Fun and Easy Rhyming Poems for Preschool, Kindergarten, and More!
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Practice reading and rhyming with these fun and simple poems for early learners!
Kids poems are a fun and engaging way to introduce young learners to rhythm, rhyme, and language patterns. Rhyming poems can help children recognize words and sounds, making them a valuable tool for building early reading and phonics skills—plus, they add laughter and joy to learning!
In this collection, you’ll find short and easy rhyming poems that are perfect for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early readers. These poems are fun to recite, great for classroom activities, and simple enough for kids to memorize.
Parents and teachers can use these poems to:
✔ Read aloud at story time or bedtime
✔ Make learning phonics and reading more engaging
✔ Create songs to dance and sing along with
✔ Encourage kids to create their own rhyming poems
Whether you’re looking for a quick bedtime rhyme or a way to add some engagement to phonics learning, these poems can help!
Famous Rhyming Poems and Nursery Rhymes for Kids
Reading classic rhyming poems is a great way to introduce kids to the fun and rhythm of poetry. These well-loved poems have been shared for generations and continue to delight young readers today.
Find the lyrics to 20 classic rhyming poems plus even more beloved nursery rhymes and songs in our collection of Nursery Rhymes and Songs for Kids, which features 100+ timeless favorites.
Here are 20 famous short poems that rhyme. The words and lyrics to many of these poems are in our 100+ Nursery Rhymes for Kids.
- “Baa Baa Black Sheep”
- “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
- “Jack and Jill”
- “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
- “Hickory Dickory Dock”
- “Hey Diddle Diddle”
- “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”
- “Rock-a-Bye Baby”
- “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
- “Simple Simon”
- “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
- “Little Miss Muffet”
- “Old King Cole”
- “The Grand Old Duke of York”
- “Little Bo-Peep”
- “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”
- “The Muffin Man”
- “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod”
- “The Owl and the Pussycat”
- “The House That Jack Built”
These classic rhyming poems are perfect for bedtime reading, classroom activities, or just having fun with words!
Short and Easy Rhyming Poems for Preschoolers
Short rhyming poems are a great way to introduce toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners to poetry! Their simple words, fun rhythms, and playful rhymes make them easy to read, repeat, and even memorize.
These short and easy poems help young learners build vocabulary, recognize patterns in language, and develop a love for reading. Here are some delightful, easy-to-read rhyming poems that toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners will love!
ABCmouse Original Poems
The Happy Cat
The happy cat sat on a mat,
Wearing a funny little hat.
She purred and twirled, so full of cheer,
Then chased her tail and disappeared!
A Smile
A smile makes me happy,
Wouldn’t you agree?
For when I smile at my friends,
They smile back at me!
Then just $14.99/mo. until canceled
I Saw a Deer Today!
I saw a deer today.
It stopped, but didn’t stay.
We smiled at each other.
And then it ran away!
Sun Fun
Warm sun!
Hot sun!
Bright sun!
Come, sun!
We’ll have fun, sun!
We’ll play, sun!
We’ll run sun!
So, come sun!
My Teddy Bear
This is my teddy bear, we go everywhere,
This is my teddy bear, his name is Ted.
I love my teddy bear, he is a funny bear,
I love my teddy bear—Ted is red!
This is my teddy bear, we go everywhere,
Look at my teddy bear, a hat is on his head.
I hug my teddy bear, he is a happy bear,
I hug my teddy bear when I go to bed.
This is my teddy bear, we go everywhere,
This is my teddy bear, my friend named Ted!
Big Small Fast Slow (Opposites)
I am short, she is tall,
I am big, she is small.
Short, tall, big, small,
Short, tall, big, small.
I am young, he is old,
I am hot, he is cold.
Young, old, hot, cold,
Young, old, hot, cold.
Here’s my mom, here’s my dad,
She is happy, he is sad.
Mom, Dad, happy, sad,
Mom, Dad, happy, sad.
It is fast, he is slow,
Now we stop, now we go.
Fast, slow, stop, go,
Fast, slow, stop, go.
It is black, it is white,
This is day, this is night.
Black, white, day, night,
Black, white, day, night
Other Famous Short Poems
The Forest
By Annette Wynne
The forest is the town of trees
Where they live quite at their ease,
With their neighbors at their side
Just as we in cities wide.
Daisies
By Frank Dempster Sherman
At evening when I go to bed
I see the stars shine overhead;
They are the little daisies white
That dot the meadow of the Night.
And often while I’m dreaming so,
Across the sky the Moon will go;
It is a lady, sweet and fair,
Who comes to gather daisies there.
I see the stars shine overhead;
They are the little daisies white
For, when at morning I arise,
There’s not a star left in the skies;
She’s picked them all and dropped them down
Into the meadows of the town.
Rhyming Poems for Kindergarten & Early Readers
These kindergarten rhyming poems are perfect for learning new words and practicing rhymes in the classroom or at home.
Poems for Learning the ABCs
Learning the alphabet is one of the first steps in a child’s reading journey, and rhyming poems provide a fun and effective way to teach letter recognition. Poems and songs with rhyming patterns help toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners practice with letter names, sounds, and order while keeping them engaged.
Poems for learning the ABCs can:
✔ Help kids recognize letters in a fun, playful way
✔ Improve phonemic awareness by teaching the sounds of letters through rhyme
✔ Encourage early literacy skills through repetition and rhythm
ABCmouse makes learning letters a fun and engaging experience for children. We have several rhyming poems to help children learn the letters of the alphabet listed below. Plus, our ABC songs add rhyming and rhythm to learning every letter of the alphabet, helping kids build early reading skills in a way they’ll enjoy.
These lively, engaging songs from ABCmouse make learning letters exciting with catchy tunes, colorful animations, and easy-to-follow lyrics. Each song introduces the names and sounds of the letters while reinforcing early reading skills with sight words and fun musical styles.
The ABC Poem
A is for apple, shiny and red,
B is for bed where I lay my head.
C is for cat, curled up so tight,
D is for dog, who barks with delight!
E is for elephant, big and strong,
F is for frog who jumps all day long.
G is for grapes, purple and sweet,
H is for horse with fast-running feet.
I is for igloo, made out of snow,
J is for jellybeans, lined up in a row.
K is for kite that soars up high,
L is for ladybug learning to fly.
M is for monkey, swinging around,
N is for nest where eggs can be found.
O is for octopus, deep in the sea,
P is for penguin, waddling with glee.
Q is for queen with a shiny gold crown,
R is for rabbit, so soft and brown.
S is for sunshine, warming the day,
T is for turtle, slow on its way.
U is for umbrella on a rainy day,
V is for violin, ready to play.
W is for whale, so big and blue,
X is for xylophone with notes just for you!
Y is for yo-yo, up and down it goes,
Z is for zebra, with stripes in neat rows.
Now you know your ABCs,
With rhyming words from A to Z!
A-Z Rhyming Letter Songs from ABCmouse!
ABCmouse’s Rhyming Letter Songs feature a fun and catchy song for every letter of the alphabet, helping kids learn letter sounds and phonics through engaging music. Each song includes playful rhymes and memorable melodies that make learning letters fun and easy for kids.
I Am a Superhero (for the letter S)
I am a superhero, I can fly,
I can fly high in the sky.
I can jump and I can play,
I help children every day.
I am a superhero, superhero, superhero,
I am a superhero, so are you!
I am a superhero, I am strong,
I help my family all day long.
I help Father, I help Mother,
I help my sister and my brother.
I am a superhero, superhero, superhero,
I am a superhero, so are you!
I am a superhero, I can run,
I am kind, I have fun.
I am a superhero, look at me,
Look up high—who do you see?
A superhero!
Where Is My Cat? (for the letter C)
I look for my cat, where is she?
What room is this? What do I see?
Here’s the couch and the TV,
This is the living room to me!
A phone is sitting on the chair,
I look beneath—but just a shoe is there!
Where are you, my gray and white cat?
Where are you, my little cat Hat?
I look for my cat, where is she?
What room is this? What do I see?
Here’s a plate and a cup of tea,
This is the kitchen next to me!
The stove stands right beside the chair,
I peek below—but just a pot is there!
Where are you, my gray and white cat?
Where are you, my little cat Pat?
I look for my cat, where is she?
What room is this? What do I see?
I only see myself inside,
This is the bathroom, clean and wide!
A comb sits neatly by my hair,
I check the tub—but just a toy is there!
Where are you, my gray and white cat?
Where are you, my little cat Pat?
I look for my cat, where is she?
What room is this? What do I see?
It belongs to me, so I know best,
This is my bedroom, where I rest!
My teddy bear is lying near,
I check my pillow—but my book is here!
Then I peek inside my closet—what do I see?
Hat and her new kittens—one, two, three!
Here you are, my gray and white cat!
Here you are, my little cat Hat!
Rhyming for Healthy Habits
When kids sing along to catchy rhymes about brushing their teeth, washing their hands, or eating healthy foods, they build good habits in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. The repetition and rhythm also help reinforce important hygiene practices, making it easier for young children to remember and follow through on good self-care routines.
Brush and Brush (ABCmouse Original)
When I get out of bed
And I head into the bathroom,
You know I want to brush my teeth,
Because clean teeth are good for you!
I put some toothpaste on the brush,
Then run it under the water.
Now it’s time to do my thing,
‘Cause clean teeth make me stronger!
You know what that is?
It’s brush and brush and brush and brush!
Now I brush them in the front,
Right where my smile will shine through.
And then the big teeth in the back,
I like brushing where my teeth chew.
Now I brush them on the sides,
I can’t forget those teeth too!
When I brush my teeth,
My mouth feels like it’s new.
So I will brush and brush and brush and brush!
Woo!
Wash Your Hands, Hooray!
Wash your hands, it’s time to start,
Scrub-a-dub and do your part!
Soap and water, bubbles too,
Wash those germs away—woohoo!
Before you eat and after play,
Keep those little germs at bay!
Cough or sneeze? You know what’s right,
Wash your hands—keep them bright!
Rub and rinse, then dry them well,
Happy hands, hooray—how swell!
Eat Your Peas
Eat your peas!
Please!
Louise!
Eat your peas!
Please!
It’s a breeze!
Eat your peas!
With ease!
You won’t freeze.
Or sneeze.
Or get fleas,
Please, Louise!
Just eat your peas!
Fun and Silly Rhyming Poems for Kids
Poetry doesn’t have to be serious—sometimes, the sillier, the better! These playful rhyming poems are full of whimsical words, funny surprises, and a touch of nonsense that will have kids giggling as they read.
ABCmouse Original Funny Poems
The Silliest Hat
I once found a hat on top of a tree,
Covered in polka dots—so strange to see!
I placed it on, and what a surprise—
I suddenly soared through the bright blue skies!
A Giggle
A giggle makes me wiggle!
Giggle! Jiggle! Wiggle!
See me squiggle.
As I giggle with a jiggle!
As I wiggle with a giggle.
Can you giggle,
jiggle and wiggle?
Bug on My Rug
There’s a bug on my rug,
Crawling to somewhere.
There’s a bug on my rug,
Now it’s on the chair!
There’s a bug on my chair,
Crawling to somewhere.
There’s a bug on my chair,
Now it’s on that stair!
There’s a bug on the stair,
Crawling to somewhere.
To my room? Oh no, Bug!
Not my room, chair or that stair!
Off my rug,
Crawl outside to somewhere!
Other Classic Silly Poems
There was an Old Man with a Beard
By Edward Lear, a classic silly limerick from A Book of Nonsense (1846)
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
Eletelephony
By Laura E. Richards (1912)
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee—
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Educational Poems That Rhyme
Adding rhymes into new concepts can make learning feel more playful and help keep kids engaged. Rhyming can be added to just about anything, whether kids are learning new vocabulary words or math concepts.
With over 52 million views on YouTube, this fun and engaging rhyming poem can help kids learn about pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters in a way that sticks! The repetitive rhythm and catchy phrases assists kindergarteners and 1st graders in remembering coin names, values, and key features. 💰🎶
Coins (ABCmouse Original)
We jingle and we jangle,
you see us all around—
In a piggy bank or pocket,
or even on the ground.
We come in different sizes.
We do not look the same.
I wonder if you know each
of the four of us by name.
I’m a President Lincoln penny,
A coin that is worth one cent.
When you save a lot of us,
Together we can be well spent!
I’m a shiny five-cent nickel.
President Jefferson is who you see.
If you give someone five pennies,
You’ll get back one of me!
We jingle and we jangle,
you see us all around—
In a piggy bank or pocket,
or even on the ground.
We come in different sizes.
We do not look the same.
I wonder if you know each
of the four of us by name.
I’m a very thin little dime
With President Roosevelt’s face.
If you have two nickels or ten pennies,
Then they can take my place!
I’m a shiny George Washington quarter,
The largest coin of the four.
I equal one nickel and two dimes,
Worth twenty-five cents at the store!
We jingle and we jangle,
you see us all around—
In a piggy bank or pocket,
or even on the ground.
We come in different sizes.
We do not look the same.
I wonder if you know each
of the four of us by name.
We jingle and we jangle,
watch for us all around—
Sometimes we are lost,
but we are also often found!
Now you know each coin
by name, by value, and by face,
Make sure to save us up
and keep us in a safe place!
Tip: To reinforce learning about money checkout our free money and coin worksheets here.
This catchy rhyming poem is a great way for kindergarteners and 1st graders to learn about the seven continents and five oceans. Repetition and fun facts assist kids in remembering what makes each place unique.
Our Earth is a Very, Very, Very Big Place! (ABCmouse Original)
It is covered by water and land.
It has five huge oceans, where we can swim,
And seven continents, where we can stand.
Asia is the continent that has the most people.
It’s also the largest in size.
It has the 50 highest mountains in the world— Their peaks reach high into the skies.
Second largest is Africa.
It’s the hottest continent of all.
It has the largest sandy desert in the world
And animals both large and small.
If Africa’s hottest, then which is the coldest?
Antarctica—but it’s so very cold.
It’s only home to seals, penguins, and other birds.
Though there’s snow, it’s the driest, I’m told!
And which is the wettest? It’s South America!
Rainforests cover much of its face.
Millions of animal species live there.
You’ll find them all over the place!
Our Earth is a very, very, very big place!
It is covered by water and land.
It has five huge oceans, where we can swim,
And seven continents, where we can stand.
Let’s look at Australia.
It’s the smallest of continents.
The fewest people call it home.
Most of its land is the bushland and outback,
Where koalas and kangaroos roam.
Now on to Europe. Though it’s rather small,
It has dozens of famous old cities.
Berlin, Madrid, Paris, London, and Rome—
Each city is uniquely pretty!
Last but not least is North America.
It’s the continent that I know best.
It is the home of our own United States—
A wonder from East Coast to West!
But let’s not forget, there are also five oceans.
Please let me be quite specific.
Their names are the Southern, Atlantic, and Arctic,
The Indian, and the Pacific!
Our Earth is a very, very, very big place!
It is covered by water and land.
It has five huge oceans, where we can swim,
And seven continents, where we can stand.
I hope you learned something
about all the continents
And the names of our five oceans.
Hopefully, someday you will travel to each,
But only if you get the notion!
Our Earth is a very, very, very big place!
It is covered by water and land.
It has five huge oceans, where we can swim,
And seven continents, where we can stand.
How to Write a Rhyming Poem (A Simple Guide for Kids)
Give your child a turn to try writing their rhyme. Here are a few simple tips to help them get started.
- Pick a Topic: (Animals, bedtime, school, seasons, etc.)
- Find Words That Rhyme: (Use this handy free printable word family list for extra help)
- Create a Short Poem: Example:
The bouncing ball went up so high,
It touched the clouds up in the sky!
Encourage kids to write their own poem and share it!
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