Poems Every Child Should Know: The What-Every-Child-Should-Know-Library

This collection gathers the poems that have shaped generations of young readers, curated to spark a lifelong love of language. Here are the verses that children have memorized by hearthlight, recited in schoolrooms, and carried into adulthood: works by Wordsworth, Tennyson, Whitman, Dickinson, and dozens more, selected for their accessibility and emotional resonance. The anthology moves from playful rhymes to profound meditations, from "The Owl and the Pussycat" to "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," guiding young readers through the full spectrum of poetic experience. Burt believed a simple truth: expose children to the finest verses, and they will carry that music forever. This is the book that has introduced millions to poetry's magic, remaining in print for over a century not as a dusty artifact but as a living invitation to wonder. Perfect for reading aloud, for memorization, or for discovering verses that become lifelong companions.