The 13 lists have titles that grow in difficulty from the easiest to the hardest to read. They are not based on grade level, but on the difficulty of the text as determined by it's Lexile measurement. A typical interest level is included to help you choose the most appropriate book.
Aardema, Verna Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. NP Primary (K-2), Upper
Elementary (3-5)
Adoff, Arnold Black is Brown is Tan. NP Middle School (6-8)
Adoff, Arnold Outside, Inside Poems. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Adoff, Arnold Touch the Poem. NP Primary (K-2)
Albee, Edward American Dream, and the Zoo Story, The. NP High School (9-12)
Alda, Arlene Arlene Alda's 1 2 3 What Do You See?. NP Primary (K-2)
Angelou, Maya Life Doesn't Frighten Me. NP High School (9-12)
Arnold, Tedd Parts. NP Primary (K-2)
Aruego, Jose Five Little Ducks. NP Primary (K-2)
Auden, W.H. Collected Poems. NP High School (9-12)
Avi Nothing But the Truth: a documentary novel. NP Middle School (6-8), High
School (9-12)
Baker, Jeannie Window. NP Primary (K-2)
Baker, Keith Big Fat Hen. NP Primary (K-2)
Baker, Keith Quack and Count. NP Primary (K-2)
Barnwell, Ysaye M. No Mirrors in My Nana's House. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary
(3-5)
Bates, Katharine Lee America the Beautiful. NP Primary (K-2)
Baylor, Byrd One Small Blue Bead. NP Primary (K-2)
Beckett, Samuel Waiting for Godot: a tragicomedy in two acts. NP High School
(9-12)
Begay, Shonto Navajo: visions and voices across the Mesa. NP High School (9-12)
Bierhorst, John In the Trail of the Wind: American Indian Poems and Ritual Orations.
NP High School (9-12)
Blishen, Edward (Editor) Oxford Book of Poetry for Children. NP Middle School
(6-8)
Bouchard, David If You're Not From the Prairie. NP Middle School (6-8)
Boynton, Sandra A is for Angry: an adjective and animal alphabet. NP Primary
(K-2)
Brecht, Bertolt Threepenny Opera, The. NP High School (9-12)
Brown, Marc Play Rhymes. NP Primary (K-2)
Brown, Margaret Wise Goodnight, Moon. NP Primary (K-2)
Bruchac, Joseph Pushing Up The Sky: seven Native plays for children. NP Upper
Elementary (3-5)
Charles, N.N. What Am I? (looking through shapes at apples and grapes). NP Primary
(K-2)
Chaucer, Geoffrey;Hastings, Selina (Adaptor) Canterbury Tales, The. NP Middle
School (6-8)
Cohn, Amy (Editor) From Sea to Shining Sea: a treasury of American folklore
and folksongs. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Coleridge, Samuel Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The. NP High School (9-12)
Cullinan, Bernice E. Jar of Tiny Stars: poems by NCTE award-winning poets, A.
NP Middle School (6-8)
Dakos, Kalli Don't Read This Book, Whatever You Do!. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
de Regniers, Beatrice Schenk (editor) Sing a Song of Popcorn: every child's
book of poems. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
dePaola, Tomie Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose. NP Primary (K-2)
Dickinson, Emily I'm Nobody! Who Are You?: poems of Emily Dickinson for children.
NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Ehlert, Lois Fish Eyes: a book you can count on. NP Primary (K-2)
Eliot, T.S. Murder in the Cathedral. NP High School (9-12)
Feelings, Tom Middle Passage: white ships/black cargo. NP Middle School (6-8)
Feelings, Tom Soul Looks Back in Wonder. NP Middle School (6-8)
Ferlinghetti, Lawrence Coney Island of the Mind, A. NP High School (9-12)
Fleischman, Paul Joyful Noise: poems for two voices, A. NP Upper Elementary
(3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
Fleischman, Paul Mind's Eye. NP Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
Fleming, Denise In the Tall, Tall Grass. NP Primary (K-2)
Fletcher, Ralph I Am Wings: poems about love. NP Middle School (6-8)
Fletcher, Ralph Relatively Speaking: poems about family. NP Middle School (6-8)
Florian, Douglas Beast Feast: poems. NP Primary (K-2)
Florian, Douglas Insectlopedia: poems and paintings. NP Middle School (6-8)
Florian, Douglas Laugh-eteria. NP Primary (K-2)
Fox, Mem Sleepy Bears. NP Primary (K-2)
Frazee, Marla Hush, Little Baby: a folk song with pictures. NP Primary (K-2)
Fugard, Athol Master Harold and the Boys. NP High School (9-12)
Gale, David (Editor) When the Rain Sings, Poems by Young Native Americans. NP
Middle School (6-8)
George, Kristine O'Connell Great Frog Race and Other Poems, The. NP Primary
(K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
George, Kristine O'Connell Old Elm Speaks: tree poems. NP Primary (K-2), Upper
Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Glenn, Mel Jump Ball: a basketball season in poems. NP High School (9-12)
Graham, Joan Bransfield Flicker Flash. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Grass, Gunter Novemberland: selected poems, 1956-1993. NP High School (9-12)
Greenfield, Eloise Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems. NP Primary (K-2), Upper
Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Greenfield, Eloise Under the Sunday Tree. NP Primary (K-2)
Grimes, Nikki Meet Danitra Brown. NP Primary (K-2)
Grover, Max Accidental Zucchini (An Unexpected Alphabet). NP Primary (K-2)
Guthrie, Woody This Land Is Your Land. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Hesse, Karen Out of the Dust. NP Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
Ho, Minfong Maples in the Mist: children's poems from the Tang Dynasty. NP Primary
(K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Hoberman, Mary Ann Llama Who Had No Pajama, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Hopkins, Lee Bennett Been To Yesterdays: poems of a life. NP Middle School (6-8)
Hopkins, Lee Bennett (Selector) Good Books, Good Times!. NP Upper Elementary
(3-5)
Hopkins, Lee Bennett (Selector) Lives: poems about famous Americans. NP Middle
School (6-8)
Horenstein, Henry A is for ...?. NP Primary (K-2)
Horenstein, Henry Arf! Beg! Catch!: dogs from A to Z. NP Primary (K-2)
Hudson, Wade (Selector) Pass It On (African American Poetry for Children). NP
Primary (K-2)
Hughes, Langston Dream Keeper and Other Poems, The. NP Middle School (6-8)
Hughes, Langston Sweet and Sour Animal Book, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Hutchins, Pat Rosie's Walk. NP Primary (K-2)
Ibsen, Henrik Doll's House, A. NP High School (9-12)
Ibsen, Henrik Hedda Gabler. NP High School (9-12)
Igus, Toyomi I See The Rhythm. NP Middle School (6-8)
Ionesco, Eugene Rhinoceros. NP High School (9-12)
Jackson, Alison I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. NP Primary (K-2)
Johnson, Angela Daddy Calls Me Man. NP Primary (K-2)
Johnston, Tony Once in the Country (Poems of a Farm). NP Primary (K-2)
Kalan, Robert Blue Sea. NP Primary (K-2)
Kay, Verla Gold Fever. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Kay, Verla Iron Horses. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Keats, Ezra Jack Clementina's Cactus. NP Primary (K-2)
Kennedy, X.J.;Kennedy, Dorothy Knock at a Star: a child's introduction to poetry.
NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Kissam, Edward Poems of the Aztec Peoples. NP High School (9-12)
Komunyakaa, Yusef Dien Cai Dau. NP High School (9-12)
Lee, Dennis Dinosaur Dinner (With a Slice of Alligator Pie): favorite poems
by Dennis Lee. NP Primary (K-2)
Lindbergh, Reeve Nobody Owns The Sky: the story of "Brave Bessie"
Coleman. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Livingston, Myra Cohn Festivals. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Lobel, Arnold On Market Street. NP Primary (K-2)
Lorca, Frederico Garcia Blood Wedding. NP High School (9-12)
Lorde, Audre Geraldine Black Unicorn, The. NP High School (9-12)
MacDonald, Suse Peck, Slither and Slide. NP Primary (K-2)
Mahy, Margaret 17 Kings and 42 Elephants. NP Primary (K-2)
Manushkin, Fran Matzah That Papa Brought Home, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Martin, Jr., Bill;Archambault, John Barn Dance!. NP Primary (K-2)
Martin, Jr., Bill;Archambault, John Listen to the Rain. NP Primary (K-2)
Masters, Edgar Lee Spoon River Anthology. NP High School (9-12)
Maurer, Donna Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores: a school day alphabet. NP Primary
(K-2)
Mayer, Mercer Boy, a Dog and a Frog, A. NP Primary (K-2)
McCord, David Every Time I Climb a Tree. NP Primary (K-2)
McCully, Emily Arnold Picnic. NP Primary (K-2)
McPhail, David Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!. NP Primary (K-2)
Micklethwait, Lucy I Spy: an alphabet in art. NP Primary (K-2)
Miller, Arthur Crucible, The. NP High School (9-12)
Milosz, Czeslaw (Editor) Book of Luminous Things, A. NP High School (9-12)
Milton, John Paradise Lost. NP High School (9-12)
Morris, Ann Hats, Hats, Hats. NP Primary (K-2)
Moss, Lloyd Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin!. NP Primary (K-2)
Most, Bernard Four and Twenty Dinosaurs. NP Primary (K-2)
Myers, Christopher Black Cat. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Myers, Walter Dean Harlem. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Nikola-Lisa, W. Shake Dem Halloween Bones. NP Primary (K-2)
Nye, Naomi Shihab (Editor) Salting the Ocean, 100 Poems by Young People. NP
Middle School (6-8)
Nye, Naomi Shihab (Editor) This Same Sky: a collection of poems from around
the world. NP High School (9-12)
Nye, Naomi Shihab (Editor) What Have You Lost?. NP Middle School (6-8), High
School (9-12)
O'Neill, Mary Hailstones and Halibut Bones. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle
School (6-8)
Opie, Iona (Editor) Here Comes Mother Goose. NP Primary (K-2)
Opie, Iona (Editor) My Very First Mother Goose. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Pelletier, David Graphic Alphabet. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Peters, Lisa Westberg Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck. NP Primary (K-2)
Philip, Neil (Editor) War and the Pity of War. NP Middle School (6-8)
Pinsky, Robert (Editor);Dietz, Maggie (Editor) Americans' Favorite Poems: the
favorite poem project anthology. NP High School (9-12)
Pirandello, Luigi Six Characters in Search of an Author. NP High School (9-12)
Plath, Sylvia Ariel. NP High School (9-12)
Prelutsky, Jack Beauty of the Beast: poems from the animal kingdom. NP Upper
Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Prelutsky, Jack New Kid on the Block. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School
(6-8)
Prelutsky, Jack (Selector) Random House Book of Poetry for Children, The. NP
Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Rankin, Laura Handmade Alphabet, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Rathmann, Peggy 10 Minutes Till Bedtime. NP Primary (K-2)
Rostand, Edmond Cyrano de Bergerac. NP High School (9-12)
Rothenberg, Jerome Shaking the Pumpkin: traditional poetry of the Indian North
Americas. NP High School (9-12)
Rylant, Cynthia Waiting to Waltz, a Childhood: poems. NP Middle School (6-8)
Sandburg, Carl Grassroots: poems by Carl Sandburg. NP Upper Elementary (3-5),
Middle School (6-8)
Sandburg, Carl Rainbows Are Made: poems by Carl Sandburg. NP Middle School (6-8)
Schertle, Alice Advice for a Frog. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Schertle, Alice Lucky Thing, A. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Senn, J.A. (Compiler) Quotations for Kids. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle
School (6-8)
Seuss, Dr. (Theodore Geisel) And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.
NP Primary (K-2)
Shakespeare, William Hamlet. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Julius Caesar. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William King Lear. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Macbeth. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Merchant of Venice, The. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Midsummer Night's Dream. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Othello. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Romeo and Juliet. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Sonnets, The. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Tempest, The. NP High School (9-12)
Shakespeare, William Twelfth Night. NP High School (9-12)
Shange, Ntozake For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow
is Enuf. NP High School (9-12)
Shannon, George Tomorrow's Alphabet. NP Primary (K-2)
Shaw, Bernard Major Barbara. NP High School (9-12)
Shields, Carol Diggory Lunch Money and Other Poems About School. NP Primary
(K-2)
Siebert, Diane Heartland. NP Middle School (6-8)
Siebert, Diane Mojave. NP Middle School (6-8)
Siebert, Diane Sierra. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Sierra, Judy Antarctic Antics: a book of penguin poems. NP Primary (K-2)
Silverstein, Shel Falling Up. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle
School (6-8)
Silverstein, Shel Light in the Attic, A. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary
(3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Silverstein, Shel Where the Sidewalk Ends: the poems and drawings of Shel Silverstein.
NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
Sloat, Teri There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Trout. NP Primary (K-2)
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk Dancing Teepees: poems of American Indian youth.
NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Sones, Sonya Stop Pretending. NP High School (9-12)
Sophocles Oedipus the King. NP High School (9-12)
Soto, Gary Neighborhood Odes. NP Middle School (6-8)
Soto, Gary Snapshots from the Wedding. NP Primary (K-2)
Speed, Toby Two Cool Cows. NP Primary (K-2)
Spiegelman, Art Maus: a survivor's tale. NP High School (9-12)
Spiegelman, Art Maus: a survivor's tale, II: and here my troubles began. NP
High School (9-12)
Spier, Peter Noah's Ark. NP Primary (K-2)
Spier, Peter Peter Spier's Rain. NP Primary (K-2)
Steiner, Joan Look-Alikes (Discover a Land Where Things Are Not As They Appear...).
NP Primary (K-2)
Steptoe, Javaka (Illustrator) In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans celebrating
fathers. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Stevenson, James Popcorn. NP Middle School (6-8)
Stevenson, Robert Louis Child's Garden of Verses, A. NP Primary (K-2), Upper
Elementary (3-5)
Stevenson, Robert Louis Where Go the Boats?. NP Primary (K-2)
Stewart, Sarah Library, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Swinburne, Stephen R. Safe, Warm, and Snug. NP Primary (K-2)
Synge, J.M. Playboy of the Western World; and, Riders to the Sea, The. NP High
School (9-12)
Taback, Simms There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. NP Primary (K-2)
Taylor, Clark House that Crack Built, The. NP High School (9-12)
Thayer, Ernest L. Casey at the Bat: a ballad of the republic sung in the year
1888. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8)
Tolstoy, Aleksei Gigantic Turnip, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Tullet, Herve Night Day: a book of eye-catching opposites. NP Primary (K-2)
Turkle, Brinton Deep in the Forest. NP Primary (K-2)
Updike, John Child's Calendar, A. NP Primary (K-2)
Van Laan, Nancy Possum Come a-Knockin'. NP Primary (K-2)
Viorst, Judith If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries: poems for
children and their parents. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Viorst, Judith Sad Underwear and Other Complications; More Poems for Children
and Their Parents. NP Upper Elementary (3-5)
Virgil Aeneid, The. NP High School (9-12)
Westcott, Nadine B. Lady with the Alligator Purse, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Whipple, Laura (Compiler) Celebrating America: a collection of poems and images
of the American spirit. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School
(6-8)
Wiesner, David Sector 7. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Wiesner, David Tuesday. NP Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5)
Wilder, Thornton Our Town. NP High School (9-12)
Williams, Sue I Went Walking. NP Primary (K-2)
Williams, Tennessee Glass Menagerie, The. NP High School (9-12)
Williams, Tennessee Streetcar Named Desire, A. NP High School (9-12)
Wilson, August Fences. NP High School (9-12)
Wilson, August Piano Lesson. NP High School (9-12)
Wilson, August Two Trains Running. NP High School (9-12)
Wong, Janet Suitcase of Seaweed, A. NP Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School
(6-8)
Wood, Audrey Napping House, The. NP Primary (K-2)
Yolen, Jane Water Music. NP Middle School (6-8)
Ziefert, Harriet When I First Came to This Land. NP Primary (K-2)
Zindel, Paul Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. NP High School
(9-12)