It's National Poetry Day today, which is the perfect excuse to read some poetry with your kids, or encourage them to write some of their own.
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My personal favourite children's poem has always been The Owl And The Pussycat by Edward Lear. I can remember having to learn this as a kid and thinking how long it was. But now, as a grown-up, I see it's not actually very long at all. My favourite line is still 'they took some honey, and plenty of money.' What a lovely thought. We also enjoy Spike Milligan in this house (I was lucky enough to meet him when I was small, and he autographed books for both me and my younger sister. When I looked at mine afterwards he'd written 'Stop fighting with your sister' and in hers he'd written 'You will live to be 100'.)
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Which poems do you and your children enjoy? I'd love to know. And to help encourage your kids to write some poems of their own, here are two fantastic competitions. The Old Possum Children's Poetry Competition for 7-11-year-olds is judged by Michael Rosen, and 5 to 14-year-olds can enter the Walker Books Children's Poetry Competition. Lots of luck!