BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: A Year of Nature Poems (Available here)
Author: Joseph Coelho
Illustrator: Kelly Louise Judd
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Publication Date: January 2019
Most Suitable for: Years 4-6
Reviewed By: Jayne Gould (@ JayneG60 ), Librarian
Having grown up living near Richmond Park, poet Joseph Coelho spent a lot of time exploring outdoors, developing a real love of and fascination with the natural world. This is certainly evident in his latest collection, which features a poem for every month of the year, following the calendar from January through to December.
The essence of each month is captured in long poems, some of which occupy the whole of a double spread; others are accompanied by a full page illustration. Sometimes Joseph describes one element of the month in question, from the types of daffodils to be found in March to April showers and the toadstools that appear in September. There are deeply personal elements to several of the poems, in which he describes childhood memories of digging out a pond with someone clearly unwell, or of summer trips to the seaside. The language is lyrical but uncompromising. He definitely does not talk down to children and some may need careful guiding and explanation through the poems. Having said this, I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
The illustrations are beautiful and full of detail, often framing a poem, and bringing the months to life, with something different to look at on each spread.
Each poem has a few lines of useful introduction encapsulating the subject.
Also features on: January 2019 Books of the Month
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You can order A Year of Nature Poems online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Jayne for reviewing it.
