Before each poem is a short introduction to briefly situate the poem into its context. These are helpful and informative, and for the inexperienced reader these would act as a guide through many different styles of poetry from a huge array of writers. The cover art is, simply put, stunning. I love the design. The book acts as a sister book to the previously published A Poem for Every Night of the Year with brighter colours used to reflect the day time this time. The layout is also very simple making the book easy to dive in and out of. I loved this book, particularly the theme of nature and the potential it has to ignite a passion for animals and our natural world in those who read it. I adored the imagery and the overall presentation of the book – it feels special to hold, it makes the poems inside feel special to have, it makes poetry exciting! November – Anonymous – As with previous poems on key dates this poem could be used to look at the history of ‘bonfire night’ as well as explore the tradition of fireworks. The children could create their own soundscapes and poems, as well as art to describe and express this event. Wat een prachtboek, een instant klassieker! Ik ben zo blij dat Van Mourik op I am the seed that grew the tree is gestuit én dat ze besloten heeft om ons (Nederlandstaligen) ook zoiets moois te gunnen. Knap is ook dat ze er voor gekozen heeft om niet de gedichten te vertalen maar wel op zoek te gaan naar gedichten in het Nederlands die bij het thema en de bestaande prenten passen. Dit moet een huzarenwerk zijn geweest, maar zeker en vast de moeite waard. Ik ben er gerust in dat al wie dit boek koopt er jaren plezier van gaat hebben én dat dit het soort boek is dat mensen elkaar blijven schenken. Ik ben hier zo blij mee!

The poetry anthology ‘I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree’ by Kate Wilson, is a beautiful collection of poems which explore nature through a poem a day. In the introduction Kate discusses the versatility of this book, suggesting it can be used as a shared read aloud or personal read. The book can be used to share a poem a day, focus on specific dates or just to enjoy the imagery created by Frann Preston-Gannon. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations as they added context and detail to each poem, helping the mind explore the words within each poem. This is a book I would definitely have in my classroom. I could see this being used as a nice, peaceful way to start the school day. I think it presents a lovely opportunity to bring the class together and create a ‘poetry environment’ and ultimately spark a child’s interest in poetry. The book captures the complexity and diversity of nature very well and as we move through it, we are made aware of the changing seasons and a variety of living things. I believe this poetry book could be used for a variety of topics/lessons, for example: Allie Esiri's delightfully eclectic anthology takes you on a poetic journey through every night of the calendar year. A fun book for all the family to enjoy. Tatler This useful anthology is aimed at children but I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy it. The target audience ensures accessibility as well as a satisfying blend of light and shade, while Esiri's introduction is a model of economyand enthusiasm. She offers poetry for the small things in life, the every day, and I can't think of anything more life enhancing than opening this book each evening to sweeten the passage of time. -- Bel Mooney The Daily MailSeptember – Acorn haiku – Kim Wright - This poem could be used as part of a science/geography lesson exploring the local habitat and identification of different types of tree. Additionally, used to support writing their own versions of a haiku. In een wereld die almaar sneller draait, waarin de natuur dag na dag meer kapot gaat en waarin er amper tijd is om adem te halen is dit boek een soort van medicijn, een vorm van therapie. Meditatie en bezinning in één. Koop dit boek, deel gedichten met je naasten en maak alvast jullie deeltje van deze gekke aarde mooier. Exploring and comparing the four seasons – What happens during the four seasons? What changes do you notice in nature? How do the seasons affect us and animals? Ik wou dat ik een vogel was. Een natuurgedicht voor elke dag van het jaar. Samengesteld door Margot Diederix en Marlous van Mourik. Met illustraties van Frann Preston-Gannon. A Poem For Every Day of the Year is a magnificent collection of 366 poems compiled by Allie Esiri, one to share on every day of the year. These poems are funny, thoughtful, inspiring, humbling, informative, quiet, loud, small, epic, peaceful, energetic, upbeat, motivating, and empowering! Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, it is bursting at the seams with familiar favourites and exciting new discoveries. T.S.Eliot, John Betjeman, Lewis Carroll, William Shakespeare and Christina Rossetti sit alongside Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Carol Ann Duffy, and Kate Tempest.This soul-enhancing book will keep you company for every day of your life. About This Edition ISBN:

I think if this were to be used in a school setting, it would be a gentle and fun reading session for children to be introduced to older poets, and get a sense of appreciation for nature. May – On May Day – Anonymous – As with previous poems this could be used to explore the history of annual events, such as May day. Additionally, it could be used to create their own music to accompany this poem or read it alongside a dance that they have created themselves. The children could also create their own poem describing their thoughts on May day and the activities/ characteristic of the day. January – The Garden Year – Sara Coleridge - I enjoyed how this poem highlighted each month of the year and the changing seasons. I would have the class write their own version, describing what they felt were the key attributes to each month of the year. This could also be used to support the learning of month names (maths) as well as the season, exploring characteristics of seasons both in England and across the world (science/geography). The collection of 366 poems (to make sure leap years are covered too!) contains a really interesting mix of poems from well-known favourites from Christina Rossetti and Walter de la Mare to more modern offerings by Benjamin Zephaniah and Carol Ann Duffy. The book is structured into monthly sections and the poems accompanied by beautiful illustrations that celebrate the beauty of the natural world and changing seasons.Allie Esiri has put together a really strong collection. The poems match the time of the year with the themes reflecting the seasons and its associated mood. This is especially so during the December part of the book with many festive pieces being used. She has also used many extracts from larger works to give a taste of longer more developed poetry throughout, which I think is very important because many of the major poetical works in the English language are thousands and thousands of lines long. Short poems are more accessible, but longer ones often carry much more with them. The poems are all about nature and people interacting with it, observing it, fearing or delighting over it. Maybe that has made following the months and changing seasons especially fun. Or maybe it’s just that I love animals and plants so much that this really was perfect for me.