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30 Short Animal Poems For Kids
Keep reading about different types of animals fun with these animal poems for kids.
Poetry may seem like an artsy or fun activity on the surface, but it brings extreme literacy benefits to the table. The rhyming and beats are very helpful with decoding and learning letter sounds and patterns. These are very important foundational literacy skills.
Poems are also incredibly beneficial when it comes to speech skills as well. For example, poems can help children practice their speaking voice, monitor their volume and pitch, and understand the importance of inflection.
Most of these animal poems for kids are short and sweet. This type of formatting makes them a great way for young kids to practice reading.
Below, we have a diverse list of funny poems and short animal poems for kids. Animal poetry is great, because it appeals to little girls and boys. Eager children who love rhymes, and animals of all kinds, are sure to love these poems.
You are bound to find great poems that peak their interest on this list! While not written by Emily Dickinson, you will find great poems that are perfect for read-aloud time. If you are looking for something familiar, you will find some nursery rhymes and a famous poem or two.
Farm Animal Poems for Kids
Throughout this collection of farm animal poems, you will see many are familiar nursery rhymes. A fun, short poem works well with your farm animals lesson plan and activities.
A few of these have easy-to-read printables to go along with the poem. The best place to get the printable poems are the links provided under the images.
1. My Farm Animals by Linda Harris
“On a sunny day, I sat on my porch swing
And watched a cool fresh summer rain
Everything then seem to come so alive
Birds flew to birdbaths to take a dive
My horse started galloping with glee
Putting on a show to entertain me
The donkey, he was hee-hawing so loud
Trying to get the attention of a crowd
The cows and goats stepped up to see
What all the commotion seemed to be
Chicken were making clucking sounds
Even little bunnies were looking around
Simon, the cat, awoke, puzzled over this
Fell back to sleep for his daily rest
My farm animals so joyful and free
Well, no one to see, but only me!”
2. Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir
Three bags full.
One for my master
And one for the dame
One for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Get this poem HERE or on TPT
3. Mary’s Lamb
Here’s the classic nursery rhyme about Mary’s lamb that followed her to school.
Mary had a little lamb
His fleece was white as snow, yeah
And everywhere the child went
That little lamb was sure to go now
He followed her to school one day
Which broke the teachers cool
But what a time did they have
That day at school.
Get this poem HERE or on TPT
4. Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only four little ducks came back
Four little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only three little ducks came back…
(Continue countdown)
5. A Worm in my Pocket by Jodee Samano
“One rainy day on my way home from school,
I found a big worm and thought it was cool.
I picked up the worm with my bare hand,
held it up high, thinking how grand!
The worm was so cute and wiggled a lot.
I put him in my pocket to show Mom what I’d caught.
What will she say when I show her my find?
Will she let me keep it? I hope she won’t mind.
Mom was in the kitchen when I showed her what I’d found.
She screamed, “No, way! Put it back in the ground!”
Now I’m so angry; she always says, “No.”
If she won’t let me keep it, then I will just go!
So me and my worm packed a sandwich or two,
ran out the door, and down the street we both flew.
We walked to the park and sat on a bench.
I pulled out my worm and noticed a stench.
He looked kind of floppy but wiggled a bit.
I thought, “Oh my Gosh, my worm is not fit!”
I laid him in the dirt and let him go free.
I guess that my pocket was not the best place to be.”
6. Five Little Speckled Frogs
Five little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs (yum, yum!)
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool
Now there are four green speckled frogs
Four little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs (yum, yum!)
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool
Now there are three green speckled frogs….
(Continue the countdown)
7. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Old Mac Donald had a farm,
E I E I O
And on his farm, he had a cow.
E I E I O
With a moo, moo here, and a moo, moo there.
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo.
Old Mac Donald had a farm.
E I E I O
(Continue with other farm animals and sounds, such as pig, horse, sheep, ducks, etc)
Pet Poems
Even kids know dogs are considered man’s best friend. Dog lovers will easily find something to read in this section!
What kind of pet does your kids have? Even a little pet is a child’s best friend. Here, you will find a dog poems, cat rhymes and poems about rabbits.
8. Dogs on the Couch by Little Learning Corner
Mom, the dogs are on the couch!
I was busy packing my lunch pouch.
I can’t get them down
for a walk around town.
I think they want your seat.
Let’s give them a treat.
9. My Funny Cat by Little Learning Corner
This is my funny cat in a hat.
He is black and white.
And, oh, what a sight.
He will read here and there.
He will read everywhere!
What’s that; a book about ham?
Oh my! He’s a funny cat;
That Sam!
Get this poem HERE or on TPT
10. Ten Little Bunnies by Little Learning Corner
One little, two little,
three little bunnies.
Four little, five little,
six little bunnies.
Seven little, eight little,
nine little bunnies.
Ten little bunnies hiding the eggs.
11. Five Little Rabbits
Five little rabbits went hop, hop, hop.
Children called out, “Stop, stop, stop!”
The first little rabbit said, “Run, run, run!”
The second little rabbit said, “Fun, fun, fun!”
The third little rabbit’s foot went thump, thump, thump.
The fourth little rabbit went jump, jump, jump.
The fifth little rabbit yawned and went to sleep, sleep, sleep.
12. Dogs are My Friends by Little Learning Corner
Dogs are my friends,
I love them so.
They come to me when I call,
And they love to play ball.
When I hear them bark,
I know it’s time to go to the park.
13. I’m a Little Doggy by Little Learning Corner
I’m a little doggy,
Small and black.
I have small white spots,
And a fluffy tail.
When I get excited,
I will bark.
Grab the ball,
and let’s go to the park.
14. 10 Little Doggies by Little Learning Corner
One little, two little,
three little doggies.
Four little, five little,
Six little doggies.
Seven little, eight little,
Nine little doggies.
Ten little doggies barking at me.
15. Doggy, Doggy, Where’s Your Bone
Doggy, doggy, where’s your bone?
Somebody stole it from your home.
Who has my bone?
I have your bone!
16. Puppy Dog, Puppy Dog
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
wag your tail.
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
let out a wail.
Puppy dog, puppy dog,
jump for a bone.
Puppy bone, puppy dog
Run on home.
17. My Neighbor’s Dog is Purple by Hack Prelutsky
This is a fun poem that makes even a crocodile, with a great big mouth, seem like a gentle animal. This is no little crocodile at the neighbors house.
My neighbor’s dog is purple.
Its eyes are large and green.
It’s tail is almost endless,
The longest I have seen.
My neighbors dog is quiet.
It does not bark one bit.
But when my neighbors dog is near,
I feel afraid of it!
My neighbors dog looks nasty.
It has a wicked smile.
Before by neighbor painted it,
It was a crocodile!
18. Three Little Kittens Lyrics
Three little kittens,
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry.
“Oh, mother dear,”
We sadly fear,
That we have lost our mittens.
Arctic Animal Poems
If you are looking for a penguin poem, or one about a furry white bear, there are a couple below that will be perfect!
19. I’m a Little Penguin
I’m a little penguin,
Black and white.
Short and wobbly,
An adorable sight.
I can’t fly at all,
But I love to swim.
So, I’ll waddle in the water,
And dive right in!
20. Winter Animals
Winter is cold.
There is snow in the sky.
The squirrel gathers nuts,
And the wild geese fly.
The fluffy red fox
Has his fur to keep warm.
The bear’s in her cave
Sleeping all through the storm.
Jungle Animal Poems
Wild animals are an easy favorite! Five Little Monkeys is a classic and easy to remember, but the tiger one below may be new to you!
21. Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor,
And the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed
(Continue counting down from five)
22. Tiger Tiger
Tiger Tiger, Sit with me.
Tiger tiger, Sip your tea.
Tiger tiger, Don’t you roar!
Tiger tiger, On the floor.
Tiger tiger, No more play.
Tiger tiger, Learn today.
More Fun Animal Poems
Some may consider a few of these as songs and not poems, but songs and poetry overlap so often! Poems can easily be turned into songs, and songs can easily be turned into poems! Whichever way you choose to recite them, the benefits will be large and fun will be had!
23. Three Blind Mice
Three blind mice,
Three blind mice,
See how they run,
See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such
A sight in your life,
As three blind mice?
24. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught A Fish Alive
One, two, three, four, five.
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on the right.
25. Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel,
Doesn’t make a sound,
As he buries acorns
Under the ground.
Later when it’s cold,
And food isn’t around,
The gray squirrel will dig
His acorns from the ground.
26. Sleeping Bats
Bats are sleeping. Bats are sleeping.
Upside down. Upside down.
Sleeping in the daytime.
Waiting for the moon to shine.
To fly around. To fly around.
27. 5 Little Bats
5 little bats came flying to the door.
One flew away, and that left four.
4 little bats hiding in a tree.
One flew away, and that left three
3 little bats looking down at you.
One flew away, and that left two.
2 little bats hiding from the sun.
One flew away, and that left one.
1 little bat hanging all alone,
He flew away and that left none!
28. Wise Old Owl
A wise old owl sat in an oak.
The more he heard, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why aren’t we all like that wise old bird?
29. The Great Black Crow by Phillip James Bailey
“The crow – the crow! the great black crow!
He cares not to meet us wherever we go;
He cares not for man, beast, friend, nor foe,
For nothing will eat him he well doth know.
Know – know! you great black crow!
It’s a comfort to feel like a great black crow!
The crow – the crow! the great black crow!
He loves the fat meadow – his taste is low;
He loves the fat worms,
and he dines in a row With fifty fine cousins all black as a sloe.
Sloe – sloe! you great black crow!
But it’s jolly to fare like a great black crow!
30. Five Little Reindeer
Five little reindeer playing in the snow.
The first one said,
“Can you see my now glow?”
The second one said,
“Listen to me sing.”
The third one said,
“I can hear the bells ring.”
The fourth one said,
“Let’s eat the pie.”
The fifth one said,
“I’m ready to fly!”
Then CLOMP when their hoofs,
and the snow fell white,
as the five little reindeer flew out of sight.
If you are looking for more, in depth, animal poems to read on a rainy day, here are some authors you can search:
Thomas Hardy – Poetry of Animals
Robert Graves – The Caterpillar
Before you go, here are some fun posts about animals:
Free Pet Worksheets and Activities
50 Easy Animal Crafts for Kids
