The Random House Book of Poetry for Children
By Patricia Tauzer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic will be the most dog-eared on your shelf.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Not For Modern Children!
Report this review
What's the Story?
This treasury of 572 poems, some written but most collected by Jack Prelutsky, ranges from nursery rhymes to more serious poetry, all of which are separated into 14 illustrated thematic sections. Poems about nature, seasons, life, animals, food, and people as well as nonsense poems, scary poems, and fantasy fill its pages. Indexes of titles, first lines, authors, and subjects included at the back of the book will help those following a specific theme or looking for a particular favorite.
Is It Any Good?
Despite its no-nonsense title, THE RANDOM HOUSE BOOK OF POETRY FOR CHILDREN is a playfully formatted, entertaining collection of poems that will delight the entire family for years. Readers of all ages will find poems to fit any season, occasion, or mood and, even with repeated readings, will find something new and exciting to enjoy within its pages. The book is divided into 14 broad themes. An original poem by Jack Prelutsky, the first Poet Laureate for Children, introduces each thematic section, and each section is chockfull of works ranging from nursery rhymes to poems by William Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss. Familiar, traditional poems mingle with the fresh and unknown, the serious poems with the silly, and the old voices with new. The mix is engaging.
To add even more fun to these pages of poetry, illustrator Arnold Lobel brought his Caldecott Award-winning touch. His over 400 drawings and paintings make poetry all the more friendly and accessible to kids. Book-reading dinosaurs, plump smiling toads, and chubby-cheeked children are guaranteed to captivate even the most reluctant readers. The fun of poetry comes through here, and that was Prelutsky's aim when, in 1983, he first filled this book with poems he felt kids would like. Happily, he succeeded. And, 25 years later it has become a classic. Without a doubt, it will become one of the most dog-eared volumes on your bookshelf.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can read the poems together, finding ones that fit special occasions or specific seasons of the year. They can enjoy the silly kid-humor of the Nonsense section, or soft, sensitive poems about being a child, a watcher of nature, or a romantic dreamer. Which are your favorites and why?
Book Details
- Author: Jack Prelutsky
- Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
- Genre: Poetry
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Random House
- Publication date: September 12, 1983
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 7
- Number of pages: 248
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate