Bug Poetry

In my ongoing quest to feature topical poetry (and showcase excerpts from my new book, The Poetry Teacher's Book of Lists), here's a list of poetry books that feature insects and bugs-- just right for summer.

Poetry Books about Insects and Bugs

To make a science connection, or enliven a summer book activity, consider sharing poetry about bugs and insects. Here are a few examples of poems focused on the insect world.

1. Bulion, Leslie. 2006. Hey There, Stink Bug! Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
2. Cyrus, Kurt. 2001. Oddhopper Opera: A Bug’s Garden of Verses. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.
3. Fleishman, Paul. 1988. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. New York: Harper & Row.
4. Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.
5. Florian, Douglas. 2012. Unbeelievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. New York: Beach Lane.
6. Frost, Helen. 2012. Step Gently Out. Ill. by Rick Lieder. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
7. Greenberg, David T. 2002. Bugs! Ill. by Lynn Munsinger. New York: Little, Brown.
   
8. Harley, Avis. 2008. The Monarch’s Progress: Poems with Wings. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills/Wordsong.
9. Harrison, David. L. 2007. Bugs, Poems about Creeping Things. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills.
10. Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Ed. 1992. Flit, Flutter, Fly! Poems about Bugs and Other Crawly Creatures. New York: Doubleday.
11. Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Ed. 2012. Nasty Bugs. Ill. by Will Terry. New York: Dial.
12. Katz, Alan. 2011. Mosquitoes Are Ruining My Summer! And Other Silly Dilly Camp Songs. New York: McElderry.
13. Lewis, J. Patrick. 1998. The Little Buggers: Insect & Spider Poems. New York: Dial.
14. Mortensen, Lori. 2009. In the Trees, Honey Bees! Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publishing.
15. Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2008. Honeybee. New York: Greenwillow.
16. Rosen, Michael. 1992. Itsy Bitsy Beasties: Poems from Around the World. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
17. Rosen, Michael. 1993. Mini Beasties. London: Puffin.
18. Ross, Michael Elsohn. 2004. Snug as a Bug. San Francisco: Chronicle.
19. Sidman, Joyce. 2005. Song of the Water Boatman: & other Pond Poems. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
20. Sidman, Joyce. 2006. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Ill. by Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
21. Singer, Marilyn. 2003. Fireflies at Midnight. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
22. Walton, Rick. 1995. What to Do When a Bug Climbs in Your Mouth and Other Poems to Drive You Buggy. New York: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard.
23. Yolen, Jane. 2012. Bug Off! Creepy Crawly Poems. Ill. by Jason Stemple. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press.

Please let me know if I've left off any of your favorite "bug" poetry books so I can add them to the list!

And for more on The Poetry Teacher's Book of Lists, go here.

Image credit: 

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Posting by Sylvia M. Vardell © 2012. All rights reserved.