This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

………………………BROCCOLI

………………………Many say that broccoli
………………………Looks like a squat and sturdy tree
………………………But it’s no place to build a fort -
………………………Its bushy branches are too short.
………………………You cannot rest beneath its shade,
………………………While sipping on your lemonade.
………………………Its trunk won’t do for hide-and-seeking;
………………………Its stump’s too small for public speaking.
………………………Just try to tap its sap in winter -
………………………You’re sure to get a broccoli splinter!

………………………No, broccoli’s of no use at all
…………………………unless you are two inches tall.

Written by Jesse Anna Bornemann.

Illustrated by Renee Kurilla.

(23 votes, average: 4.52)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

We visit all the time,
I’ve been going all my life—
I’m pretty sure I know just how it’s sayed.
Just watch for a sign,
There will be one in no time,
And the right pronuncitation’ll be displayed.
A sign! Here it comes!
I’m going to prove that you’re all chumps!
You’ll see that I’ve been right all along!
But what is this? Why, oh why?!
I can’t believe my weary eyes!
Even here they say Misconsin wrong!!!!

Written by Karen Bjork Kubin.

Illustrated by ??? Why no art ???

Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

A PHONELESS LAMENT

Oh, my poor little heart
would go flutter-flitter
if only someone could send me
a text or a twitter.

The other girls are so happy
with their little phones so cute
while I’m a social outcast
because I’m phoneless and mute!

I’m like a dog without a bone–
like a queen without a throne–
all because you’re so STUBBORN
and won’t buy me a phone!

It’ll be all your fault
when I’m sad and alone–
a spinster forever
because I have no telephone!

Written by Marcia Schwartz.

Illustrated by Rachael Novak.

(11 votes, average: 4.09)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

Sunday afternoon
At the park
By the lake

Boats sailing
Sun shining
Bright blue sky

Laying down
In the grass
Hands behind head

Eyes to the sky
Gazing-
Dreaming-
Wondering-
About clouds.

On cloud one-
An icing of cream
On strawberry shortcake.

On cloud two-
A cluster of poms
In a cheerleader’s hand.

On cloud three-
A cottony puff
On a bunny rabbit’s tail.

On cloud four-
A put-put of smoke
From a tall chimney stack.

On cloud five-
A soft downy quilt
On an old rocking chair.

On cloud six-
A drizzle of glue
From an drippy nozzle.

On cloud seven-
A flurry of flakes
in a winter snowfall.

On cloud eight-
A cotton candy
From a swirling machine.

On cloud nine-
A sea of white fleece
On some lingering sheep.

I stay on cloud nine-
Lying down
In the grass
Hands behind head
Gazing-
Dreaming-
Wondering-
About clouds.

Written by Jen Dewing.

Illustrated by Nina Crittenden.

(24 votes, average: 4.17)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

Gray is the color of a gloomy cloud,
Gray is the color of a knight standing proud,
On a bright sunny day
My shadow is gray.

Gray can be tame or gray can be insane,
Maybe even the color of pain.
Gray is the color when your oven’s smokin’
Gray is the color when your heart is broken.

Written by Max Raber

Illustrated by ??? Why no art ???

Max is a fourth grader in Colorado Springs, CO. He likes Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss poems, and enjoys the illustrations of Brad Sneed.

Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I have a name no one can say;
The spelling is in disarray,
The vowels tend to go astray,
The consonants make spittle spray.

My parents didn’t try, per se,
To make it easy to mis-say,
They only wanted to convey
That I was special, cool–outré.

And that desire made them mislay
Their sanity (a face that they
Don’t even dare try to downplay,
And one that causes me dismay.)

And so this name no one can say
Has cursed me to this very day–
What did you ask? My name, you say?
What is this name no one can say?

It doesn’t matter anyway–
Everybody calls me Joe.

Written by Karen Bjork Kubin.

Illustrated by ??? Why no art ???

Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I don’t need to blow my snout.
I use my finger to get ‘em out.
Mom says I’m spreading germs,
But I don’t like her cleaning terms.
My own body is just fine;
I’m so clean, I swear I shine…
Here is where I have my doubts:
It’s everybody else I worry ’bout.

.

Written by Jaime Kubik.

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

.

(42 votes, average: 4.33)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I want to play the piccolo;
You can have the flute–
‘Cause when it comes to making noise
The piccolo’s quite astute.

I want to play the piccolo;
Forget about the drum–
Piccolo’s the instrument
For making eardrums numb.

The trumpet has its followers,
The trombone does okay,
But the piccolo has got a sound
That blasts them both away.

I want to play an instrument
That cuts through all the rest,
I want to give each piece I play
My ear-split-ting-est best.

I love its penetrating sound,
I relish how it shrieks,
I adore its strident, treble voice,
Its lovely, high-pitched screech.

I want to play the piccolo,
So you can keep the flute.
I like a sound that really hurts–
Besides, it’s kind of cute!

Written by Karen Bjork Kubin.

Illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur.

(15 votes, average: 3.93)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

I gave the poodle bubblegum.
Shhh, don’t mention it to mum…

I gave the poodle bubblegum.
But now I’m feeling glum.

‘Cause there’s gum in her hair
And on the chair… and everywhere.

But that’s not the biggest trouble
With letting your poodle blow a bubble.

The real problem? Well, that would be…
Now she blows better bubbles than me.

Written by Phil Haussler.

Illustrated by Barb Bjornson.

(58 votes, average: 4.34)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.

This poem is for Project OpenBook, a community-built children’s book. Details below.

BOOK CLUB

The finest book they’d ever seen.
They all agreed.
Too bad they couldn’t read.

.
.

Written and illustrated by Nina Crittenden.

.

(42 votes, average: 4.31)

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Project OpenBook is a community-built children’s book. Your rating determines what goes into the book. All proceeds go to funding a young girl’s education.

If you liked this poem: Share it. Read it to a kid. Or join us.