TheGold Shelf

Poetry and rhyme books for ages 3 to 5

103 award-winning books for ages 3 to 5. Verse, nursery rhymes, songs and novels in verse.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals317Adventure19Fantasy and magic77Funny books213Family152Friendship72History and real people59Nature and science129Folktales and fairy tales130Poetry and rhyme103Feelings and big moments84Bedtime62First chapter books76

103 books

Cover of There Was a Party for LangstonHonor2024There Was a Party for LangstonJerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey2024 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Freedom in Congo SquareHonor2017Freedom in Congo SquareR. Gregory Christie2017 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Cats' Night OutWinner2010Cats' Night OutCaroline Stutson2010 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in ColorsHonor2010Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in ColorsPamela Zagarenski2010 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos WilliamsHonor2009A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos WilliamsJennifer Bryant2009 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Jazz BabyHonor2008Jazz BabyLisa Wheeler2008 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of Move Over, Rover!Honor2007Move Over, Rover!Karen Beaumont2007 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of Where Is the Green Sheep?Winner2005Where Is the Green Sheep?Mem Fox2005 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerCover of The Spider and the FlyHonor2003The Spider and the FlyTony DiTerlizzi2003 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of AlphabeastsWinner2002AlphabeastsWallace Edwards2002 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of A Child's CalendarHonor2000A Child's CalendarJohn Updike2000 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A Child's Treasury of Nursery RhymesWinner1998A Child's Treasury of Nursery RhymesKady MacDonald Denton1998 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a FlyHonor1998There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a FlySimms Taback1998 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hush!: A Thai LullabyHonor1997Hush!: A Thai LullabyHolly Meade1997 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The PartyWinner1997The PartyBarbara Reid1997 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of In the Small, Small PondHonor1994In the Small, Small PondDenise Fleming1994 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Jolly Christmas PostmanWinner1991The Jolly Christmas PostmanAllan Ahlberg1991 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of King Bidgood's in the BathtubHonor1986King Bidgood's in the BathtubDon Wood1986 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hiawatha's ChildhoodWinner1984Hiawatha's ChildhoodLongfellow1984 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of ShadowWinner1983ShadowMarcia Brown1983 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of On Market StreetHonor1982On Market StreetAnita Lobel1982 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Mr MagnoliaWinner1980Mr MagnoliaQuentin Blake1980 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of One Dragon's DreamWinner1980One Dragon's DreamPeter Pavey1980 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Each Peach Pear PlumWinner1978Each Peach Pear PlumAllan Ahlberg1978 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of The Wind BlewWinner1974The Wind BlewPat Hutchins1974 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Three Jovial HuntsmenHonor1974Three Jovial HuntsmenSusan Jeffers1974 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of If All the Seas Were One SeaHonor1972If All the Seas Were One SeaJanina Domanska1972 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Waltzing MatildaWinner1971Waltzing MatildaA. B. Paterson1971 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Pop Corn & Ma GoodnessHonor1970Pop Corn & Ma GoodnessRobert Andrew Parker1970 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Drummer HoffWinner1968Drummer HoffBarbara Emberley1968 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of One Wide River to CrossHonor1967One Wide River to CrossBarbara Emberley1967 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Always Room for One MoreWinner1966Always Room for One MoreSorche Nic Leodhas1966 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Mother Goose TreasuryWinner1966Mother Goose Treasurytraditional1966 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of May I Bring a Friend?Winner1965May I Bring a Friend?Beatrice Schenk De Regniers1965 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Rain Makes ApplesauceHonor1965Rain Makes ApplesauceMarvin Bileck1965 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of All in the Morning EarlyHonor1964All in the Morning EarlyEvaline Ness1964 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Mother Goose and Nursery RhymesHonor1964Mother Goose and Nursery RhymesPhilip Reed1964 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Fox Went out on a Chilly Night: An Old SongHonor1962Fox Went out on a Chilly Night: An Old SongPeter Spier1962 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The House that Jack Built: La Maison Que Jacques A BatieHonor1959The House that Jack Built: La Maison Que Jacques A BatieAntonio Frasconi1959 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of 1 Is OneHonor19571 Is OneTasha Tudor1957 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Frog Went A-Courtin'Winner1956Frog Went A-Courtin'Feodor Rojankovsky1956 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Book of Nursery and Mother Goose RhymesHonor1955Book of Nursery and Mother Goose RhymesMarguerite de Angeli1955 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A Very Special HouseHonor1954A Very Special HouseRuth Krauss1954 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Madeline's RescueWinner1954Madeline's RescueLudwig Bemelmans1954 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Ape in a Cape: An Alphabet of Odd AnimalsHonor1953Ape in a Cape: An Alphabet of Odd AnimalsFritz Eichenberg1953 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of If I Ran the ZooHonor1951If I Ran the ZooDr. Seuss1951 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of All Around the TownHonor1949All Around the TownPhyllis McGinley1949 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of McElligot's PoolHonor1948McElligot's PoolDr. Seuss1948 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Sing in Praise: A Collection of the Best Loved HymnsHonor1947Sing in Praise: A Collection of the Best Loved HymnsOpal Wheeler1947 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Timothy TurtleHonor1947Timothy TurtleAl Graham1947 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Sing Mother GooseHonor1946Sing Mother GooseOpal Wheeler1946 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Rooster CrowsWinner1946The Rooster CrowsMaud and Miska Petersham1946 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Mother GooseHonor1945Mother GooseTasha Tudor1945 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Prayer for a ChildWinner1945Prayer for a ChildElizabeth Orton Jones1945 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Small Rain: Verses From The BibleHonor1944Small Rain: Verses From The BibleElizabeth Orton Jones1944 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of In My Mother's HouseHonor1942In My Mother's HouseVelino Herrera1942 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of MadelineHonor1940MadelineLudwig Bemelmans1940 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Ageless StoryHonor1940The Ageless StoryLauren Ford1940 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Four and Twenty BlackbirdsHonor1938Four and Twenty BlackbirdsHelen Dean Fish1938 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The ABC BunnyHonor1934The ABC BunnyWanda Gág1934 Newbery Medal Honor BookThis Land Is a LullabyTonya SimpsonWinner2025This Land Is a LullabyTonya Simpson2025 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerThe Meadow of FantasiesHadi MohammadiHonor2022The Meadow of FantasiesHadi Mohammadi2022 Batchelder Award Honor BookAll the WorldMarla FrazeeHonor2010All the WorldMarla Frazee2010 Caldecott Medal Honor BookThe House in the NightBeth KrommesWinner2009The House in the NightBeth Krommes2009 Caldecott Medal winnerThe Owl and the PussycatEdward LearWinner2008The Owl and the PussycatEdward Lear2008 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerSong of the Water Boatman and Other Pond PoemsBeckie PrangeHonor2006Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poemsillustrated by Beckie Prange2006 Caldecott Medal Honor BookZin! Zin! Zin! a ViolinMarjorie PricemanHonor1996Zin! Zin! Zin! a ViolinMarjorie Priceman1996 Caldecott Medal Honor BookThe Judge: An Untrue TaleMargot ZemachHonor1970The Judge: An Untrue TaleMargot Zemach1970 Caldecott Medal Honor BookThe Quangle Wangle's HatEdward LearWinner1969The Quangle Wangle's HatEdward Lear1969 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Still This Love Goes OnFinalist2023Still This Love Goes OnBuffy Sainte-Marie2023 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of A Great Big CuddleShortlist2017A Great Big CuddleMichael Rosen2017 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Captain Jack and the PiratesShortlist2016Captain Jack and the PiratesPeter Bently2016 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of There's a Bear on My ChairShortlist2016There's a Bear on My ChairRoss Collins2016 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Once Upon a MemoryFinalist2014Once Upon a MemoryNina Laden2014 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Miss Mousie's Blind DateFinalist2013Miss Mousie's Blind DateTim Beiser2013 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Crazy HairShortlist2010Crazy HairNeil Gaiman2010 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Monkey and MeShortlist2008Monkey and MeEmily Gravett2008 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Yellow Moon, Apple MoonFinalist2008Yellow Moon, Apple MoonPamela Porter2008 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Earth MagicFinalist2006Earth MagicDionne Brand2006 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of City AngelFinalist2005City AngelEileen Spinelli2005 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Mixed BeastsFinalist2005Mixed BeastsKenyon Cox2005 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of One More SheepShortlist2004One More SheepMij Kelly2004 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of PantsShortlist2002PantsGiles Andrae2002 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Fix-it DuckHighly commended2001Fix-it DuckJez Alborough2001 Carnegie Medal for Illustration highly commendedCover of Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a BallHighly commended2001Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a BallVicki Churchill2001 Carnegie Medal for Illustration highly commendedCover of Days Like ThisShortlist1999Days Like ThisSimon James1999 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of I Know an Old LaddieFinalist1999I Know an Old LaddieJean Little1999 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Down by the RiverHighly commended1996Down by the RiverGrace Hallworth1996 Carnegie Medal for Illustration highly commendedCover of The Duck That Had No LuckShortlist1996The Duck That Had No LuckJonathan Long1996 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe!Finalist1996Whatever You Do, Don't Go Near That Canoe!Julie Lawson1996 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Aska's Sea CreaturesFinalist1995Aska's Sea CreaturesDavid Day1995 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Here Come the AliensShortlist1995Here Come the AliensColin McNaughton1995 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Woodland ChristmasFinalist1995Woodland ChristmasFrances Tyrrell1995 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Last Leaf First Snowflake to FallFinalist1993Last Leaf First Snowflake to FallLeo Yerxa1993 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen!Finalist1993There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen!Sheree Fitch1993 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Hickory, Dickory, DockFinalist1992Hickory, Dickory, DockRobin Muller1992 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Dog That DugShortlist1992The Dog That DugJonathan Long1992 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of SeasonsFinalist1990SeasonsWarabé Aska1990 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Huron CarolFinalist1990The Huron CarolFrances Tyrrell1990 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistBradley McGogg, the Very Fine FrogTim BeiserFinalist2009Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine FrogTim Beiser2009 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistWe'll All Go SailingMaggee SpicerFinalist2001We'll All Go SailingMaggee Spicer2001 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistOmbley-GombleyP. W. SmithCommended1970Ombley-GombleyP. W. Smith1970 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedLavender's Blue: A Book of Nursery RhymesHarold Jones and Kathleen LinesCommended1954Lavender's Blue: A Book of Nursery RhymesHarold Jones and Kathleen Lines1954 Carnegie Medal for Writing commended