Examples of Personification for Kids

Personification is when you give human qualities or abilities to an object or animal. It is a literary tool that adds interest and fun to a poem or story. When a writer brings a non-human object to life it can help us understand better what they’re trying to say.

Common Personification Examples

• Lightning danced across the sky.
• The wind howled in the night.
• The car complained as the key was turned.
• Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.
• My alarm clock yells at me every morning.
• The avalanche devoured anything standing in its way.
• Traffic slowed to a crawl.
• The door protested as it opened slowly.
• My house is a friend who protects me.
• The moon played hide and seek with the clouds.
• That book was so popular, it flew off the shelves.
• My car’s headlights winked at me.
• She is so beautiful the camera loves her.
• The stairs groaned as we walked on them.
• Winter’s icy grip caused people to shudder.
• Our vacuum hums a happy tune while it cleans.
• You need to cross over at the mouth of the river.
• Time flies and waits for no one.
• My flowers were begging for water.
• The ivy wove its fingers around the fence.
• The thunder was grumbling like it was angry.
• Hail pounded the houses and streets.
• The cactus saluted those who drove past.
• The wildfire ran through the forest at an amazing speed.
• When I didn’t make the team, my dream of being a star died.

Personification in Literature

“Ah, William, we’re weary of weather,” / said the sunflowers, shining with dew. / “Our traveling habits have tired us. / Can you give us a room with a view?” – “Two Sunflowers Move into the Yellow Room”, Nancy Willard

Ten thousand (daffodils) saw I at a glance, / Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. / The waves beside them danced; but they / Out-did the sparkling waves in glee – “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”, William Wordsworth

The fog comes / on little cat feet. / It sits looking / over harbor and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on. – “The Fog”, Carl Sandburg

The little dog laughed / To see such sport, / And the dish ran away with the spoon. – Nursery Rhyme

The night was creeping on the ground! / She crept and did not make a sound – “Check”, James Stephens

“And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy.” – The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein

Personification in Advertising

• Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie – Oreo
• Nothing hugs like Huggies – Huggies diapers
• Goldfish: The snack that smiles back – Goldfish snack crackers
• Kleenex says bless you – Kleenex facial tissues
• The car that cares – Kia
• Unwrap a smile – Little Debbie snack cakes
• Carvel: It’s what happy tastes like – Carvel ice cream
• What do you feed a machine with an appetite this big? – Indesit washing machine and Ariel Liquitabs, laundry detergent (UK)

If you are still interested in the topic we have more examples of personification.