This collection of 64 short poems has become a classic work of children’s literature. The poems are written from the point of view of a child. The author brilliantly recaptures the magical world of childhood innocence, in which the most mundane of experiences can become a source of wonder.
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"I read this poems constantly as a child and have always loved them...I love them still. My favourites include From A Railway Carriage (so clever...'Faster than fairies, faster than witches, bridges and houses, hedges and ditches'), The Swing and The Land of Counterpane."
— Chrissie (5 out of 5 stars)
" a must read for any one with children....or not "
— Bonnie, 2/18/2014" I have a copy of this book & I love it. I don't really know when I read it, but it would have to have been sometime in the 1960s. I probably wouldn't have given this a 5 now, but I still enjoyed it. "
— Rayni, 2/8/2014" I was given this as a small child and I recall loving it. The pictures were amazing. "
— Kiri, 1/28/2014" I love that these poems are really touching in simple ways. It really is some of the smaller things in life that bring us true happiness. "
— Julie, 1/25/2014" I bought this collection for 3 poems. I don't really care for the others. "
— Leilani, 1/15/2014" Missing the 'right' time of your life to read certain books is a sad thing. "
— Jane, 1/14/2014" A comfort book from my childhood. "
— J, 1/6/2014" We have two copies of these. One for our homeschool room and another to keep in my daughter's room. ; ) A great book. "
— Ashley, 12/10/2013" I liked these poems when I was a child. I still do. "
— Kyrie, 11/20/2013" My mother read poems from this book to me every night until I was about 10. By then I could read them to her. I still have so many of these poems memorized. "
— Blackbook, 11/10/2013" A classic in children's poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson. I've memorized "The Swing" and I used to say it to my children everytime I pushed them on the swing (they can all "pump" themselves now, sniff!) "
— Josette, 10/1/2013" This book is one that we pull out to read and all four of our boys can enjoy. We read it while eating lunch or just sitting outside. As a homeschooler it also contains most of the authors that are suggested when we are doing a study on poetry. "
— Gigi, 9/25/2013" I have this book totally memorized from when my kids were growing up. I read it back and forth and forward all through 4 childhoods. Of course I love poetry and this was just perfect for my kids and myself. "
— White, 9/19/2013" As a child we memorized many of these poems because my mother loved them so, and read them to us often. "
— Janet, 10/23/2012" This is the book that inspired my love of poetry, and made me write poetry. "
— Book2dragon, 6/4/2012" Every time I read this collection of poetry I am transported back to my childhood and many pleasant memories. "
— Ruth, 5/14/2012" The book that got me into poetry. "
— Amanda, 4/20/2012" I learned how to read with this book. It was read to me from birth, until I knew the poems in order, and eventually, at an early age, matched up the words on the page to what I knew the poems sounded like. "
— Wordsmith, 4/17/2012" Loved it as a child "
— Susan, 1/31/2012" I memorized a poem from this book in 1st grade....oh how I love to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue ! "
— Cavilleri, 1/30/2012" This was my all time favorite book as a child. I still love the book to this day. "
— Penny, 10/25/2011" A good read on a snowy afternoon. If you haven't gathered as much from the title, the book is a collection of playful little poems, mostly in rhyming couplets. Expect to find charming children's verse with pretty illustrations. "
— Erene, 7/19/2011" I still go to this volume for my favorite poems. "
— Kathleen, 6/13/2011" My mother used to read to me from this book. To this day I don't really care for poetry. Lovely pictures though! "
— Mel, 5/3/2011" I read a selection of these poems to my children. From A Railway Carriage was their favourite. "
— Dawn, 4/17/2011" It was okay, but I would have rathered it if there weren't as many nonsense poems...I mean, imagination is good in a child, but almost every single poem was completely fantasy. And reading them as an adult is not very enjoyable. lol "
— Kristy, 4/15/2011" A wonderful read-aloud for mealtimes. "
— Anne, 4/4/2011" This is one of my favorite books. The poems are wonderful and light, perfect for childhood and just feeling happy. My great grandma gave me a copy when i was 5 and i have read it countless times. "
— Talia, 3/10/2011" I loved this book in my childhood, & I still love it now; 'Bed in Summer' & 'The Land of Counterpane' are, for me, particularly evokative "
— Fi, 3/5/2011" I have a copy of this book & I love it. I don't really know when I read it, but it would have to have been sometime in the 1960s. I probably wouldn't have given this a 5 now, but I still enjoyed it. "
— Rayni, 2/17/2011" I decided to introduce poetry to my kids with my favorite book of poems. They liked my favorite, "Bed in Summer," but decided their favorite (of those we've read so far) is "Looking Forward." It gave us all a good laugh. "
— Jennifer, 2/15/2011" i remember my mom reading this book to my sister and brothers and i. i love it just as much now as i did than. "
— Angela, 2/2/2011" This is the book that inspired my love of poetry, and made me write poetry. "
— Book2dragon, 1/6/2011" Oh, how I love to go up in a swing . . . "
— Mary, 11/22/2010" Illustrated by Tasha Tudor, this collection captures childhood in a magical way. Read cuddled up to a fire (digital if must be :) ). "
— Mandy, 9/30/2010" I cannot find the correct edition - ours is ancient! I adore Wynken, Blinken and Nod and "How do you like to go up in the air, up in the air so high, oh I do think it is the...., ie the Swing song! They are my favorites. "
— Chrissie, 9/30/2010Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was born in Scotland. He studied engineering and law at the University of Edinburgh and then began writing while traveling in France. The publication of Treasure Island in 1883 brought him fame and entered him on a course of romantic fiction beloved by young and old alike.
Sarah Bacaller is a writer, researcher, and audiobook narrator from Melbourne, Australia.