April is National Poetry Month, and poetry is a great tool for teaching English Language Learners.
As a form that intentionally slows down in order to explore language, poetry provides a context appropriate for many levels of readers to learn phonics, structure, and oral fluency. Also, blended language, especially Spanish and English, is a favorite device of many poets, offering ELLs familiar vocabulary and a different level of interest.
In the book list below, there are not only poetry collections, but also evocative novels in verse addressing the immigrant experience or culture relevant to ELLs.
Margarita Engle
Grades 7 to 12
Pat Mora
Grades 9 and up
Juan Felipe Herrera
Grades 9 to 12
Gary Soto
Grades 7 to 12
Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Grades 6 to 12
Ed. Lori Marie Carlson
Grades 7 to 12
Juan Felipe Herrera
Grades 6 and up
Naomi Shihab Nye
Grades 6 to 8
Skila Brown
Grades 5 & up
Ed. Lori M. Carlson
Grades 4 to 7
Katherine Applegate
Grades 5 & up
Andrea Davis Pinkney
Grades 4 and up
Ann E. Burg
Grades 5 to 9
Margarita Engle
Grades 5 to 9
Thanhha Lai
Grades 3 to 7
Than You Are
Ed. Naomi Shihab Nye
Grades 2 to 5
Search for more poetry or nonfiction or textbooks at www.adamsbook.com. And, if you want more ELL resources, you should check out our ELL Pinterest board.
Adams Book Company 
Great idea! I was an ESOL teacher and once or twice used my own poems in class. Also songs which had easy lyrics for students to sing!
Very nice, Erik. Gotta stay creative like that!
Reblogged this on So, You Think You Can Teach ESL? and commented:
I love books and I encourage my students to develop a love for reading, too! These books are great for ELLs. They offer a wide variety of writing styles, fun illustrations, appropriate vocabulary and content, and a little challenging to push the students.
Glad you found the list helpful, Ketan! Did your students end up reading any of the ones on the list this schoolyear?
Not this year, but last year they read a few.