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.

Famous and Fun Halloween Poems for Kids

Famous and Fun Halloween Poems for Kids

Halloween is a special time of year full of spooky fun, trick-or-treating, and lots of tasty treats. But did you know that Halloween is also one of the best times to enjoy reading, sharing, and even writing poetry?

Halloween poems are full of ghosts, goblins, witches, and other monsters, and they can be just the right mix of fun and fright. They might give you a little shiver, but they also make you laugh out loud. Whether you like silly poems or spooky ones, Halloween poems can make your October even more exciting!

Rhyme and Move: Combining Poetry and Physical Education for Dynamic Learning

Rhyme and Move

Today we’re going to jump into an exciting topic that might surprise you: how to blend poetry with physical education. That’s right, we’re going to explore how verses and movement can work together to create a dynamic learning experience for elementary students. So, put on your sneakers and grab your favorite poem – it’s time to get physical with poetry!

Bed Instead by Kenn Nesbitt Bed Instead

Every now and then, there’s a day when you just don’t want to get out of bed. Rather than take on the new day, you just want to stay under the blankets and sleep. I wrote this poem because I started thinking about all the wild, imaginative reasons someone might have for staying in bed—things that are so strange, they would drive just about anyone back to bed. While you can take this poem at face value, reading it as though these crazy things actually happened to the narrator, you should also consider other possibilities. Perhaps the narrator is still asleep and dreaming. Or maybe they’ve just come up with a harebrained excuse to avoid facing the day. No matter how you interpret it, sometimes it feels like it’s just easier to stay under the covers when things get too weird!

Bed Instead

This morning I woke up
and what did I see?
My houseplants were waving
good morning to me.

I thought this was odd, so
I looked all around.
My sneakers were tap-dancing
down on the ground.

My clothing was strolling.
My books flew like birds.
My games were patrolling
my bedroom in herds.

My toys and my backpack
were having a fight.
They looked like they must have
been at it all night!

If anyone needs me,
just tell them I said
it’s too weird today so
I’ve gone back to bed.

— Kenn Nesbitt

 

Giggle Your Way to Better Reading: The Power of Funny Poetry

Giggle Your Way to Better Reading

Today I’d like to share some insights about how humorous poetry can supercharge kids’ literacy skills. So, get ready to discover why giggles and grins are secret weapons in the battle for better reading and how you can create more literary laughter in the classroom!

The Power of Humor in Learning

We all know that learning is easier when it’s fun, right? Well, humor takes that idea and kicks it up a notch! When kids laugh, their brains release chemicals that make them feel good. This good feeling makes them want to keep reading, even if reading is usually tough for them. It’s like their brain is saying, “Hey, this is awesome! Let’s do more!”

I Never Can Remember by Kenn Nesbitt When’s My Birthday?

I recently had a “half birthday,” which falls in August since my real birthday is in February. Because of this, I was thinking about writing a half-birthday poem. By the time I started working on it, it was already September. The line “I never can remember if my birthday’s in September” popped into my head because September rhymes so nicely with “remember”—and also with December and November. I liked the way that line sounded, so I created this poem with that idea as the starting point.

When thinking about half birthdays, it also occurred to me that since it might be fun to celebrate your birthday twice a year, it could be even more fun to celebrate it three or four times a year, or even more often.

Oh, and by the way, the rhythm of this poem is the same as one of my all-time favorite poems, “In Praise of Llamas” by Arthur Guiterman. It was fun to use that familiar rhythm to explore the idea of never quite remembering my birthday—and deciding how often to celebrate it!

When’s My Birthday?

I never can remember
if my birthday’s in September
or in January, August, or July.
Or it could be in December,
or October, or November.
I’ve forgotten when it is.
I don’t know why.

And it may be on the seventh,
or the third, or the eleventh,
though I know that sounds a little bit absurd.
Plus it might be a Sunday,
or a Thursday, or a Monday,
on the seventeenth, or thirtieth, or third.

Now, while some might find this vexing,
or confusing, or perplexing,
I make lemons into lemonade this way:
Since I never can remember
if my birthday’s in September,
I just celebrate my birthday every day.

— Kenn Nesbitt

Painting with Words: Using Imagery to Make Your Writing Pop

Paint with Words: Using Imagery to Make Your Writing Pop

Today we’re going to talk about something super cool that can make your writing pop off the page: using “imagery.” Don’t worry if imagery is a new word to you—it just means using words that help your readers imagine what’s happening in your poem or story. It’s like painting a picture with words!

Even though “imagery” may sound like the word “images” (meaning pictures, or things that you see), it’s more than just that. It’s about things you take in with any of your five senses.

Kick Off the School Year with an Unforgettable Author Visit for Your Students!

Online School Visit

As the new school year begins, you’re likely looking for creative ways to inspire your students and ignite their passion for reading and writing. What better way to do that than by bringing an award-winning children’s author directly into your classroom—virtually, of course!

Each year, I visit hundreds of schools around the world through live, interactive online sessions. My virtual author visits are more than just a reading event; they’re high-energy, funny, and educational experiences designed to leave your students excited about picking up a pen and writing their own stories and poems.

Seasonal Poetry: Using Verses to Celebrate the Seasons

Seasonal Poetry

I’ve always been fascinated by how the changing seasons inspire creativity and wonder in young minds. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how seasonal poetry can transform a classroom, turning abstract concepts of time and change into tangible, enjoyable learning experiences. Today, I’d like to share some thoughts on how we can use seasonal verses to enhance learning and create memorable moments throughout the school year.

Dragon's Birthday by Kenn Nesbitt Dragon’s Birthday

I wrote this poem in honor of my dear friend, the children’s poet Jack Prelutsky, who turned 84 in recently. Jack was born in 1940, which, according to Chinese astrology, was the Year of the Dragon. Interestingly, his 84th birthday also falls during the Year of the Dragon. You see, in Western astrology, there are twelve zodiac symbols, one each month. In Chinese astrology, however, there are still twelve zodiac symbols, but they celebrate one per year, so each zodiac symbol repeats every twelfth year. 84 is 12 times 7, so there have been seven dragon years since the year Jack was born.

While for people, 84 years is generally considered pretty old, I wanted to draw a playful parallel between Jack’s birth year and the idea that, for a dragon, 84 is still quite young. This poem celebrates that connection and the idea that Jack, like a dragon, is still full of life and energy.

If you would like to read some of Jack’s poems, you can find them on his website at jackprelutsky.com.

Dragon’s Birthday

Today is Dragon’s birthday
when the birthday bells are rung
and the birthday cake is frosted
and the birthday lights are strung.

The birthday cards are scribbled
and the birthday signs are hung
and the birthday gifts are given
and the birthday songs are sung.

The birthday toasts are proffered
and the birthday hats are flung.
Dragon’s eighty-four today and
for a dragon, that is YOUNG.

— Kenn Nesbitt

Building Emotional Intelligence with Poetry: Helping Kids Express Feelings

Building Emotional Intelligence illustration with Poetry

As a children’s poet, I’ve seen firsthand how poetry can transform the way kids understand and express their emotions. Over my years of writing for children and visiting schools, I’ve witnessed countless young faces light up as they discover the power of poetic expression. Today, I want to share some insights on how poetry can be a fantastic tool for building emotional intelligence in children.