What is poetry? What, if any, are the characteristics of children's poetry?

Many people have tried to define poetry and I don't think there is any 'correct' answer. However, in it's simplest terms: Poetry is the use of language and words to describe emotions, events, places, people etc... Poetry is generally a more condensed form than prose. By using heightned language and often adhering to specific constraints (eg a sonnet form, limerick, villanelle, rhyming couplets etc...) it is able to tall a story in fewer words than prose. Of course, things like Milton's Paradise Lost refute this definition. I believe that children can appreciate poetry on many levels, and may well respond to poetry which is supposedly grown up. However there is no doubt that they enjoy absurdity (Lewis Caroll and Edward Lear spring to mind), creativity, bright imagery and rhyme. They love to be told a story and like to identify with the lead character. Children's poetry often seems as though it could have been written by a child: interested, naive, full of flights of fancy. But there are no rules. Read Edwin Morgan's The Loch Ness Monster's Song and you'll see what I mean. Childrens poetry is whatever children love to listen to, learn by heart, or read over and over again.

The question you might ask is what contents makes good reading or poetry for kids. What content works question is clear. kids like wit,surprises,jokes,parody's,non sense,liveliness, playing with ideas, breaking of stereo types,adventure. If any of these elements are in kids writing then the writer is starting to talk to the reader.