A Child's Garden of Poetry

Movie review by Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
A Child's Garden of Poetry Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 4+

Short Emmy winner sure to grow a new crop of poetry lovers.

NR 2011 27 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 2+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 2+

Based on 1 review

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

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.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this Emmy winner for children's programming is just fine for the preschool set, but elementary-aged kids will get the most out of it. Not only will kids hear some great poems, but they'll see kids express what they love about them, how they listen to poetry, and even how to count out the syllables of a haiku. The content is very mild. Some poems mention romance and one uses the word "lovers," and another poem laments the loss of the buffalo.

Community Reviews

Summer's Child
Summer's Child Adult
November 26, 2013
age 2+

Absolutely Amazing & Beautiful Family Entertainment!

This video is absolutely wonderful! The beautifully artful animations of classic poems read by today's leading actors is a perfect way to get kids interested in and loving poetry. This is also one of our favorite videos to watch as a family, and it's topics and songs have been re-sung and recited in our family long after the video. What an excellent way to make the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes and many more real and accessible to kids! Grandpa and dad have even paused and been drawn into this video, and my son and daughter ask to hear the silly poems over and over - and dance and sing to the songs! The only part I don't love is the excerpts with real children discussing why they love poetry. The kids are from elite NYC schools, and their explanations are a bit over the top. I would have rather had the time used for another animation. However, my kids seem to like the real-kid approach, the kids are great role models, and we have been inspired to try some of the hands-on poetry approaches of these schools by watching these short segments. This was created in part by HBO family, and if you like it, I'd also check out their Classical Baby series - more excellent poems and songs.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

A CHILD'S GARDEN OF POETRY weaves together poems from great writers (Langston Hughes, Li Bai, Matsuo Basho, Robert Frost, and more) and many interviews with children that explore their experience of poetry. Some poems are read by acclaimed actors and musicians, and some are read by the poets themselves, taken from old recordings. Animation accompanies many poems, as do the words posted large on the screen. In one scene, a class learns the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet; in another, singer Natalie Merchant sets the poem "Calico Pie" to jaunty music. One child reads a poem in Chinese, then English. Another uses sign language while a poem is read aloud.

Is It Any Good?

What a lovely treat. And just like many good poems, this DVD is brief (27 minutes) and dense with meaning, encouraging viewers to go back again and again to get more out of it.

When you look at the packaging touting a laundry list of artists reading the poems, you expect them to steal the show. But thankfully it's the kids who are the stars here, along with the poems themselves. The young interviewees highlight the poems in ways kids will relate to and express themselves beautifully. The animation keeps it simple while still being lovely, and the music Merchant sets to the poem "Calico Pie" is a rollicking reminder that poetry can be as fun as it is meaningful.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about taking the time to enjoy poetry. Do you read it as a family? If not, did this DVD encourage you to incorporate more poetry into evening story time?

  • The featured kids all said something different about poetry. Are you excited to learn more now that you see other kids enjoying and understanding poetry?

  • Which poem did you like the best? Why? Which poem made you stop and think about what it meant?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

Character Strengths

Find more movies that help kids build character.

  • Little boy whispering to a girl
    Communication
    See all

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