The Random House Book of Poetry for Children was recognized upon its publication in 1983 as an invaluable collection--a modern classic--and it has not since been surpassed. Five hundred poems, selected by poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky, are divided into broad subject areas such as nature, seasons, living things, children, and home. The poems of Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks populate the book's pages, while Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Ogden Nash, and Shel Silverstein ensure that the collection delights even the most reluctant readers of rhyme. Playground chants, anonymous rhymes, scary poems, silly verse, and even some sad strains are carefully indexed by title, author, first line, and subject. With illustrations of cheerful, round-faced children and animals on every page, Arnold Lobel (a Caldecott medalist and creator of the Frog and Toad series) unifies the diverse poems to form a satisfying whole; Lobel can draw anything and make it funny--or poignant, if he chooses. This collection, one of the most varied and complete around, will carry any budding poetry lover through childhood and beyond. (Ages 5 to 11.) From Goodreads ( )

This collection of poetry has poems for so many topics such as nature, the four seasons, many animals, and even nonsense! Jack Prelutsky has selected wonderful poems that are humorous, sincere, informative, and very creative.

A brilliant collection of poetry that children will enjoy. Mood is mostly upbeat and silly. Selections from a wide variety of authors. Divided into topical sections: Nature is...; The Four Seasons; Dogs and Cats and Bears and Bats; The Ways of Living Things; City, Oh, City!; Children, Children Everywhere; Me I Am!; home! You're Where It's Warm Inside; I'm Hungry!; Some People I Know; Nonsense! Nonsense!; Alphabet Stew; Where Goblins Dwell; and The Land of PotPourri. Illustrations accompany nearly every poem. ( )

k-12 grade. One of the best poetry books I think I've ever come across. It has everything from famous poetry writers to poems written by nobodies. Fantastic !!! To be shared with everybody ( )

Gr K Up—This is an excellent, illustrated anthology of poetry selected specifically for elementary school children. Though there is a range of poems, the emphasis is on humor and topics that interest children. Poems are organized in fourteen broad categories, with indexes for title, author, first line, and subject. ( )