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15 Silly And Funny Poems for Kids

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Elisa Shoenberger

Contributor

Elisa Shoenberger has been building a library since she was 13. She loves writing about all aspects of books from author interviews, antiquarian books, archives, and everything in between. She also writes regularly for Murder & Mayhem and Library Journal. She's also written articles for Huffington Post, Boston Globe, WIRED, Slate, and many other publications. When she's not writing about reading, she's reading and adventuring to find cool new art. She also plays alto saxophone and occasionally stiltwalks. Find out more on her website or follow her on Twitter @vogontroubadour.

Funny poems are a great way to introduce poetry to children. I remember still can remember poems from my childhood. Here is a list of 15 funny poems for kids. Many of them are bite-sized, great for recitation. I’ve separated them by theme such as family, animals, silliness, and much more. 

Young child laughing

Funny Poems For Kids About Animals

So much of children’s literature features animals so I started with six delightful poems that can be memorized.

The Fly by Ogden Nash

The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll

Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards

Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)

[Read the rest here.]

mosquito at my ear BY Kobayashi Issa

My Doggy Ate My Essay by Darren Sardelli  

My doggy ate my essay.

He picked up all my mail.

He cleaned my dirty closet

and dusted with his tail.

[Read the rest here.]

The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves, or, What You Are You Are By Gwendolyn Brooks

There once was a tiger, terrible and tough,

who said “I don’t think tigers are stylish enough.

They put on only orange and stripes of fierce black.

Fine and fancy fashion is what they mostly lack.

[Read the rest here.]

Funny Kid’s Poems About Family and Home Life

Next are a few poems about family and home life. Whether it’s getting out of chores or adventures of chairs and tables, these are some happy fun poems.

How Not To Have to Dry the Dishes by Shel Silverstein

A_Light_in_the_Attic

If you have to dry the dishes

(Such an awful, boring chore)

If you have to dry the dishes

(‘Stead of going to the store)

[Read the rest here.]

If I were in charge of the world by Judith Voirst

If I were in charge of the world
I’d cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also Sara Steinberg.

[Read the rest here.]

The Table and the Chair by Edward Lear

Said the Table to the Chair,
‘You can hardly be aware,
‘How I suffer from the heat,
‘And from chilblains on my feet!
‘If we took a little walk,
‘We might have a little talk!
‘Pray let us take the air!’
Said the Table to the Chair.

[Read the rest here.]

Second Mother by Nikki Grimes

Dime_a_Dozen

Excerpt:

Stop calling me your “baby.”

Don’t call me “Little Bit.”

Every time I

hear those words

I grind my teeth

and spit.

Funny Poems For Kids About The Self

These finals poems deal with issues of identity and the body in fun and clever ways.

I’m Nobody! Who are you? By Emily Dickinson

I’m Nobody! Who are you?

Are you – Nobody – too?

Then there’s a pair of us!

Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know!

[Read the rest here.]

Be Glad Your Nose is On Your Face by Jack Prelutsky

Be glad your nose is on your face,

not pasted on some other place,

for if it were where it is not,

you might dislike your nose a lot.

[Read more here.]

Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne

When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
[Read the rest here.]

Don’t Go to the Library by Alberto Rios

The library is dangerous—

Don’t go in.

If you do You know what will happen.

It’s like a pet store or a bakery—

[Read more here.]

Valentine for Ernest Mann by Naomi Shihab Nye

Red_suitcase

You can’t order a poem like you order a taco.

Walk up to the counter, say, “I’ll take two”

and expect it to be handed back to you

on a shiny plate.

[Read more here.]

Want more poetry? Check out this post on 50 must-read poetry books for kids and 7 Beautiful Books to Introduce to Poetry to Kids. And hit the comments to share your favorite funny poems for kids.