English Poems for Kids: 7 Funny Poems to Read and Discuss

Written by Dnyaneshwari Burghate | November 22, 2025

Introduction

Poetry is just language at its most playful and creative level. For kids, it is not homework; it is a carnival ride for their ears and minds. For a child, a great, suitable poem is not just about rhyming words.

It is a miniature summer camp for language, a workshop for rhythm, and, most importantly, a passport to the delightfully creative and absurd. These characteristics together bypass the formal approach of prose and provide pure joy to kids by strengthening their reading skills, vocabulary, and creative thinking, even when they are doubled over in laughter.

If you want to include some genuinely side-splitting literary fun into your child’s life, forget the canons and epics. Start with these seven popular and age-appropriate poems, instead. They are the classics that make kids realize that words can be the silliest, most wonderful things in the world, while containing all the power.

Read further to learn about English poems for kids to read and discuss with their parents.

How to Choose an English Poem for Kids

While choosing English poem for kids, consider the child's age, reading level, and attention span. Short poems with repetition and familiar vocabulary can work well for younger readers, while older children may enjoy nonsense words, longer narratives, or more complex humor. Look for rhythms that are easy to follow and themes that match the child's interests. Also consider emotional suitability, particularly when a poem includes illness, fear, death, bullying, or fantasy violence.

Poems by Age and Language Skill

7 Funny English Poems for Kids

1. Hey Diddle Diddle

Suggested age: 3–6 years

Theme: Nonsense, animals, and imagination

Content note: Absurd fantasy situations

Hey Diddle Diddle is a traditional English nursery rhyme rather than a poem by a single known author. Its first known appearance in print dates to around 1765, and it is associated with playful images such as a cat with a fiddle, a cow jumping over the moon, and a dish running away with a spoon. Its appeal comes from its deliberately impossible events. Children can enjoy the rhythm and then invent their own silly combinations of animals, objects, and actions.

2. Sick by Shel Silverstein

Suggested age: 6–10 years

Theme: Humor, exaggeration, and narrative twist

Content note: Mentions of illnesses and exaggerated symptoms

Shel Silverstein's Sick follows Peggy Ann McKay as she lists an increasingly ridiculous collection of reasons why she cannot go to school. The poem uses comic exaggeration before ending with a simple twist: she discovers that it is Saturday. The poem can introduce children to exaggeration and how a humorous ending can change the way they understand what came before. The poem remains copyrighted, so it should be read from a legal copy rather than reproduced in full.

3. Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

Suggested age: 8–10 years

Theme: Nonsense words, fantasy, and wordplay

Content note: Fantasy violence and a monster

Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky is famous for combining familiar sentence structures with invented words. Children may not know what every nonsense word means, but the surrounding language and context can still provide clues about what is happening. The poem offers an entertaining way to notice sounds, word patterns, verbs, descriptions, and invented language. Jabberwocky was published in 1871 and is in the public domain in the United States.

4. If You're Happy and You Know It

Suggested age: 2–6 years

Theme: Actions, repetition, and participation

Content note: None beyond active movement

If You're Happy and You Know It is best treated as a traditional children's action song rather than attributed to Jane Cabrera. Sources document versions in circulation well before later copyrighted arrangements, while different published versions and arrangements have separate copyright histories. The repetitive structure makes it easy for young children to participate through actions such as clapping and stomping. Parents and teachers can also create their own simple actions without presenting a particular modern arrangement as the original.

5. Eletelephony by Laura E. Richards

Suggested age: 5–9 years

Theme: Nonsense words, sounds, and wordplay

Content note: Mild comic confusion

Laura E. Richards' Eletelephony turns an elephant's attempt to use a telephone into a playful sequence of mixed-up words. The poem is particularly suited to children who enjoy silly sounds and wordplay. It can also lead to a conversation about how changing sounds or letters can change a word's meaning. The Academy of American Poets identifies the poem as being in the public domain.

6. My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson

Suggested age: 5–9 years

Theme: Observation, childhood, and personification

Content note: None

Robert Louis Stevenson's My Shadow turns an everyday experience into a playful poem about a child's shadow. The speaker imagines the shadow as having its own personality and habits, giving young readers an accessible introduction to personification. Children can also observe their own shadows and describe what they notice. The poem was published in 1885 and is in the public domain.

7. My Cat Is Fat by James McDonald

Suggested age: 4–7 years

Theme: Rhythm, repetition, and humorous description

Content note: Playful references to a cat's size and eating habits

My Cat Is Fat uses a short, bouncy structure and simple descriptions of a cat. Its repetitive style makes it suitable for younger children who are beginning to notice rhythm and rhyme. Instead of focusing on memorizing the poem, parents can invite children to identify rhyming words or create a few playful lines about a favorite animal.

Fun Poetry Activities

You can make poetry fun by being away from the page, too. Try these simple activities:

• Clap the rhythm: Clap along with the poem's natural beat.
• Spot the rhyme:Ask children to find words that sound alike.
• Illustrate a line: Let them draw their favorite image from the poem.
• Perform with actions: Add simple movements to an action rhyme.
• Write an original verse: Choose an animal or object and create two or four playful lines about it.

You should keep these activities informal. The aim is to let children experiment with words rather than turn poetry into another assignment.

Copyright and Attribution Note

Older works whose copyright has expired may be available legally through public-domain collections. For example, Jabberwocky, Eletelephony, My Shadow, and traditional nursery rhymes have public-domain sources. Modern poems and newer arrangements may still be copyrighted. Do not reproduce a complete copyrighted poem or substantial portions of it without permission. Use a licensed or authorized copy when reading or sharing the full text.

Conclusion

Funny poems can make reading feel playful and give children opportunities to enjoy rhyme, rhythm, storytelling, sounds, and imagination. The seven selections above include traditional rhymes, nonsense poetry, action songs, and classic children's poems, so families can choose according to age and interest. Read a poem aloud, act it out, discuss a funny moment, or let your child create a few lines of their own. Keeping poetry relaxed and enjoyable can help make it a natural part of everyday reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good English poems for kids?

Good choices include Hey Diddle Diddle, My Shadow, Eletelephony, Jabberwocky, and age-appropriate traditional action rhymes.

Which poems are funny and easy to recite?

Short rhymes with repetition and clear rhythm are often easiest for young children. Hey Diddle Diddle and action songs are simple starting points.

How can teachers use poems for language learning?

Teachers can use poems to practice rhyme, vocabulary, pronunciation, rhythm, sequencing, and creative writing through short, interactive activities.

Which children's poems are public domain?

Examples include Robert Louis Stevenson's My Shadow, Laura E. Richards' Eletelephony, and Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. Traditional nursery rhymes may also be public domain, but specific modern arrangements can have separate rights.