Free Verse Poetry Books for Young People

Although much of the poetry published for young people is full of rhyme, most contemporary poets also write plenty of free verse or non-rhyming poetry. And although this form does not rhyme, it often has a rhythm and structure that is quite metrical and musical. Young readers and listeners enjoy both forms and should experience a wide variety of each. Here are just a handful of examples of poetry books containing free verse by some of our biggest names in poetry for youth.

The list begins:

Adoff, Arnold. 2000. Touch the Poem. New York: Blue Sky Press.

Creech, Sharon. 2001. Love That Dog. New York: HarperCollins.

Dotlich, Rebecca Kai and Lewis, J. Patrick. 2006. Castles: Old Stone Poems. Ill. by Dan Burr. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press.

Fletcher, Ralph J. 2006. Moving Day. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills.

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2009. Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems. Il. by Nancy Carpenter. New York: Clarion.

Greenfield, Eloise. 1978. Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems. New York: HarperCollins.

For more details, get your copy of The Poetry Teacher’s Book of Lists.

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