Children’s first encounters with poetry generally come through nursery rhymes and nonsense - the lullaby to soothe them to sleep; verses that tempt them to eat or sleep or stop crying; and that great tradition of nursery rhymes, some ancient in origin, that have amused children across cultures and centuries.

The pleasures come from their musicality and the satisfaction and comfort of expected (and unexpected) rhymes matched with regular rhythms. The rhymes are often affectionate (“dance to your daddy”), domestic (“there was a little girl”), and strange (“the cow jumped over the moon”).

Although the nursery is where they hold pride of place, nursery rhymes and nonsense also form the core poetic diet at key stage 1, and their easy memorability makes them ideal early reading matter for inexperienced readers.

Rhymes, Riddles and Nonsense is a full-colour compendium of two well-loved Seuss titles, Fox in Socks and Oh Say Can You Say?, plus the lesser known The Cat’s Quizzer. The rollicking verse and the trademark zany characters make this perfect for children beginning to read.

Ragged Bear’s Book of Nursery Rhymes is a good-value compendium of 100 rhymes. The beautifully executed, traditional-style watercolour pictures on every page, as well as gold blocking and cloth binding, make it an attractive book to handle.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star may have the characteristics of a “traditional lullaby” as it is described on the cover of Templar’s new picture-book edition, but it was written by Jane Taylor (first published in Rhymes for the Nursery, 1806) and should be properly credited. Sylvia Long’s illustrations are a treat, and she captures something of the yearning tone of the original, as the animals gaze up at the star and “wonder”.

Ian Beck’s illustrations for The Jumblies match the magic of one of Edward Lear’s most popular nonsense songs. Beck locates the poem in an Edwardian winter scene using sepia tones, while the adventures of the exuberant and fantastical Jumblies are contrasted in bright colours.

Set off on your own voyage to sea in a sieve with The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense of Edward Lear. This definitive volume is edited by the Lear scholar and biographer and contains Lear’s nonsense rhymes, alphabets, stories and limericks, including some previously unpublished material, a useful Introduction, letters to children and extensive notes. Lear was a gifted artist and this handsome edition includes his stunning artwork. Treat yourself.

Morag Styles is reader in children’s literature at Homerton College, Cambridge