Nonfiction Poetry for Kids
Nonfiction and poetry probably aren’t the two words that you would put together for a book list, but you might be surprised by the number of nonfiction poetry collections that exist! And honestly, it’s a really fun way to share facts in a format that is both surprising and accessible for kids! Whether you’re checking out some tree haikus or concrete poems about landforms, this is a list that shouldn’t be missed.
I’m always looking for ways to share nonfiction in an exciting way. And unfortunately, poetry often gets a bad rap, so I was really excited to dive into this topic to find amazing books for kids that are both informative and fun to read. These make great suggestions for kids who maybe lean toward nonfiction rather than your typical fiction readers and for those kids who find a lot of words on the page to be daunting. Who knew you could find an entire collection of poetry about the Mariana Trench? Well, I found it and it’s awesome. And of course, no book list is complete without something that kids just have to check out – enter Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature! (You’re welcome!)
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Nonfiction Poetry for Kids
Awesome Earth: Concrete Poems Celebrate Caves, Canyons, and Other Fascinating Landforms by Joan Bransfield Graham, illustrated by Tania Garcia
The Earth’s crust shakes, water swells, lava flows, and glaciers advance. In this ingenious picture book, the landforms created by Earth’s powerful forces are examined through compelling concrete poetry. From canyons to volcanos, archipelagoes to hoodoos, take a tour of the many fascinating forms and features of our awesome planet.
Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Priscilla Tey
Award-winning author Betsy Franco is back with another pitch-perfect performance that explores a range of math topics—from fractions and time measurements to geometry and graphs—in a way that relates math to the daily lives of children. Even the most mathematically disinclined will warm to these innovative poems, illustrated with game-changing wit and whimsy by Priscilla Tey, whose clever mechanical “Numbots” guide readers through a surreal playground of calculated delights. From multiplying mice to missing socks, from stinky scales to bug races, this collection of imaginative verse subtracts the mystery, fear, and loathing from mathematics, making it engrossing and fun for all.
The Day the Universe Exploded My Head: Poems to Take You into Space and Back Again by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Anna Raff
The universe poured into me.
My brain was overloaded.
It smoked and glowed red-hot.
And then
it actually exploded.
Ever wonder what the sun has to say about being the closest star to Earth? Or what Pluto has gotten up to since being demoted to a dwarf planet? Or where rocket ships go when they retire? Listen closely, because maybe, just maybe, your head will explode, too. With poetry that is equal parts accurate and entertaining — and illustrations that are positively out of this world — this book will enthrall amateur stargazers and budding astrophysicists as it reveals many of the wonders our universe holds. Space travelers in search of more information will find notes about the poems, a glossary, and a list of resources at the end.
Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Juan Calle Velez
Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been–the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth’s deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.
The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
Spectacular vertical panoramas illustrating life underground accompany 15 funny, fascinating poems that explore dirt and the many creatures that make their homes underground. Spiders, earthworms, ants, chipmunks and more crawl across the pages, between stretching roots and buried stones.
Chipmunk, for such a little squirt
you sure do move a lot of dirt,
you sure do dig your tunnels deep,
you sure do find some nuts to keep,
you sure do know your underground.
Chipmunk, you sure do get around.
This unique celebration of dirt– what makes it, what lives in it, and the many wonderful things the soil does to support life on our planet– is a whimsical, cleverly-illustrated pick for kids who love animals… or who just love playing in the mud.
Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites by Bette Westera, illustrated by Mies van Hout
A whimsical portrait of animals―and antonyms―in action.
How do you contrast creatures as different as cheetahs and tortoises, or as similar as butterflies and moths? In this lively book of poetry, antonym pairs introduce thirty-two members of the animal kingdom. Each spread presents the voices of two unique creatures: are you more like an obedient sheep or a rebellious goat? What about a tidy pig or a messy warthog? A bossy gorilla or a meek monkey?
With bold, vibrant art and amusing free verse, this collection is a memorable way to explore vocabulary, opposites, and animal traits with young readers. Every flip of the page brings a new set of faces―and another chance to laugh.
Haiku, Ew: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Julia Patton
If you think poems about nature are all pretty flowers and rainbow sunsets, this book is not for you. If you can’t handle giant whale farts, turn back right now. If you don’t want to know how lobsters pee, do not read one word further. Seriously, if you open this book, you’re going to find out the disgusting truth about where honey comes from!
All right, you’re in charge. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…
Ice Cycle: Poems about the Life of Ice by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Jieting Chen
From Maria Gianferrari, award-winning author of Play Like an Animal!,comes a beautiful collaboration between verse and science. Brief poems and ethereal illustrations introduce readers to the many different types of ice on land and at sea. Fascinating back matter provides additional information about water as a solid, liquid, and gas, as well as more details about the unique forms of ice mentioned in the poems. Celebrate winter with this evocative and atmospheric exploration of ice!
The Poetry of Science: The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science for Kids by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
If your kids love science, this book is for them! THE POETRY OF SCIENCE: THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR SCIENCE FOR KIDS features 248 poems by 78 award-winning and popular poets.
Need inspiration for a science fair project? You’ll find it here. Curious about ecosystems? Dive in! There are poems about push and pull, chemistry, energy, math, computers, inventions, famous scientists, experiments, imagining the future, and more!
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
A Caldecott medalist and a Newbery Honor-winning poet celebrate the beauty and value of spirals.What makes the tiny snail shell so beautiful? Why does that shape occur in nature over and over again—in rushing rivers, in a flower bud, even inside your ear?
With simplicity and grace, Joyce Sidman’s poetry paired with Beth Krommes’s scratchboard illustrations not only reveal the many spirals in nature—from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies—but also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.
Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Angela Mckay
perched on a branch,
the crow’s nest amid green sails
a place for daydreams
From the giant tree ferns of the forests primeval to the hardy sycamores of today’s urban forests, experience the essence of trees throughpoems that engage with every season and stage of the life cycle, from seed to photosynthesis. A broad exploration of a majestic subject, this collection of haiku touches on such topics as the importance of trees to other living creatures and the communication of trees with one another through a complex network of roots.
UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian
Come inside the honeycomb—a busy, buzzy, bee-filled home—and learn about the unexpected wonders of these tiny insects’ lifestyles, families, and communities. In fourteen funny, fact-filled honeybee poems and paintings, Douglas Florian explores the natural history of these often-unappreciated critters, revealing them to be a totally cool—and totally important—part of our ecosystem. Indeed, these buzzy bugs have been in the spotlight lately as wild bee populations are dwindling, honey prices are rising, and beekeeping has become a popular hobby.
