Reading poetry to children can often be a challenge in keeping their attention and interest while sharing a poem. Integrating a familiar tune along with a poem will surely capture your audience and after repeating the poem through singing, many children will join in the singing or move to the beat.

Tyrannosaurus Was A Beast is a book of dinosaurs poems. Many of these poems can be read and sung to the beat of a familiar tune such as "Yankee Doodle Dandy" or "O Susanna" and more!

Inside this book on pages 26 and 27, a poem that I would like to share with you is titled "Iguanodon". An inserted photo and description tells that Iguanodon was a dinosaur that lived in the Early Cretaceous period which was approximately 135 million years ago. It lived on every continent except Antarctica. The creature (in my opinion looks like a huge iguana) measured 25' long and 15' tall whenever it stood up on its hind legs.

Sing along to the poem while keeping the beat of "O Tannebaum".

"Iguanodon"
by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
whatever made you fade,
you've traveled on, Iguanodon,
we wish you could have stayed.

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
we've sought you everywhere,
both here and yon, Iguanodon,
but failed to find you there.

Iguanodon, Iguanodon,
you were a gentle kind,
but now you've gone, Iguanodon,
and left your bones behind.

Prelutsky, Jack and Arnold Lobel (ill). 1988. "Tyrannosaurus Was a
Beast: Iguanodon". NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0688064426

Extension: Have the children participate in singing the song. Then add movement and dance as you sing the poem aloud. Ask the children if they can think of any living creature today that is similar in features (except for size). Gather pictures of an Iguana or have a real Iguana as show and tell. Discuss and analyze the characteristics of the dinosaur pictures and today's Iguana. Children are very creative, encourage them to think of a poem that can be sung to a familiar tune. Keep a journal of the poems and name of the songs.

Do you think of another familiar song when you sing the above poem?? I also think of "O Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree".