POEMS FOR KINDERGARTEN, PRESCHOOLERS
The First Tooth
~Charles and Mary Lamb
Through the house what busy joy,
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.
He can say but half a word,
Yet that single sound's preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing.
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.
He can say but half a word,
Yet that single sound's preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing.
Eletelephony
~Laura Richards
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Who tried to use the telephant-
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone-
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee-
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Ferry Me Across the Water
~Christina Rossetti
"Ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do."
"If you've a penny in your purse
I'll ferry you."
"I have a penny in my purse,
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do."
"Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they black or blue,
And for the penny in your purse
I'll ferry you."
Do, boatman, do."
"If you've a penny in your purse
I'll ferry you."
"I have a penny in my purse,
And my eyes are blue;
So ferry me across the water,
Do, boatman, do."
"Step into my ferry-boat,
Be they black or blue,
And for the penny in your purse
I'll ferry you."
Be Careful What You Wish For
Arnie the apple hung from a tree
in an orchard a mile wide.
And every day the pickers would come
and haul dozens of apples inside.
in an orchard a mile wide.
And every day the pickers would come
and haul dozens of apples inside.
They'd pick the prettiest of the bunch,
filling their baskets and pails.
But they always passed by Arnie,
ignoring his whines and wails.
filling their baskets and pails.
But they always passed by Arnie,
ignoring his whines and wails.
"Please pick me!", Arnie would cry
each time the pickers sauntered by.
"I want to go inside with you!",
cried Arnie till he turned bright blue.
each time the pickers sauntered by.
"I want to go inside with you!",
cried Arnie till he turned bright blue.
But the pickers ignored him day after day,
while Arnie hung there in dismay,
trying to nurse his shattered pride,
dying to be picked to be taken inside.
while Arnie hung there in dismay,
trying to nurse his shattered pride,
dying to be picked to be taken inside.
Each new dawn he'd do a trick
like spinning around on his twig.
But the picky pickers never stopped
for apples that weren't big
like spinning around on his twig.
But the picky pickers never stopped
for apples that weren't big
or juicy or red or bright or sweet.
Poor Arnie was none of these things.
He wasn't completely quite full grown
and he had some nicks and dings.
Poor Arnie was none of these things.
He wasn't completely quite full grown
and he had some nicks and dings.
He dreamed what it was like inside;
lights and music all around.
Arnie just wanted to go there so badly
he flung himself to the ground.
lights and music all around.
Arnie just wanted to go there so badly
he flung himself to the ground.
The next day the pickers came along
and saw him lying there.
They took him inside and Arnie thought,
"This is it! I'm finally there!"
and saw him lying there.
They took him inside and Arnie thought,
"This is it! I'm finally there!"
But when Arnie the Apple looked around
he realized his dreams were false,
'cause in less than 15 minutes
he was Arnie Applesauce.
he realized his dreams were false,
'cause in less than 15 minutes
he was Arnie Applesauce.
(C) 1998, Arden Davidson.
Now We Are Six
~A.A. Milne
When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four, I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just ..........
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four, I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just ..........
Ferdinand Frog found a flip-flopping flea frolicking cheerfully.
"What’s this that I see?
Frogs don’t get fleas! This should never happen to me.
Flee little flea. Be away with thee."
"We’ll see," said the flea, sitting on the frog’s knee.
"If first you’ll do something for me."
"What," asked the frog, "could I possibly do for thee?"
"Well," said the flea. "Go find me a dog."
"Or a big bellied hog."
"Yes, there, I might live quite happily."
Looth Tooth
I've got a looth tooth
that wigglth and jigglth and wrigglth.
I move it around
but it never comth out of my mouth.
I pull it, I yank it,
I twirl it, I thpank it,
but it jutht never theems
to want to come out
of ith houth.
that wigglth and jigglth and wrigglth.
I move it around
but it never comth out of my mouth.
I pull it, I yank it,
I twirl it, I thpank it,
but it jutht never theems
to want to come out
of ith houth.
I'd call the Tooth Fairy,
but she'th kinda thcary,
Tho I thtill cannot theem to be free
of thith wiggly looth tooth,
that to tell you the truth,
ith makin' a thap outa me.
but she'th kinda thcary,
Tho I thtill cannot theem to be free
of thith wiggly looth tooth,
that to tell you the truth,
ith makin' a thap outa me.
I'm going to give it
one thuper thtrong yank,
cuth I really could uthe thome money.
Great Scott! It's out! At last, it's out!
But now I'm talking funny.
one thuper thtrong yank,
cuth I really could uthe thome money.
Great Scott! It's out! At last, it's out!
But now I'm talking funny.
(C) 1998, Arden Davidson.
MY DOGGY ATE MY HOMEWORK
- by Dave Crawley
"My doggy ate my homework.
He chewed it up," I said.
But when I offered my excuse
My teacher shook her head.
He chewed it up," I said.
But when I offered my excuse
My teacher shook her head.
I saw this wasn't going well.
I didn't want to fail.
Before she had a chance to talk,
I added to the tale:
I didn't want to fail.
Before she had a chance to talk,
I added to the tale:
"Before he ate, he took my work
And tossed it in a pot.
He simmered it with succotash
Till it was piping hot.
And tossed it in a pot.
He simmered it with succotash
Till it was piping hot.
"He scrambled up my science notes
With eggs and bacon strips,
Along with sauted spelling words
And baked potato chips.
With eggs and bacon strips,
Along with sauted spelling words
And baked potato chips.
"He then took my arithmetic
And had it gently fried.
He broiled both my book reports
With pickles on the side.
And had it gently fried.
He broiled both my book reports
With pickles on the side.
"He wore a doggy apron
As he cooked a notebook stew.
He barked when I objected.
There was nothing I could do."
As he cooked a notebook stew.
He barked when I objected.
There was nothing I could do."
"Did he wear a doggy chef hat?"
My teacher gave a scowl.
"He did," I said. "And taking it
Would only make him growl."
My teacher gave a scowl.
"He did," I said. "And taking it
Would only make him growl."
My teacher frowned, but then I said
As quickly as I could,
"He covered it with ketchup,
And he said it tasted good."
As quickly as I could,
"He covered it with ketchup,
And he said it tasted good."
"A talking dog who likes to cook?"
My teacher had a fit.
She sent me to the office,
And that is where I sit.
My teacher had a fit.
She sent me to the office,
And that is where I sit.
I guess I made a big mistake
In telling her all that.
'Cause I dont have a doggy.
It was eaten by my cat.
In telling her all that.
'Cause I dont have a doggy.
It was eaten by my cat.
A BAD CASE OF SNEEZES
- by Bruce Lansky
Last night I had the sneezes.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
I was really very ill.
My mother called the doctor
who prescribed a purple pill.
At eight o�clock I went to bed.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
My mom turned out the light.
I used up one whole box of Kleenex
sneezing through the night.
I sneezed my brains out in my bed.
I didn�t get much rest.
So that�s the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
I didn�t get much rest.
So that�s the reason, teacher,
that I flunked the spelling test.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
- by Bruce Lansky
Last year I did some rotten things.
This year I will be better.
Here are some resolutions
I will follow to the letter:
This year I will be better.
Here are some resolutions
I will follow to the letter:
I won’t make dumb excuses
when my homework isn’t done;
when the truth is that I did no work
’cause I was having fun.
when my homework isn’t done;
when the truth is that I did no work
’cause I was having fun.
I won’t fly paper airplanes
when the teacher isn’t looking.
I won’t sneak in the kitchen
just to taste what they are cooking.
I will not twist the silverware
to see how far it bends.
I will not take the candy bars
from lunch bags of my friends.
when the teacher isn’t looking.
I won’t sneak in the kitchen
just to taste what they are cooking.
I will not twist the silverware
to see how far it bends.
I will not take the candy bars
from lunch bags of my friends.
I will not skateboard down the hall
or skateboard down the stairs.
I won’t run over teachers,
and I won’t crash into chairs.
or skateboard down the stairs.
I won’t run over teachers,
and I won’t crash into chairs.
I will not do these rotten things;
my heart is full of sorrow.
But I have got some brand-new tricks
to try in school tomorrow.
my heart is full of sorrow.
But I have got some brand-new tricks
to try in school tomorrow.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin: A Child's Story
Robert Browning
I
HAMELIN Town's in Brunswick,
By famous Hanover city;
The river Weser, deep and wide,
Washes its wall on the southern side;
A pleasanter spot you never spied;
But, when begins my ditty,
Almost five hundred years ago,
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin, was a pity.
HAMELIN Town's in Brunswick,
By famous Hanover city;
The river Weser, deep and wide,
Washes its wall on the southern side;
A pleasanter spot you never spied;
But, when begins my ditty,
Almost five hundred years ago,
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin, was a pity.
II
Rats!
They fought the dogs and killed the cats,
And bit the babies in the cradles,
And ate the cheeses out of the vats,
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,
Split open the kegs of salted sprats,
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
And even spoiled the women's chats
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats.
Rats!
They fought the dogs and killed the cats,
And bit the babies in the cradles,
And ate the cheeses out of the vats,
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles,
Split open the kegs of salted sprats,
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
And even spoiled the women's chats
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats.
III
At last the people in a body
To the Town Hall came flocking:
" 'T is clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy;
And as for our Corporation - shocking
To think we buy gowns lined with ermine
For dolts that can't or won't determine
What's best to rid us of our vermin!
You hope, because you're old and obese,
To find in the furry civic robe ease?
Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking
To find the remedy we're lacking,
Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!"
At this the Mayor and Corporation
Quaked with a mighty consternation.
At last the people in a body
To the Town Hall came flocking:
" 'T is clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy;
And as for our Corporation - shocking
To think we buy gowns lined with ermine
For dolts that can't or won't determine
What's best to rid us of our vermin!
You hope, because you're old and obese,
To find in the furry civic robe ease?
Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking
To find the remedy we're lacking,
Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!"
At this the Mayor and Corporation
Quaked with a mighty consternation.
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens,
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother, dear,
We sadly fear,
Our mittens we have lost.
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother, dear,
We sadly fear,
Our mittens we have lost.
What! Lost your mittens,
You naughty kittens,
Then you shall have no pie.
Meow, meow,
Then you shall have no pie.
You naughty kittens,
Then you shall have no pie.
Meow, meow,
Then you shall have no pie.
The three little kittens,
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother, dear,
See here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother, dear,
See here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.
What, found your mittens,
Then you're good kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-rr, purr-rr,
Then you shall have some pie.
Then you're good kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-rr, purr-rr,
Then you shall have some pie.
Three little kittens,
Put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie.
Oh, mother, dear,
We sadly fear,
Our mittens we have soiled.
Put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie.
Oh, mother, dear,
We sadly fear,
Our mittens we have soiled.
What! Soiled your mittens,
You naughty kittens,
And they began to sigh.
Meow, meow,
And they began to sigh.
You naughty kittens,
And they began to sigh.
Meow, meow,
And they began to sigh.
The three little kittens,
They washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry.
Oh, mother, dear,
Do you not hear,
Our mittens we have washed?
They washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry.
Oh, mother, dear,
Do you not hear,
Our mittens we have washed?
What! Washed your mittens?
Then you're good kittens!
But I smell a rat close by.
Meow, meow,
We smell a rat close by.
Then you're good kittens!
But I smell a rat close by.
Meow, meow,
We smell a rat close by.
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