Our favourite poetry books (older children)

Everyone loves a celebration and with this lively, multicultural, poetry anthology there is an excuse to celebrate almost all year round

A stunning collection of poetry for children by poet Valerie Bloom, as fun to read aloud together as it is poignant and powerful.

In a lovely collection of tree-themed poems, Mandy Ross takes us from Joshua Tree in the American desert to the pine and oyamel trees of Mexico, to a snowy forest and the trees in a city – and many more!

This accessible collection of poems is fun and thoughtful and an ideal resource for teachers. The focus here is on poems that sound great read aloud, so be sure to sing them, chant them and enjoy the way they sound.

A stunning collection of poems, beautifully illustrated, that explores and celebrate nature in its various magnificent forms. Perfect for reading aloud, and for curling up with.

Each of the 50 poems featured in this splendid collection focuses on a different emotion, from kindness and joy to guilt and jealousy. With vibrant illustrations throughout, it’s an ideal book to foster a love of poetry and encourage emotional literacy.

This collection of poetry is arranged in A to Z order. It includes funny, touching, fascinating and totally original poems from the man dubbed ​‘the laureate of comedy.

This funny, clever and very enjoyable verse retelling of Rumpelstiltskin takes the story back to its original darkly horrifying roots and adds a smart, likeable heroine who saves the day with a story. 

A stunning collection of poems that are warm, funny, thought-provoking and dazzling in their evocation of what it is to be Black. Accessible to all, with beautiful illustrations, this is an absolute delight. 

Maya Angelou’s seminal poem Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, about the courage inside us all (whatever age our age), is matched for the first time with paintings by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

This brilliant and imaginatively illustrated book is the perfect addition to any classroom library; a book of clever poems picking out some of the many personalities that pupils will find sitting next to them in assemblies, lunch queues and in playgrounds.

Annie loves drawing, running barefoot, her family, and possibly Max, her running partner. It’s an eventful time for the 12-year-old: as her mother is about to give birth, her beloved grandfather is sliding slowly into dementia.

How do you define a poem? Song lyrics, performance pieces, blank verse, a Shakespearean speech and hilarious rhymes, both classic and brand-new, make this an anthology where there is literally something for everyone. 

Celebrating the wonder and variety of the earth – and the need to protect it – this is an eclectic collection of poetry from across time and continents.

This exciting mix of funny, sinister and contemplative verse by two highly-acclaimed poets centres on all things wild, from animals and plants to weather and wild ideas. Illustrated throughout with quirky black-and-white artwork. 

A captivating collection of poems, stunningly illustrated, that explores and celebrates nature, through the four elements.

Former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, gathers together the best children’s poetry from Agard to Zephaniah in this collection. From Grace Nichol’s poem about her Caribbean Gran visiting England to Rosen’s own hilarious account of his Dad’s intolerance to ​‘The Noise’, There are poems to entertain everyone. A brilliant book for dipping iin and out of and a great way of getting to know a diverse range of poets.

A fantastic collection of poems reflecting real life that will have readers coming back to it again and again. 

A treasure trove of funny poems encompassing many subjects and poets – one for every day of the year! A beautiful gift book.

Emmy is in a new city and new school and has just discovered computer coding. But why are people in class keeping secrets? This verse novel brilliantly combines poetry, music and coding with a coming-of-age story and a celebration of girls in STEM. 

This lively collection of poems by two acclaimed poets takes readers on a meandering, thought-provoking and imaginative journey. Humorously illustrated with energetic black-and-white drawings.  

A joyous collection of poems celebrating Welsh identity in its many forms – and the dragons inside us all. 

This emotive poetry anthology from former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, explores the plight of refugees today, Rosen’s childhood as part of a Jewish family in post-war London, his family’s’ memories of the war, and the fate of relatives who disappeared in Nazi Germany.

When he falls out with his best friend and then his little brother is rushed into hospital, Nate’s world is turned upside-down. This incredibly powerful novel, written entirely in free verse and accompanied by thoughtful illustrations, is an emotional read.

This witty and captivating debut poetry collection showcases the work of an exciting new voice in children’s literature. The beautifullycrafted poems offer insightful observations on everyday life and are sure to resonate with readers young and old.  

A vibrant collection of poems from Children’s Laureate Wales 2023–25, celebrating nature andwordplay. 

This is the first-ever official National Poetry Day anthology, and it’s a truly brilliant book for children to get stuck into all year round: perfect for classrooms but also fun for families. 

This collection of funny, thought-provoking and imaginative poems about the world around us is written by the Children’s Laureate Wales. 

A poetry collection to inspire budding writers, and to create poetry lovers. Full of fun word play and useful writing tips, from the Children’s Laureate Wales 2023–2025. 

A collection of 80 John Agard’s poems for younger children taken from eight previous books.