Caroline Kennedy's Gift Of Poetry

When Caroline Kennedy was growing up, poetry had a very special place in her life. Her parents, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline, encouraged her and brother, John Jr., to not only read poetry, but also to recite and enjoy it.

The impact was obviously a lasting one because Caroline has just published a collection called "A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children."

It's a compilation of verses Caroline and her family have cherished over the years. The anthology includes more than 100 poems from all five continents and is illustrated with watercolors by Jon J Muth.

"It was really fun to work on," Kennedy told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm Wednesday. "It brought back a lot of memories and kids, I think, really have responded to it."

To read an excerpt of "A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children," click here.

How do you get youngsters to learn to love poetry?

"I think the best way is to read to them when they're young," she said. "I think if you're exposed to poetry when you're young, it's something that will stay with you. It's just like a song which, as we know, you remember the songs you learn when you're young all your life. And then you might go on and make it on your own. Older kids are making the connection now between the spoken word and the music they listen to, and realizing that poetry is a great foundation for all kinds of writing."

Jacqueline had a love of poetry that she got from her grandfather, and she in turn passed it on to Caroline and John Jr.

On the book's cover is a picture of a very young Caroline sitting on a chair, reading to her teddy bear.

"My mother actually took that picture," she tells Storm. "I think it was in the house just before we moved into the White House. So it's a cute picture. And I still have the little chair!"

The Kennedys had a family tradition surrounding poetry.

"We had to pick out a poem for a birthday or for Christmas for my mother or my grandparents and illustrate it, and I think that's what got my brother and I started," she said. "Even though we complained a lot about this assignment, I think we both really liked it, actually, secretly.

"Obviously, it stuck with me. And I think my brother went on to do a lot of acting, and a lot of the poems he chose I went back to look for and I found again when I was doing the research for this book. So there's a lot of poems in here that John and I responded to as kids, so I thought other children might like them as well."

Among the poems in the book is one called "First Fig," which was the first one Caroline ever learned and recited to her father.

"I was real young," she said. "My mother taught me this poem. I said it and he was thrilled and I was so proud of myself. I think that really also stayed with me. You never know what kids will focus on.

"The things parents enjoy and care about really do get passed on. I think both my parents really believed in the power of words to change the world. Think it really helps people find their own way if they read and write and think about themselves and finding their voice. I think poetry has a great role to play and really can connect the generations."

Caroline autographed a copy of the book and donated it to "Wishes for Kids," a special joint effort by The Early Show, Walmart.com and the United Way to help kids whose lives were impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.

The copy is being auctioned on eBay, and the proceeds will go to the United Way for the "Wishes" program.

To place a bid, click here.