The Power of Poetry!

Thoughts on the power of poetry and poetry recommendations.

Poetry holds power both for the poet and the reader. For those of us who connect with poetry the emotions explored through the language and imagery of poetry can be profound. From joy, laughter and elation to grief and despair and all those in-between.

It's our job as educators to open the world of poetry possibility to our children. Everyone connects with poetry differently, but often you need someone to role model a love of poetry. To show how it can make you think and feel and the fact that you can respond in your own individual way to poems. Poems and novels in verse can also be a great way in for children who may benefit from shorter texts within a larger book.

I remember reading Michael Rosen's 'Welly Boots' poem to my Reception class years ago. We learned all the words and the children practiced performing the poem endless times in provision, then had fun playing with and changing the words - endless fun through rhyme! I stumbled upon two children looking at Michael's photo up in the classroom, and one of them said 'I just love Michael Rosen's poems', the other replied 'Yes me too'. They then went on to find his poetry book and share the poems together - pure joy!

We have some truly wonderful recommendations of much loved poems and poetry books for you here! These come from children's poets, some of today's pioneers in reading education and from some of our wonderful St Wilfrid's English Hub team! Enjoy the recommendations and tap into the power of poetry for yourself and for the children in your class!

Set yourself a goal to share one poem a week with your class in 2026! There are so many different types of poetry that you and your children are bound to connect with some wonderful poems!

Matt Goodfellow - Poet

Matt’s writes poems about three things: his life, lives that he’s seen and stuff he makes up. Many of Matt’s poems focus on navigating the peaks and troughs of life often touching on his own troubled upbringing. You may have read or if not heard about Matt Good Fellows 'The Final Year' an incredible novel in verse. One that we'd highly recommend from the English Hub.

I'd like to recommend 'This Rock That Rock' by Dom Conlon.

Fifty poems inspired by the Moon to take you on a scientific, mythological and personal journey.

Head to Matt's website to learn more about Matt's poems and work in schools...

Writing Workshops In Schools | Matt Goodfellow Poet

James Carter - Poet

James Carter is an award-winning poet, non-fiction writer, and ambassador for National Poetry Day. He travels across the UK with his melodica to give lively performances and workshops.

I'd like to recommend Michael Rosen’s A to Z – the best in children’s poetry from Agard to Zephaniah (Puffin).

‘For me, this is the best children’s poetry anthology this century. If a teacher has only one poetry book in their classroom (oof, what a thought!), especially for Years 2 – 6, let it be this one. A truly dizzying and wholly diverse range of poets, plus poems with breadth and depth aplenty.’

Check out James' website here James Carter Poet

Charlotte Raby - Early reading expert

Charlotte Raby is determined to ensure inclusion for learners with SEND. She has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching, training and consultancy. She was also an inaugural member of the English Hubs Council and Early Reading Expert for the Department for Education. 

I would like to recommend 'Overheard in the Tower Block' by Joseph Coelho.

When I was at school, the teachers read poetry to us a lot! I loved hearing the nonsense poems of Spike Milligan and Edward Lear and later the powerful verses of the war poets. I was lucky to hear poetry read aloud and with feeling. But none of poetry that I read or heard told me much about my life. I concluded that poetry was

written by (mainly dead) men and about big ideas or whimsy.

Despite this I loved poetry and have always read aloud to my class.

I have discovered a diverse world of poetry and poets that write about the life I know, the world I recognise and so much more.

So, I was not expecting to find a part of my heart heal when I picked up Overhead in

the Tower Block by Joseph Coelho. But the two poems Disappearing Act and The

Mermaid Queen gave me a sudden and complete feeling of being understood and

seen. They took away the aloneness and shame I felt as a child with divorced

parents. I wasn’t alone anymore; this poet wrote my experience into words that

allowed me to acknowledge my sadness and feel safe doing so. As I read these

poems, I knew that I could give this book to children, and they would feel seen. That

they would know that poems can and do tell us truths about the world and our lives.

And so, this is the poetry book I turn to most because it gave me the power of feeling my life experiences are worthy of poetry.

Professor Teresa Cremin

Teresa leads we are a team of academic researchers, education professionals and teaching specialists at The Open University. They are leading international academics and consultants in researching and implementing Reading for Pleasure (RfP) as a powerful tool for social justice. Their research shows that reading transforms lives. About Us - Reading for Pleasure

I'd highly recommend Find peace in a poem which was published in 2024 and is a delightful collection with 24 poets sharing something thoughtful end engaging.

It's a little tiger imprint imported in by Penguin Random House island and illustrated by a quartet of artists, so a really rich collection

Some of my favourites include:

How easily by James Carter

A lesson from the trees by Nikita Gill

listening for silence by Joseph Coelho

The way they offer a visual and a bio of each of the poets too is fabulous and reflects the diversity of the collection.

Jon Biddle - year 5/6 teacher, English Lead and Empathy Lab advisor

Check out Jon's Reading for Pleasure Padlet here Reading for Pleasure

My favourite poetry book over recent months is A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston - a perfect blend of non-fiction trivia, and clever, often hilarious, poetry. My Y5/6 class absolutely love it.

Neal Zetter - poet

Neal Zetter has been active in the poetry scene since 1989 and became a full-time poet in 2005. He is the founder of CCCP Workshops, where he conducts poetry and writing workshops for children and adults alike.

Neal is extremely generous with his poetry and has a large bank of poems on his website that anyone can access!

Here are some of his poems from his book 'The Shape of Rainbows'.

My Many Mes

Surprise Package

Police Car

Check out his wealth of material and access to poetry on his website named - confidence in communication through comedy poetry CCCP Workshops

Maria Evans - Literacy Specialist at St Wilfrid's English Hub

The power of nursery rhymes  in the early years of schooling has always been so evident during my teaching career. Having recently been involved in delivering story and rhyme time with even younger toddlers and babies, the power of rhyme is even more evident. Watching very young children, alongside their adult, tuning into the rhythm and flow of language with concentration and enjoyment is just brilliant. Recently I have added poems from A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen into the sessions.  Wow  these short rhymes are ideal to share with very young children. The playful language and age appropriate themes are brilliant for sharing with toddlers and their adults. ‘I am angry’ is a firm favourite in our little group.

Amy Gee - Literacy Specialist at St Wilfrid's English Hub

One of my favourite poetry books is Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright. There’s a poem for every day of the year. The poems are based on animals and short and fun for children to learn to perform. 

Mattie Winder - Administrator at St Wilfrid's English Hub

I love a bit of poetry! My favourite anthologies are photographed here. They all have some sort of personal meaning to me - my Gran (who lived with us growing up) loved poetry, so I think it comes from here. 

From a Distance is beautifully illustrated too, and I can't help but have the Bette Midler version in my head as I read it.

The Book of a Thousand Poems was given to me for my third birthday (according to the inscription) and it has lovely poems for little kids (probably some are very dated now) - old and gold. 

The Ten Poems about Mothers was given to me by my uncle after I had my first child and has some honest, funny and beautiful verse in there.

But my favourite poem of all is 'Mid-Term Break' by Seamus Heaney. I remember reading it with my sister as teenagers and being absolutely stunned that a poem could get such heartbreak across in a few lines.

I could go on....

Kelly Johnson - Literacy Specialist at St Wilfrid's English Hub

Refugee by Brian Bilston is such a powerful poem.  It is a really clever poem that makes you think of things from a different perspective.  I think it is a perfect poem for everyone to read, especially in today's world.  I love seeing the profound impact it has on pupils when they re-read the poem from the bottom up.  What great poetry!

Thank you so much to all who contributed recommendations. I have actually purchased a few new poetry books whilst collecting these recommendations and writing this blog. Eager for them to arrive!

I'd like to sign post you to some websites with a wealth of poetry and resources to explore too...

Poetry By Heart

Poetry | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

Poetry Foundation

I hope this blog has given you some excellent ideas for a little something to add to your wish list this Christmas. I think you'll agree that the gift of sharing a poem, verse or book can be the best gift of all!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at

St Wilfrid's English Hub.

For more information about us and our support go to English Hubs - St Wilfrid's English Hub (stwenglishhub.co.uk)