If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Book Details
If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Rachel Piercey, illus. Freya Hartas. London: Magic Cat Publishing, hb, 978 1 9135 2005 2, 2021, £14.99, 40pp.
Poetry, illustrated book, 4-7 years
This book is destined to become a classic. It has a cosy, enveloping feel right from the first page when Bear asks the reader to be his friend and invites them in to see his home, the wood.
The book then takes the reader skilfully through the year and explores the changing seasons of the wood through words and pictures. The easy, engaging style of the poetry is brought to life by utterly sublime illustrations. Each doublespread is like a work of art. The intricate detail is breathtaking and it is the sort of book which you can return to again and again and always find something new.
The colours match the mood of the poetry perfectly and the poetry uses an easy style with a good range of vocabulary. With each poem and illustration, readers are encouraged to find a list of things, such as a bear telling a thrilling campfire story, a spider’s golden web or birds roosting in the trees. This enchanting book ends with ideas for children to explore the nature around them with information about different things and encouragement to go out and be creative.
This book would be wonderful within a learning environment where it could be used to inspire creative project work on the exploration of nature. A useful reference of resources for both nature and poetry is included in the form of a detailed guide.
This is an exceptional book to bring joy to children and those reading it with them.
Review by Suzie A