poetic device: Alliteration

Alliteration is not when words start with the same letter but, rather, when the first stressed (or accented) syllable of two nearby words begin with the same consonant sound. This means that there are basically three types of alliterations:

When nearby words start with the same consonants and the same sounds, such as “dancing dogs”, or “big boys.”
When nearby words start with different consonants but the same sounds, such as “cats and kittens” or “jungle gym.”
When nearby words start with different sounds, but have the same sounds at the beginning of their first stressed syllable, such as “normal banana” (which each have an “n” sound on the first stressed syllable) or “regular karate” (which each have an “r” sound on the first stressed syllable).

These poems include alliterations. Some may have just a single alliteration within the poem, while others may include dozens of alliterations.

Invisible Monsters
When Frankenstein Sat Down to Dine by Kenn Nesbitt
When Frankenstein Sat Down to Dine
Cookies for Santa
Ugly Couple
I Dressed up as a Dinosaur by Kenn Nesbitt
I Dressed up as a Dinosaur
I Built a Big Building
This Morning Is Our History Test
I like It When It's Quiet by Kenn Nesbitt
I Like It When It’s Quiet
I Let My Mind Wander
My Dog Lives On the Sofa
The Geese Are Honking Overhead by Kenn Nesbitt
The Geese Are Honking Overhead
You’re Not Supposed to Touch Your Face
I Got a New Game for My Brother by Kenn Nesbitt
I Got a New Game for My Brother
While Strolling Down the Beach Today
Hannah’s Hammer
The Elephant Repairman by Kenn Nesbitt
The Elephant Repairman
Belinda Bell
Please Don't Read this Poem by Kenn Nesbitt
Please Don’t Read This Poem
My Mother Said to Do My Chores by Kenn Nesbitt
My Mother Said to Do My Chores
My Kitten Had an Accident
How Not to Cook by Kenn Nesbitt
How Not to Cook
The School Year Is Over by Kenn Nesbitt
The School Year Is Over
Merlo the Magnificent
Springy Sidewalk

Poetry4kids Needs Your Help

Poetry4kids runs on your support. It only takes $1/month to become a member and help me share the joy of reading with kids everywhere.

Members also get access to a ton of premium resources, including this page. Let's do this together!

Members Log In Here Not This Time