Andrew Staniland's "Playful Poems" is a sequence of over a hundred short poems written between March 2015 and August 2016 and prompted by reading most of Shakespeare's plays in their likely chronological order. There are poems about the wars in Ukraine and Syria, refugees, dictators, nationalism and Brexit, as well as "The lovely wood of piebald light/That any English poem is".

Reproduction of the original.

The playful nature of the poems is not only evident in the choice of words but also in the rhythm and rhyme schemes that make them a joy to read aloud. The cadence of the verses creates a rhythmic flow, making the poems not only entertaining but also an excellent tool for developing early literacy skills. The collection becomes an interactive experience, inviting children to participate in the joy of language through rhythm and rhyme. Moreover, the poems cover a broad spectrum of themes, appealing to the diverse interests of young readers. Whether it's a whimsical exploration of nature, a humorous take on everyday experiences, or an imaginative journey to far-off lands, each poem offers a unique and engaging perspective. The collection recognizes the richness of a child's curiosity and provides ample fodder for their expanding imaginations. Beyond the surface of playfulness, the poems subtly weave in inspirational messages, encouraging values such as kindness, resilience, and the importance of friendship. Through the lens of imaginative storytelling, children are gently guided toward essential life lessons, making the collection not only entertaining but also enriching.

“Clever and effective for the pre- and primary school nature shelves.”—Kirkus In the vein of Jack Prelutsky and Dennis Lee comes a celebration of the sky with thirty zippy poems that will lift kids’ spirits and let their imaginations soar. What do you see when you look up at the sky? In this “lyrical” picture book (Booklist) for ages 3-8, the award-winning and critically-acclaimed children’s poet, Robert Heidbreder, shares thirty memorable poems that capture the magic and beauty of all the wonderful things kids can see when they gaze at the sky. Gorgeous illustrations by artist and naturalist Emily Dove depict a diverse cast of children playing and cheering under a sky filled with birds and balloons, snow and shooting stars, sunflowers and falling leaves, and helicopters and kites. “A multicultural cast of children are shown reveling in the outdoors. Readers are encouraged to observe and appreciate the natural world around them.” —Booklist

Use the magic of poetry to build essential reading skills! Students will love these engaging reproducible poems with companion activity sheets that improve reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, and more.

Teaching phonics is a delight with this big collection of irresistible poetry! Each kid-pleasing poem helps kids master key decoding skills and targets a key letter-sound relationship--consonants, vowels, blends, digraphs, and more. Includes instant lessons and activities to build phonemic awareness, oral literacy, and all the phonics concepts students need to know to help ensure reading success. Great for shared reading! For use with Grades K-3.