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 fifth grader Max Raber

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

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(65 votes, average: 3.77)

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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.

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

Despite his potty dance
And occasionally-wet pants
Not to mention daddy’s rants…

When you ask my little bro
If he maybe needs to go,
His answer’s always ‘NO!’

That is…
Until he hears the squishes
From the sound of doing dishes…
Then off to the pee he wheeshes!

Written by Phil Haussler.

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.

………………………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.

(48 votes, average: 4.15)

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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.

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.

(45 votes, average: 3.96)

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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 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.

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Written by Jaime Kubik.

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

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(99 votes, average: 4.05)

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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.

(18 votes, average: 3.83)

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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.

(70 votes, average: 4.10)

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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.

.
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Written and illustrated by Nina Crittenden.

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(55 votes, average: 4.20)

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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.

Where does your shadow go at night?
……Where does it go when you turn out the light?
Does it shiver under your bed in fright
……Or take wing like an eagle in flight?
In the dark, will it find its way?
……Will it meet other shadows and play?
Or does it sit still and wait for day?
……Where shadows go is hard to say.
Does it play tricks that can be cruel
……Like hiding your shoes so your late for school?
Maybe it climbs from the warmth of your bed
……And rides the wind like a swift snow sled.
Where does your shadow go when you sleep?
……Where will it be while your dreaming deep?
It covers you up like a shadowy sheet
……To keep you warm from your head to your feet
And greets you with the first light of dawn
……As you both start your day with a stretch and a yawn.

Written by John Carey.

Illustrated by Sharon Wagner.

(66 votes, average: 3.64)

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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.

Paul S. Meier is a big ol’ liar.
He tells tall tales to make himself higher.

He’s ridden a bull and wrestled an ox,
Hunted with kings and captured a fox.

His race car goes a hundred and three.
He drank ten sodas and never went pee.

All of Paul’s tales would be easier to buy
If — when the lights went out — he didn’t cry.

The thing I’ve learned from my friend Paul:
The taller the tale, the harder it falls.

Written by Phil Haussler.

Illustrated by Ann Troe.

(94 votes, average: 4.16)

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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.