The Sealey Challenge for children

June 25, 2024

I’ve got a new idea for you today. I’m excited about it — I mean personally, in my own home with my own children, but also to share it with you.

If you are already poetry readers, if you already love it, if you already understand why it matters so much for kids, fantastic — you’re ready to take on this fun challenge.

If you are none of the above, or only some of the above, or even just one of the above, I promise this challenge is for you, too. If you need convincing, that’s cool — I wrote a very persuasive case for the importance of poetry for children that’s worth reading 😉

Why poetry matters for kids

Either way, here’s what I’ve got for you today.

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What is the Sealey Challenge?

The Sealey Challenge is a community activity in which participants read a book of poetry each day for the month of August.

It was created in 2017 by poet Nicole Sealey, who decided to challenge herself by doing exactly that. The point was — and is — to connect poetry lovers through the sharing of book recommendations and reading experiences on social media.

#TheSealeyChallenge took off and is now going strong, as least among poetry lovers, and you know I am nothing if not a poetry lover 😉

There is no official sign-up, and no real rules, though you’re encouraged to read books by marginalized poets. There’s a FAQ on the website for answers to common questions, but what I like the most about this is that it’s not complicated — pick 31 books and read one every day. That’s my kind of challenge.

The children’s version of the Sealey Challenge

The children’s version of the Sealey Challenge does not, as far as I know, officially exist.

But why can’t it?

Children’s poetry books — given their inherant brevity, assuming we’re not talking about anthologies — lend themselves beautifully to this challenge.

If you’re into the idea of applying this to children’s poetry — either reading one poetry book a day with your children, or embarking on this project alone — that’s what I’m here to help you do.

Plan your reading list

Okay, so you’re on board with this, but: what will you read? This is the fun part, and perhaps the overwhelming part, but mostly the fun part.

Here are some titles to get your list started — or, you can just copy it in its entirety: (if I’ve reviewed any of these, I’ve included a link):

1. Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

2. Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer

3. I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage by Lee Bennett Hopkins

4. Predator and Prey: A Conversation in Verse by Susannah Buhrman-Deever (nonfiction)

5. Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley Newton

6. Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs

7. The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews

The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews

8. Oddhopper Opera: A Bug’s Garden of Verses by Kurt Cyrus

9. Beast Feast by Douglas Florian (and any of his other books)

10. If I Was the Sunshine by Julie Fogliano

11. Bees, Snails, and Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes… Naturally by Betsy Franco (nonfiction)

12. Oh, What a Busy Day by Gyo Fujikawa (excellent for little ones!)

13. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman

14. Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield

    

    Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield

15. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale

16. The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison (nonfiction)

17. The Sun Shines Everywhere by Mary Ann Hoberman

18. Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

19. Animals in Pants by Susie Levinson

20. The Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash, illustrated by James Marshall

21. The Tale of Custard the Dragon and its follow-up, Custard the Dragon and the Wicked Knight both by Ogden Nash

22. Bein’ With You This Way by W. Nikola-Lisa

23. A Peaceable Kingdom: The Shaker Abecedarius, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen

    

    A Peaceable Kingdom: The Shaker Abecedarius, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen

24. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman (nonfiction)

25. A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer

26. My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Ted Rand

27. Today at the Bluebird Café: A Branchful of Birds by Deborah Ruddell

28. The Night is Deep and Wide by Gillian Sze

29. What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? by Richard Van Camp

30. Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field, illustrated by Johanna Westerman

31. Dark on Light by Dianne White

What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses by Richard VanCamp

Optional: if having something like a bingo card is helpful to you, the official one from the Sealey Challenge website can easily be applied to children’s titles, or modified a little — or a lot — to create your one. (If I had more time — or any idea how to create a bingo card — I’d have made one of these for you, but I do not.)

What do you think? Are you up for doing a children’s version of the Sealey Challenge?

If you have poetry suggestions to add to my list, please do! I always love crowdsourcing titles here.

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Read good books and take good care 😘
Sarah

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