A Child's Garden of Verses

I guess I was not paying attention when I bought this book. I was desperately looking for a copy of this book to give to my niece for her baby shower. This is my go-to book for baby showers and children. I read it to my much younger sister, my children and my grandchildren when they were little. This book has no illustrations. My bad. I should have paid closer attention. I was in a hurry and couldn't find a copy at any local bookstore, so I went on-line. Needless to say, I am still looking for that shower gift copy because who wants to read these types of poems to children without illustrations. This book did have poems and stories that are not in your typical "Child's Garden of Verses", though. Some of which I had never read. This copy will go in my Little Free Library, but I did write an apology on the front page first. The content was excellent as far at the poetry, just sadly no illustrations.

This particular book of poetry is an excellent way to start reading to toddlers and young children. This book is classic poetry for very young people. It is particularly nice to read them before bed.

I had a very worn copy of this book, but after several moves, I lost it. Now as I read it, I was transported back to my early childhood. I memorized at least half of them. I can recall so many now. If you want to go back to less complicated era, read someof these poems!!!

Amazon seems to have grouped the reviews for several editions of A Child's Garden of Verses together, so it's difficult to tell what exactly is being reviewed. I am commenting specifically on Tasha Tudor's lovely illustrations of childhood life, so beautifully paired with Robert Louis Stevenson's poetry of childhood. Together, image and word are a perfect match, and this is a marvelous edition. I highly recommend it as a gift for any new parent, a special child, or for yourself.I live with my grandfather, who was born in 1922 and grew up having these poems read to him and then reading them for himself; when he grew up and had children of his own, he read from this book. They were a little bit "old-fashioned" when my grandfather was a boy in the 1920s, but not at all "dated" in the way some of them have become. I am thinking here of "Foreign Children," with its refrain:Little Indian, Sioux or Crow,Little frosty Eskimo,Little Turk or Japanee,O! don't you wish that you were me?There are others in a similar vein, and while I am sure that some will object, I find all of these poems to be utterly lacking in malice or cruelty. They espouse the ideology of their time, and that was one of Empire. If you don't want to read the few of these poems that mention race/ethnicity in a way that you don't like, then don't -- or better yet, how about using it as a teachable moment to discuss the ways in which views evolve over time?The majority of these poems feel timeless, in that they dwell in the land of childhood imagination. Just reading "The Land of Counterpane" sends me right back to the world of childhood and the hours and hours spent dreaming, creating, imagining. Likewise, "The Land of Nod." I know my grandfather feels just the same way, because sometimes when I tuck him in for bed at night we discuss where we plan to travel in our dreams: the Land of Counterpane or the Land of Nod. Very few things are capable of staying with a person for 80 + years; these poems are some of them.If you have children, or know any children you particularly like, I hope you will purchase a copy of this lovely book for them. It's one of those books that opens a door into another world, and what the child chooses to do once there is up to him or her -- but you can give the key to the door.

This is a beautiful book! I was so sad that the careless packaging by Amazon caused pages to be bent. I have had 3 different products arrive in bad condition this Christmas. 🥺

The poems by Robert Louis Stevenson are classics and the pictures illustrate the poems perfectly. I bought this version of A Child's Garden of Verses for the illustrations and was not disappointed. Worth the price!

I bought this because when I was a child, I had a smaller version with only a handful of the poems, but it was my favorite book. I got it for my granddaughter who is only two now, but I’m hoping eventually she will love The Swing as much as I did and still do

I had this book when I was very young. Now, I intend to share it with my younger generations. I still remember and can quote some of these poems.

Wasn’t prepared for this Amazon print off- cheap looking, cheap paper poorly printed - 100yr edition implies something special . This isn’t special - anything but . Amazon need to be open about such items and not raise expectations. The only colour was on front page and that was pretty wonky !

Only buy this if you are into google translate comedy.Here is a version of swing:How do you want to go up in a swing,Up in the air so blue?Oh, I do think it the pleasantest factorEver an infant can do!....Rivers and trees and livestock and allover the nation-state--Til I look down on the lawn inexperienced.Or how about the start of time to rise:A birdie with a yellow invoice.As I say if you are into weird comedy, then you might like this. Otherwise steer clear.I am amazed that amazon sells this.

Some really nice poems suitable for children.Contains some words which may need discussing or explaining, which leads to more learning and a love of poetry and reading.My daughter (aged 10) loves this collection of poems.

Given to my six year old granddaughter, she loves the old fashioned pictures and enjoys the images conjured up in her head by the words to each light hearted poem. The verses are whimsical and not all modern children would enjoy them. This book was enjoyed by me as a child and in turn by my own children and now grandchildren.

The wording in the kindle edition I bought was altered from the original. This really matters when it WAS rhyming poetry. Don't buy it!