The profile of poetry aloud is rising due to recent changes in the National Curriculum and the popularity of recitation competitions. This unique book explores the connection between poetry and literacy development through current psychological theory. Taking an experimental perspective, it covers current developmental and neuroscientific theories about phonology, prosody and metrical structure to explain how rhyme and rhythm are crucial for emerging literacy. Based on never-before published findings, the authors provide the rationale for a novel poetic intervention that explores this link, and its implications for the contemporary classroom. It will be of great interest to students and researchers in language and literacy development, as well as teachers and those working in educational policy.