do what you think best.”
This poem talks about Derek Drew who copies work, steals, and calls children names. There are 3 verses. I read this poem to the children in my placement class and from the class feedback, it was clear that they could relate to the poem which made them want to read more. Additionally, they thought the teacher’s suggestions were very silly but funny. One pupil asked why she thought it was acceptable to swallow a rubber. They insisted I read a poem to them every day, so I managed to make my way through this book quickly.
This book was an amazing opportunity to introduce my placement class to the world of poetry and we developed this through the term. At the end of the term, we were able to create our own poems and make a class anthology about Christmas and winter wonderlands.
June 18, 2018
This was suggested to me as pre-course reading, and for any child or adult who hasn't found poetry a particularly accessible resource, this selection of works by a huge variety of very well-known poets provides a perfect introduction. William Blake, Walter De La Mare, TS Eliot, Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis Stevenson, William Wordsworth and Rudyard Kipling rub shoulders with Michael Rosen, Colin McNaughton and Allan Ahlberg, so that a huge variety of styles and generations are represented, and every poem is beautifully presented and illustrated minimalistically yet attractively by Sheila Moxey. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of the collection is that each poem was recommended by a primary school, and at the back the list of recommending schools involved is shown: the perfect endorsement for use of the works in schools from those who have already done so! It's impossible to pick a favourite and I could imagine the book being used time and again to source poetry to inspire creative responses from children. Indeed, choosing one poem from 'Cats', or one excerpt from 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', encourages children to explore much further than just the covers of this book, but to investigate a wide range of traditional and contemporary children's literature available today.
September 8, 2011
The introduction of this book says that the poems were chosen by children from schools. Well, I work in a school and I very much doubt that they were all chosen by the children. I would imagine some of them were chosen by teachers keen to include poems they thought should be included because a lot of these poems are so dry and dull.
Having said that I like a lot of those included - they range from Roal Dahl to First World War poems, even some Tennyson. Maybe its just me but I can't see any child wanting to include the Highwayman. Not the most inspiring collection of poetry.
Having said that I like a lot of those included - they range from Roal Dahl to First World War poems, even some Tennyson. Maybe its just me but I can't see any child wanting to include the Highwayman. Not the most inspiring collection of poetry.
July 10, 2021
Will be reading this again in 2022.
I don't love the Playlist topic but it makes many links to music so it's back...
_______________________________
Enjoyed this. What a variety!
Studied -
-Matilda
-Old brown horse
- Prince Kano
- Macavity the mystery cat
- The Sea
Glad to be moving to an actual book though after half-term. Looking forward to getting back into a story.
I don't love the Playlist topic but it makes many links to music so it's back...
_______________________________
Enjoyed this. What a variety!
Studied -
-Matilda
-Old brown horse
- Prince Kano
- Macavity the mystery cat
- The Sea
Glad to be moving to an actual book though after half-term. Looking forward to getting back into a story.
November 9, 2014
A must read for those on the Open University EA300 course, an anthology chosen by children for children. Nicely put together and illustrated. A wonderful poetry book if you have young children, available from Amazon.
Want to Read
August 18, 2016i want to get idea
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December 22, 2017Poetry
This poetry is filled with quirky little illustrations to accompany the poems and has a wonderful selection of classic poems I remember reading as a child. There's a varied selection which is great because there's something everyone will like.
This poetry is filled with quirky little illustrations to accompany the poems and has a wonderful selection of classic poems I remember reading as a child. There's a varied selection which is great because there's something everyone will like.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews