10 Picture Books Using Rhyme
One of the best ways to develop an ear for rhyme is through stories, short poems, nursery rhymes, and songs read or sung aloud. While reading, notice and talk about patterns and make predictions.
Check out these books and grab a free printable of the list, down below!
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The GruffaloAuthor: Julia Donaldson
A fantastical story of a mouse who outwits a series of woodland predators (fox, owl, and snake,) only to come face-to-face with the monster of his own creation... the Gruffalo! Children will love the reactions of the characters as well as the suspense throughout. Julia Donaldson employs repetition, alliteration, dialogue, and drama. The whole story has a rhythm, told through rhyme. For example, "His eyes are orange. His teeth are black. He has purple prickles all over his back."
Author: Giles Andreae Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
This book is full of jungle animals, who all showcase their different dancing styles. However, poor Gerald, the tall giraffe with crooked knees and thin legs, can't seem to figure out how to dance. What's worse? The animals all laugh at him. Luckily, a wise cricket gives Gerald advice on how to hear his own music. Giles Andreae uses dialogue, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to make the story come alive. The whole story is told in a rhythmic verse. An example of rhyme is: "The warthogs started waltzing, and the rhinos rock'n'rolled. The lions danced a tango, that was elegant and bold."
Author: Kes Gray & Claire Gray Illustrator: Jim Field
This is a very entertaining book for young children! The dog starts off by sitting on the frog, because that is the rule (according to the cat!) The frog then shakes things up, by determining alternative rules about what animals should sit on. The authors pair each animal name with playful rhymes, such as "Dragons will sit on wagons, mice will sit on ice, kittens will sit on mittens, and puppies will sit on guppies."
Author: Michelle Robinson Illustrator: Nick East
A whimsical story about a little pirate boy (or a boy who loves pirates) going to bed. He needs to say "goodnight" to all of his accoutrements: spyglass, cannon, and even ship's cat! Michelle Robinson draws readers in through strong imagery and a slow, rhythmic rhyme throughout the story. She changes up this pattern midway through, with a faster verse: "Cutlass, cannon book, and cat. Peg leg, parrot, hook, and hat."
Author: Karma Wilson Illustrator: Jane Chapman
A sweet story about animal friends who entertain themselves in Bear's den, through a stormy winter night. The animals, who enter the den one-by-one during the storm, entertain themselves by making tea and popping corn--all the while Bear is sleeping away and "snores on." Karma Wilson uses dialogue, colorful adjectives, alliteration, repetition, and playful descriptions for their activities. Her sing-song narrative rhyme begins on the very first page with, "In a cave in the woods, in his deep, dark lair, through the long cold winter sleeps a great brown bear."
A fascinating nonfiction text about the sounds and activities involved in building a road. This is one of a series of construction books, written by Sally Sutton. Her use of repetition and onomatopoeia will make you feel as though you are on the side of a road watching the machines and people at work. She uses rhyme throughout the text, giving this a chant-like feeling. For example, "Raise the signs, Raise the signs. Drag and hoist and ram. Force them down into their holes. Thwack! Whop! Wham!"
This book is written as a conversation between a young boy and his grandmother. The boy begins by asking one of many questions, "What is the sun?" The grandmother responds to each of his questions with factual, rhythmic responses. This text provides both fiction and nonfiction elements; it has a lullaby quality to it. It is completely told through short questions-and-answer verses. For example, "What is the earth? It's our home--a big ball. With the sun and the moon? And the raindrops that fall."
Author: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
A perfect back to school text, this story poem is all about autumn elements, including: leaves, pumpkins, apple-picking, and animals beginning to hibernate. The text provides nonfiction elements while the illustrations tell the story of a family enjoying fall. Maryann Cocca-Leffler tells the whole piece in rhyme, for example: "Mounds of color, raked up high-- Jump right in and watch the sky."
A construction narrative about busy animal builders, who work together to build a new school. Geared towards a younger audience, the pages are fun to handle as they grow in size and the whole (sturdy and short) book closes up like a box. Sam Hearn uses a variety of fun character names and incorporates alliteration often. The whole text is told through rhyme. For example, "Great big Stan and little Sam, Are checking out the plan. Bill clears ground with the loader, Along with dozer Dan."
Sandra Boynton has oodles of wonderful rhyming texts. This one tells about a group of farm animals who throw a barnyard dance. Through the story, there is prancing, spinning, trotting, and twirling. Boynton uses repetition, onomatopoeia, and a lot of humor! The whole text is told in short rhymes (including some internal rhymes) making the reader sing or chant along. For example, "Bounce with the bunny. Strut with the duck. Spin with the chickens now--CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!
Thank you for checking out these 10 Book Examples for Young Children, Using Rhyme!
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💟Anchor Chart Tip:
Two simple definitions for students:
"Rhyming words sound the same at the end."
"Words that rhyme have the same ending sound."
"Words that rhyme have the same ending sound."
