Author: Kenn Nesbitt

Kenn Nesbitt, former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate, is celebrated for blending humor and heart in his poetry for children. Known for books such as "My Cat Knows Karate" and "Revenge of the Lunch Ladies," he captivates young readers globally.

Introducing Blazing Language

My New Language-Learning Website

If you’ve been visiting Poetry4kids for a while, you probably know that I love writing funny poems for kids. What you might not know is that I also love learning foreign languages, traveling to new places, and finding out about the people and cultures of the world.

Photograph of author Kenn Nesbitt studying in a Paris cafe with headphones on

Well, I’ve been busy combining those interests into a brand-new project in my spare time, and I’m excited to finally share it with you.

It’s called Blazing Language, and it’s a website that helps people learn foreign languages by listening to interesting podcasts about the world around us.

Don’t worry. I’m not giving up writing poetry! I’ll still be posting new poems here on Poetry4kids, just as I always have. This is simply another creative project I’ve been having fun with.

My Hamster Has a Hovercraft

When I was a kid, I had lots of toys, including toy cars, trucks, and airplanes. I loved imagining that they could go on incredible adventures, racing down highways, flying through the clouds, or speeding away from bad guys in daring escapes.

I also had quite a few pets growing up. Over the years, my family had cats and dogs, a parakeet, an aquarium full of fish, and even a snake! But there’s one pet I never had: a hamster.

That got me wondering what might happen if I combined two things I loved as a kid: pets and toy vehicles. What if a hamster got hold of a whole collection of toy cars, boats, and airplanes? What would he do with them? And why would a tiny little hamster need so many different ways to get around?

I started imagining a hamster with some pretty fancy transportation, including a monster truck, a limousine, a submarine, and even a hovercraft. Before long, I had a poem about a very unusual pet with a mysterious collection of vehicles. I hope you enjoy it. This is…

My Hamster Has a Hovercraft

My hamster has a hovercraft.
I couldn’t tell you why.
I think he’s on a secret mission.
Maybe he’s a spy.

He also has a monster truck,
a long black limousine,
a motorcycle, speedboat,
and a snazzy submarine.

He has a helicopter
and a supersonic jet,
a Lambo, a Ferrari,
and a cherry-red Corvette.

His cage contains a hamster wheel
he uses every day,
but when he saw my toys,
he snatched them up and ran away.

It seems he doesn’t need to be
the fastest pet alive.
He’s just so tired of exercise,
he’s learning how to drive.

— Kenn Nesbitt

My New Poetry Book Is Here!

It’s Here! My Biggest Book of Poetry Ever!

I have some BIG news!

Cover of The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt

Today, October 13, 2026, my brand-new book, The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt, is officially available! I’ve been working on this book for a long time, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally share it with you.

Now, before you ask, no, I don’t actually think I’ve written the greatest book of poetry ever. That would be a pretty ridiculous claim, wouldn’t it? That’s why I called it The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt. You see, I’m only claiming that it’s the greatest book of poetry ever written by me.

And even that’s a bit of an exaggeration. In fact, if you look closely at the cover, you’ll see a tiny footnote that says “by weight.” Because, while I can’t promise this is my greatest book, I can definitely promise it’s my biggest, heaviest book of poetry ever!

120 Poems. 12 Chapters. One Ridiculously Big Book.

Most of my poetry books contain around 50 or 60 poems. This one has 120 poems spread across 259 pages, making it roughly twice the size of my usual collections.

I’ve organized the book into 12 fun-filled sections, with 10 poems in each. You’ll find poems about animals, monsters, school, sports, food, fairy tales, and all sorts of other silly subjects.

I’ve included many of my favorite poems from previous books, along with poems that have appeared on Poetry4kids.com but have never been published in a book before.

In fact, 18 of the poems are appearing in print for the very first time!

And, of course, the book is filled with wonderfully funny illustrations by Rafael Domingos.

Whether you’ve been reading my poems for years or you’re just discovering them, I hope you’ll find plenty here to make you laugh.

My New Favorite Book

Kids often ask me which of my books is my favorite. I usually tell them it’s my newest book, because every new book is like my baby. I’ve spent months taking care of it, and now I’m excited to introduce it to the world.

Of course, unlike a real baby, this one doesn’t cry in the middle of the night, need its diaper changed, or spit up on my shirt.

On the other hand, it weighs quite a bit more than my other books, so you probably shouldn’t try to carry it around in a baby stroller.

But Don’t Just Take My Word for It!

Of course, I’m probably a little biased when it comes to my own poetry. So don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what my friend Jack Prelutsky, America’s first Children’s Poet Laureate, has to say about the book:

“No poems were harmed in compiling this collection of Kenn’s best poems. As a matter of fact, if you read these poems, you’ll be protected from falling meteorites, volcanic explosions, and encounters with Bigfoot. Yes, these poems are that good.”

— Jack Prelutsky, America’s first Children’s Poet Laureate and author of The New Kid on the Block, Scranimals, and many other books.

Get Your Copy!

The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt is available starting today in three editions:

  • Paperback — Perfect for reading at home, in the classroom, or under the covers with a flashlight.
  • Hardcover — A sturdy edition for libraries, classrooms, and anyone who wants to keep their poetry collection forever.
  • Kindle eBook — All the poems without the extra weight!

Get The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt on Amazon

If you enjoy funny poetry, or know a young reader who does, I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy. It also makes a terrific gift for birthdays, holidays, classrooms, and school libraries.

And if you do get a copy and enjoy it, I’d be grateful if you’d please leave a review on Amazon. Reviews help other readers discover my books, and they mean a lot to me.

Thank You!

One of the best things about being a children’s poet is getting to share my work with readers like you. For nearly three decades, I’ve been posting funny poems here on Poetry4kids.com, and it still makes me happy to know that kids, parents, and teachers all over the world are reading them, laughing at them, and sharing them with others.

This book is a celebration of that.

So thank you for reading my poems, sharing them with your friends, and helping me do what I love most: making people laugh.

I hope you enjoy The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt.

Is it really my greatest book ever? I’ll let you be the judge of that. But I can guarantee it’s the heaviest.

Happy reading!

— Kenn

Dear Squishy, I Love You

I only recently discovered just how popular squishy toys have become. These soft, stretchy, squeezable toys come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors, including cute animals, funny faces, and even pretend food. Kids love to squeeze them, stretch them, squish them, and watch them slowly return to their original shapes. They’re fun to play with, and squeezing them can even help some people relax or relieve stress.

When I learned how much kids love their squishies, I thought it would be fun to write a poem about someone who absolutely adores theirs. After all, a favorite toy can feel almost like a best friend, and what better way to celebrate that friendship than with an ode, a poem of praise?

But then I started thinking about something funny. When you really love a squishy, you don’t just admire it or cuddle it. You squeeze it, squash it, stretch it, twist it, and generally put it through all sorts of terrible treatment. If squishies had feelings, they might have a very different opinion of the relationship!

So I decided to write a poem in which the narrator makes one loving declaration after another, while casually admitting to some rather questionable behavior. The result is “Dear Squishy, I Love You,” a poem about a friendship that’s full of affection, even if it might not always look that way. This is…

Dear Squishy, I Love You

Dear Squishy, I love you.
(I yanked on your nose.)
I treasure our friendship.
(I stomped on your toes.)
You’re thoughtful and caring.
(I stretched out your skin.)
You’re endlessly cheerful.
(I twisted your chin.)
You never get grumpy.
(I pushed in your eyes.)
You never hold grudges.
(I mangled your thighs.)
You make me so happy.
(I pounded your ear.)
You’re one in a million.
(I sat on your rear.)
I’m lucky to have you.
(I scrunched up your cheek.)
I’ll love you forever.
(Except if you leak.)

— Kenn Nesbitt

Basketball’s My Favorite Sport

“Basketball’s My Favorite Sport” is one of the many funny poems from my upcoming collection, “The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt.” The book will be released on October 13, 2026 in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions. You can pre-order the Kindle edition now here:

If you enjoyed this poem, please give the video a 👍 on YouTube, subscribe to my channel, and click the notification bell so you won’t miss future poems, readings, and book updates. Thanks for watching!

Pumpkin Problems

Halloween is coming up soon, so this year I decided to write several different pumpkin poems. Out of all of them, this one quickly became one of my favorites.

One of the fun things about visiting a pumpkin patch is seeing how many different kinds of pumpkins there are. Some are tall, some are short, some are wide, some are skinny, and some have funny stems or unusual colors and stripes. When every pumpkin has something special about it, picking just one can be a lot harder than it sounds.

That was the idea behind this poem. I wanted to write something simple, playful, and a little bit silly about trying to choose the perfect pumpkin for Halloween. I hope it reminds you of a trip to a pumpkin patch of your own.

Pumpkin Problems

I’m searching for a pumpkin
at The Perfect Pumpkin Patch.
They have so many different kinds.
I can’t find two that match.

I want a jack-o’-lantern for
our house on Halloween.
I found one caked in tons of mud.
I found one squeaky clean.

I found a long and skinny one.
I found one short and wide.
I found a shiny orange one
with stripes along the side.

I found one with a curly stem.
I found one big and tall.
My mom said I could pick and so
I did.
I bought them all.

— Kenn Nesbitt

Weekly Children’s Poetry Roundup – Saturday, October 3, 2026

Child reading a book while a cat looks on

Welcome to this week’s Children’s Poetry Blog Post Roundup! It is time once again to summarize the latest news, creative inspirations, and poetic updates from around the children’s poetry community from the past week. Whether you are a poet looking for a spark of inspiration or an elementary school teacher seeking fresh ideas for the classroom, there is plenty to discover.

Lorenzo Liszt, Non-Scientist

“Lorenzo Liszt, Non-Scientist” is one of the many funny poems from my upcoming collection, “The Greatest Book of Poetry Ever Written by Kenn Nesbitt.” The book will be released on October 13, 2026 in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions. You can pre-order the Kindle edition now here:

If you enjoyed this poem, please give the video a 👍 on YouTube, subscribe to my channel, and click the notification bell so you won’t miss future poems, readings, and book updates. Thanks for watching!