Poetry: Picture Books for Birth to Five

A selection of recent picture books for little listeners.

Updated March 25, 2023
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At the pond
Elliott, David
A lyrical narration and breathtaking illustrations transport us to the world of a pond with all its sights, sounds, and pulsing life. The red-winged blackbird spreads his tail and sings his hello morning song; he has sung it since the bright ...
You are the loveliest
Hagen, Hans
Sometimes our feelings are so big, our dreams and our worries so wide, that we can't find the words to express them. How MUCH love we feel; what a new sibling will bring; exactly what it's like to take a hard tumble, or to want the sun to shine on a rainy day. ...
Wait -- and see
Frost, Helen
Longtime collaborators Helen Frost and Rick Lieder team up for a breathtakingly beautiful glimpse at the praying mantis--and entice us to take the time to open our eyes to the world in front of us. The creators of Step Gently Out and many other acclaimed picture books join...
Yellow Dog blues
Duncan, Alice Faye
The New York Times New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books Award (2022) A lyrical road trip through the Mississippi Delta, exploring the landmarks that shaped one of America's most beloved musical traditions. One morning Bo Willie...
Dear treefrog
Sidman, Joyce
Capturing the joy of finding a kindred spirit, this stunning picture book by Newbery Honor-winning poet Joyce Sidman tells the story of a lonely girl moving into a new home and the little treefrog that helps her connect to the beautiful world around her. Perfect for fans of A...
Bright brown baby : a treasury
Pinkney, Andrea Davis
A rhythmic, whimsically illustrated celebration of Black and brown babies and the joy, tender moments, and boundless love shared between children and their caregivers, from New York Times bestselling and award-winning duo Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney. Brown baby, born...
Zoobilations! : animal poems and paintings
Florian, Douglas
Discover the poetry of the animal kingdom in this seriously silly picture book full of clever puns and curious illustrations by celebrated poet Douglas Florian. Come horse around and live out your ele-phant-asies in this utterly original collection of animal poems....
The proper way to meet a hedgehog : and other how-to poems
Janeczko, Paul B.
Toast a marshmallow, be a tree in winter, read braille -- Paul B. Janeczko and Richard Jones invite you to enjoy an assortment of poems that inform and inspire. Today I walked outside and spied a hedgehog on the hill. When she and I met eye to eye,<...
Lion of the sky : haiku for all seasons
Salas, Laura Purdie
you gasp as I roar,my mane exploding, sizzling--lion of the sky!Haiku meet riddles in this wonderful collection from Laura Purdie Salas. The poems celebrate the seasons and describe everything from an earthworm to a baseball to an apple to snow angels, alongside full-color illustrations.
Steppin' out : jaunty rhymes for playful times
Oliver, Lin
Capturing the magic and fun of early childhood, this lively collection of toddler-centric poems, from the creators of Little Poems for Tiny Ears, is a book to be treasured. Being a toddler means days full of discovery every time you step out of your door. It's a time filled with...
A great big cuddle : poems for the very young
Rosen, Michael
Curl up with a playful collection of poems from best-selling children's author and poet Michael Rosen, perfect for sharing with young friends. In this exuberant compilation, Michael Rosen invites children to joyfully celebrate sounds and the infinite possibilities of language....
If not for the cat : haiku
Prelutsky, Jack.
Seventeen haiku composed by master poet Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by renowned artist Ted Rand ask you to think about seventeen favorite residents of the animal kingdom in a new way.  On these glorious and colorful pages you will meet a mouse, a skunk, a beaver, a...
Remember
Harjo, Joy
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER .AN AMERICAN INDIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HONOR BOOK.A BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK HONOR AWARD . NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal . Publishers Weekly . The Horn Book .NPR . The Bulletin . Kirkus Reviews

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