Funny Poems for Kids: Bringing Laughter into Learning!

Looking for a simple way to add more laughter to your child’s reading time? Fun poems for kids do more than make young readers smile. Humorous poetry can help children build language skills, spark their creativity, and develop a lasting interest in literature.

In this guide, we’ve gathered 10 must-read funny poems that children love, along with creative classroom activities that educators can use to bring each poem to life.

Top 10 Fun Poems for Kids

Introducing poetry through humor can make reading and learning more enjoyable, engaging, and memorable. Here are 10 timeless fun poems for kids to read and enjoy.

1. The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll

This witty and playful poem describes a sneaky crocodile welcoming little fish with a smile. It is a wonderful choice for introducing children to classic poetry.

The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll

Download this worksheet and introduce your students to the entertaining world of rhyme and poetry!

How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws!

2. On the Ning Nang Nong by Spike Milligan

This nonsense poem is filled with amusing words and playful sounds, making it ideal for teaching children about rhythm, rhyme, and phonetics.

On the Ning Nang Nong by Spike Milligan

Download the “On the Ning Nang Nong” worksheet and bring cheerful rhymes and laughter into your classroom!

On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the cows go Bong!
and the monkeys all say BOO!
There’s a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the tea pots jibber jabber joo.

On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can’t catch ’em when they do!
So its Ning Nang Nong
Cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
Trees go Ping
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang
What a noisy place to belong
is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!!

3. My Big Fat Cat by Christian Mitewu

This humorous poem tells the story of an endlessly hungry cat and is a fun way to introduce exaggeration as a poetic device.

My Big Fat Cat by Christian Mitewu

Download the worksheet and add some laughter to your next poetry lesson!

I own a big fat cat— The fattest for miles around. Wherever there’s lots of food, That’s where he’ll be found.

He’s really good at eating. It’s a talent, I suppose. I’m sure if he keeps at it He’d win the talent shows.

I own a big fat cat— He weighs at least a ton. He couldn’t run to save his life. Yes, he isn’t much fun.

His favourite room’s the kitchen. (I’m sure we all know why.) He eats just about everything, So that’s why, with a sigh…

I’d like to tell you, Teacher, I’d like to tell you straight, I might have “accidentally” dropped my homework in his plate.

4. Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face by Jack Prelutsky

This amusing poem looks at facial features from an unexpected perspective while encouraging children to appreciate their bodies.

Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face by Jack Prelutsky

Download this worksheet to create a fun and engaging poetry lesson.

Be glad your nose is on your face, not pasted on some other place, for if it were where it is not, you might dislike your nose a lot.

Imagine if your precious nose were sandwiched in between your toes, that clearly would not be a treat, for you’d be forced to smell your feet.

Your nose would be a source of dread were it attached atop your head, it soon would drive you to despair, forever tickled by your hair.

Within your ear, your nose would be an absolute catastrophe, for when you were obliged to sneeze, your brain would rattle from the breeze.

Your nose, instead, through thick and thin, remains between your eyes and chin, not pasted on some other place— be glad your nose is on your face!

5. The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear

This classic and humorous adventure follows two unlikely companions and provides a gentle introduction to narrative poetry.

The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear

Download this worksheet and enjoy this playful, entertaining poem with your students.

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, “O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!”

Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?” They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-Tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.” So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.

6. How Not To Have To Dry the Dishes by Shel Silverstein

This funny poem presents a clever and mischievous strategy for escaping the boring chore of drying dishes. With Silverstein’s familiar wit, it shows children how a small mess can sometimes lead to an unexpected result!

How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes by Shel Silverstein

Download the worksheet and share the fun with your students!

If you have to dry the dishes (Such an awful, boring chore) If you have to dry the dishes (‘Stead of going to the store) If you have to dry the dishes And you drop one on the floor— Maybe they won’t let you Dry the dishes anymore.

7. My Kitten Is a Ninja by Kenn Nesbitt

What happens when an ordinary kitten behaves like a ninja? This playful poem follows the hilarious adventures of a quiet, sneaky cat that loves to leap, pounce, and surprise its unsuspecting owner.

My Kitten is a Ninja by Kenn Nesbitt

Download the worksheet and enjoy this entertaining poem with your students.

My kitten is a ninja. He wears a black disguise. He sneaks up on me stealthily And takes me by surprise.

I never hear him coming. He doesn’t make a peep. He hides, then glides in silently And makes a flying leap.

I don’t know why he does it. The reason isn’t clear. He simply likes to tackle me Then swiftly disappear.

I wish that he was normal And didn’t act like that. My life would be so different if I had an average cat.

I’d play with him, and pet him, And treat him gingerly. Instead, whenever he’s around I get a ninjury.

8. My Next Door Neighbor is a Witch by Samiya Vallee

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live next door to a witch? This fun and slightly spooky poem is filled with magical mysteries. From the witch’s pointed hat to her strange meals, every detail adds another enchantingly eerie clue.

My Next Door Neighbor is a Witch by Samiya Vallee

Encourage your students to use their imaginations with this fun poem!

My next door neighbor is a witch, And she lives way down in a ditch. Her clothing is a little strange, Because she never wants to change. She has a black robe and a black hat, Green skin and a smelly black cat. A big fat wart grows on her nose, And seventeen pimples on her toes.

But…her food is EVEN worse, Because she eats it course by course. Her first course is seven dead bats, Laid on top of seven rats. Then she has twenty flies With lots and lots of llama eyes. Her main course is a horrible soup, Because it’s made with doggie poop. But worst of all is her dessert. It’s little children rolled in dirt.

Last night she had a witch’s feast And turned into a greedy beast. I think she cooked my best friend Tilly And ate her with some peas and broccoli.

9. Don’t Be Silly by Dave Moran

This playful poem celebrates humor, imagination, and the value of seeing the world from an unexpected point of view. Its witty questions, cheerful rhymes, and lighthearted message make it an enjoyable read for children.

Don’t Be Silly by Dave Moran

Use this engaging poem to encourage curiosity in your children.

Are there bugs that live on the moon? Can July come before June? Can the sun ever feel cold? “Don’t be silly” I’m often told.

Why can’t we live under the sea? The creatures there seem so happy. Why does cheese look like gold? “Don’t be silly” I’m often told.

So why are things the way they are? Has it always been, right from the start? Will Mickey Mouse ever get old? “Don’t be silly” I’m often told.

So in good time I know I’ll grow, And I will learn, this I know. I’ll ask my questions and be bold, “And that’s not silly” I’ll be told.

10. My Bed is a Boat by Robert Louis Stevenson

This charming poem turns bedtime into an imaginative journey in which an ordinary bed becomes a boat sailing across dreamlike seas. With its gentle rhymes and vivid imagery, the poem captures the wonder of a child’s imagination.

My Bed is a Boat by Robert Louis Stevenson

Encourage your children to explore their imaginations with this dreamy adventure poem!

My bed is like a little boat; Nurse helps me in when I embark; She girds me in my sailor’s coat And starts me in the dark.

At night, I go on board and say Good night to all my friends on shore; I shut my eyes and sail away And see and hear no more.

And sometimes things to bed I take, As prudent sailors have to do; Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake, Perhaps a toy or two.

All night across the dark we steer; But when the day returns at last, Safe in my room, beside the pier, I find my vessel fast.

Engaging Activities to Teach Fun Poems to Kids

Interactive activities can make poetry lessons even more enjoyable and meaningful. Here are several creative ways to bring these fun poems for kids to life in the classroom.

Engaging activities to teach funny poems for kids

Use these interactive activities to make poetry lessons more engaging and enjoyable for children!

1. Rhyming Games

Choose poems with clear rhyme patterns and create games in which students identify or produce rhyming words. This activity supports phonemic awareness and strengthens children’s ability to recognize sound patterns.

2. Vocabulary Building

Use the poems to introduce unfamiliar vocabulary in a meaningful context. Discuss the new words with students and encourage them to use each one in a sentence to expand their language skills.

3. Illustrate and Art Project

Combine poetry and art by asking students to illustrate scenes from the poems. For example, they can draw their own interpretation of The Owl and the Pussycat’s journey, helping them improve their comprehension and visualization skills.

4. Creative Writing Exercises

After reading poems such as Dandelion, invite students to brainstorm and write imaginative poems of their own. This activity encourages creativity and helps children become more familiar with poetic structures.

5. Dramatic Read-Alouds

Encourage students to perform expressive readings of the poems. Dramatic read-alouds can improve public speaking skills while helping children understand rhythm, emphasis, and intonation in poetry.

6. Group Discussions

Lead classroom discussions about the themes, humor, and language used in each poem. This encourages critical thinking and gives students an opportunity to explore how humor works in literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a silly poem with five lines?

A silly poem with five lines is often called a limerick. Limericks usually follow an AABBA rhyme scheme and feature humorous or playful content. For example:​

There once was a cat from Peru, Who dreamed of a life in a zoo. He packed up his hat, And left in a spat, Now he’s learning to sing opera too.

2. What is a funny theme for a poem?

Funny poem themes may include everyday accidents, exaggerated stories, animals in amusing situations, or playful versions of familiar experiences, such as a child inventing imaginative excuses for not completing homework.

3. What is a poem that has rhymes?

A rhyming poem is a poem that uses a rhyme scheme, meaning the ending sounds of certain lines match in a repeated pattern. Rhyme gives poetry a musical quality and can make a poem easier to remember and more enjoyable to read.

Final Words

Adding fun poems for kids to reading lessons can increase student engagement and encourage a stronger interest in literature. These poems entertain young readers while also providing useful opportunities to teach rhyme, rhythm, vocabulary, and creative expression.

For additional practice and more enjoyable learning activities, explore the printable and interactive worksheets available at Worksheetzone.