Our Favorite Children"s Poetry Books About the Seasons
When it comes to poetry about the seasons, these are some of my favorite children’s poetry books. Your kids will not only celebrate, and learn about, the seasons with these books; they will also expand their vocabularies and enjoy both the poems and the artwork that illustrates each poem. All the poetry books for children that are listed below are ones I found at my public library; most are also available at bookstores. Note: Keep scrolling down to see all 8 resources.
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons is a collection of poems written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. They feature the adorable little panda bear Koo and his two friends, a little boy and girl. The poems are done in the poetic form haiku. In his Author’s Note, Muth says, “At its best, a haiku embodies a moment of emotion that reminds us that our own human nature is not separate from all of nature.”
Jon Muth’s poems, which are untitled, are divided by season, starting with fall. The first poetry page shows Koo with his paw in the air reaching for colorful falling leaves and the following haiku: “Autumn, / are you dreaming / of new clothes?”
Muth’s delightful watercolors and poetry make this a “must share” with children 4 to 8 years old. It’s the kind of book that younger children will enjoy again and again and independent readers will enjoy on their own. Scholastic Press published Hi, Koo! in 2014. The ISBN is 9780545166683.
The joyous cover of Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems highlights the multimedia artwork of award-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet. Her illustrations cover every page of the book with the poems embedded within them. For more about this poetry book for children, which features the poems of many well-known poets, read my book review of Firefly July. Candlewick Press published the book in 2014. The ISBN is 9780763648428.
Because each of Anna Grossnickle Hines’ nature poems is illustrated with one her stunning miniature quilts, this is a book that adults enjoy as well as children 5 to 10 years old. Each double-page spread features a poem and a full-page illustration of the quilt inspired by the poem. For detailed information, read my review of Pieces, A Year in Poems and Quilts. HarperCollins published the book in 2001. The ISBN for the hardcover edition, which is out of print, is 9780688169640. The paperback edition, published in 2003, is still available. Its ISBN is 978006055960.
In for Winter, Out for Spring contains a series of seasonal story poems by Arnold Adoff. They are illustrated by Jerry Pinkney with watercolor and pencil illustrations. Pinkney, an award-winning illustrator, won the 2010 Randolph Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration for his wordless retelling of The Lion and the Mouse.
The narrator of In for Winter, Out for Spring is a young girl, an African American named Rebecca but also called “Becky,” “Becka” and “Beck.” She is the youngest child in a large and loving family. The poems are untitled and each double-page spread includes a poem with a spot illustration and a full-page illustration. Each poem flows into the next as if it’s a continuing conversation between Becky and the reader.
Readers learn about the seasons in the context of Becky’s life with her extended family, at home, in the fields and among the trees. The emphasis is on family life and nature. The layout of the poems on each page is unique and takes a little getting used to, but it’s worth it because In for Winter, Out for Spring is a delightful book.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) published the book in 1991. The ISBN is 9780152386375. I recommend the book as a book to share with children 6 to 10 years old. It’s out of print, so look for it at your public library.
In Handsprings, poet and illustrator Douglas Florian celebrates spring in words and paintings. The 29 poems begin with “When Winter,” a poem about the end of winter and the beginning of spring. His topics are ones that appeal to kids, and his poems include “What I Love About Spring” and “What I Hate About Spring,” “Mud Flood,” “Spring Training” and “Play Ball!” Florian’s use of humor, rhyme and rhythm makes this an infectious group of poems that beg to be read aloud.
Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, published Handsprings in 2006. The ISBN is 9780060092801. While it is out of print, Handsprings is one of a number of poetry books for children by Douglas Florian that you should be able to find at your public library. Because of the strong rhythm of the poetry, it’s a good choice to read to babies and toddlers as well as a book to share with ages 4 to 8. Because of the humor, Handsprings will also appeal to independent readers up to age 12.
Autumnblings is another seasonal poetry collection by artist and poet Douglas Florian. He uses a variety of poetic forms, including concrete poetry, to celebrates the autumn season. The artwork for each of his 29 poems features fall colors. Florain created his illustrations with watercolors and colored pencils.
Throughout Autumnblings, Douglas Florian focuses on nature, with an emphasis on fall weather, colors, and birds. Young children will also enjoy this poetry collection. Children 5-12 will find Florian’s word play and poetry a particular delight, and enjoy his other books of seasonal poetry as well. (Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. 2006 (paperback). ISBN: 9781570914980)
In researching seasonal poetry books for children, I also found a trio of children’s poetry books about winter. Two of the three are by authors and illustrators whose books I’ve mentioned above. As he does in his other poetry booksabout the seasons, Douglas Florian has combined paintings and poems to celebrate (and complain about) anther season with affection and humor.
Winter Lights is another of Anna Grossnickle Hines’ poetry books combining poems and quilts. In this case, winter holidays are the main focus. The third book, Winter Poems, features a variety of poems by such well-known poets as Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, compiled by Barbara Rogasky and featuring the illustrations of award-winning artist Trina Schart Hyman.
Children’s Picture Books About Winter and Snow features seven books, including the classic books The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats and Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. I also recommend Peepers by Eve Bunting and Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, two colorful picture books about fall. For spring and summer, see my article about the 11 Best Children's Picture Books About Gardens and Gardening.
1. Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons is a collection of poems written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. They feature the adorable little panda bear Koo and his two friends, a little boy and girl. The poems are done in the poetic form haiku. In his Author’s Note, Muth says, “At its best, a haiku embodies a moment of emotion that reminds us that our own human nature is not separate from all of nature.”
Jon Muth’s poems, which are untitled, are divided by season, starting with fall. The first poetry page shows Koo with his paw in the air reaching for colorful falling leaves and the following haiku: “Autumn, / are you dreaming / of new clothes?”
Muth’s delightful watercolors and poetry make this a “must share” with children 4 to 8 years old. It’s the kind of book that younger children will enjoy again and again and independent readers will enjoy on their own. Scholastic Press published Hi, Koo! in 2014. The ISBN is 9780545166683.
2. Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
The joyous cover of Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems highlights the multimedia artwork of award-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet. Her illustrations cover every page of the book with the poems embedded within them. For more about this poetry book for children, which features the poems of many well-known poets, read my book review of Firefly July. Candlewick Press published the book in 2014. The ISBN is 9780763648428.
3. Pieces, A Year in Poems and Quilts
Because each of Anna Grossnickle Hines’ nature poems is illustrated with one her stunning miniature quilts, this is a book that adults enjoy as well as children 5 to 10 years old. Each double-page spread features a poem and a full-page illustration of the quilt inspired by the poem. For detailed information, read my review of Pieces, A Year in Poems and Quilts. HarperCollins published the book in 2001. The ISBN for the hardcover edition, which is out of print, is 9780688169640. The paperback edition, published in 2003, is still available. Its ISBN is 978006055960.
4. In for Winter, Out for Spring
In for Winter, Out for Spring contains a series of seasonal story poems by Arnold Adoff. They are illustrated by Jerry Pinkney with watercolor and pencil illustrations. Pinkney, an award-winning illustrator, won the 2010 Randolph Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration for his wordless retelling of The Lion and the Mouse.
The narrator of In for Winter, Out for Spring is a young girl, an African American named Rebecca but also called “Becky,” “Becka” and “Beck.” She is the youngest child in a large and loving family. The poems are untitled and each double-page spread includes a poem with a spot illustration and a full-page illustration. Each poem flows into the next as if it’s a continuing conversation between Becky and the reader.
Readers learn about the seasons in the context of Becky’s life with her extended family, at home, in the fields and among the trees. The emphasis is on family life and nature. The layout of the poems on each page is unique and takes a little getting used to, but it’s worth it because In for Winter, Out for Spring is a delightful book.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) published the book in 1991. The ISBN is 9780152386375. I recommend the book as a book to share with children 6 to 10 years old. It’s out of print, so look for it at your public library.
5. Handsprings
In Handsprings, poet and illustrator Douglas Florian celebrates spring in words and paintings. The 29 poems begin with “When Winter,” a poem about the end of winter and the beginning of spring. His topics are ones that appeal to kids, and his poems include “What I Love About Spring” and “What I Hate About Spring,” “Mud Flood,” “Spring Training” and “Play Ball!” Florian’s use of humor, rhyme and rhythm makes this an infectious group of poems that beg to be read aloud.
Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, published Handsprings in 2006. The ISBN is 9780060092801. While it is out of print, Handsprings is one of a number of poetry books for children by Douglas Florian that you should be able to find at your public library. Because of the strong rhythm of the poetry, it’s a good choice to read to babies and toddlers as well as a book to share with ages 4 to 8. Because of the humor, Handsprings will also appeal to independent readers up to age 12.
6. Autumnblings
Autumnblings is another seasonal poetry collection by artist and poet Douglas Florian. He uses a variety of poetic forms, including concrete poetry, to celebrates the autumn season. The artwork for each of his 29 poems features fall colors. Florain created his illustrations with watercolors and colored pencils.
Throughout Autumnblings, Douglas Florian focuses on nature, with an emphasis on fall weather, colors, and birds. Young children will also enjoy this poetry collection. Children 5-12 will find Florian’s word play and poetry a particular delight, and enjoy his other books of seasonal poetry as well. (Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. 2006 (paperback). ISBN: 9781570914980)
7. Children’s Poetry Books About Winter
In researching seasonal poetry books for children, I also found a trio of children’s poetry books about winter. Two of the three are by authors and illustrators whose books I’ve mentioned above. As he does in his other poetry booksabout the seasons, Douglas Florian has combined paintings and poems to celebrate (and complain about) anther season with affection and humor.
Winter Lights is another of Anna Grossnickle Hines’ poetry books combining poems and quilts. In this case, winter holidays are the main focus. The third book, Winter Poems, features a variety of poems by such well-known poets as Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, compiled by Barbara Rogasky and featuring the illustrations of award-winning artist Trina Schart Hyman.
8. Favorite Picture Books About the Seasons
Children’s Picture Books About Winter and Snow features seven books, including the classic books The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats and Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. I also recommend Peepers by Eve Bunting and Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, two colorful picture books about fall. For spring and summer, see my article about the 11 Best Children's Picture Books About Gardens and Gardening.
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