I Am the Seed that Grew the Tree selected by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Preston-Gannon (Nosy Crow, hardback, £22.50)

I often get asked about books that would make good presents for christenings or for new babies. This is one such book, something you can return to over and over throughout a childhood and still look back fondly on later.

It provides a selection of nature poems for children, one for every day of the year. The changing of the seasons are plotted in poetry, month by month. This beautifully illustrated book starts out with winter nights and snow covered scenes (for example: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost). Then it heralds the arrival of new birds and the opening of flowers and the crawling of caterpillars. Then we can bask in a warm sun and ripe harvest before scrunching leaves in autumn.

The pictures are richly coloured and full of beguiling birds, finely formed ferns and atmospheric landscapes. The book covers a wide range of poets from Christina Rossetti to Grace Nichols and Jackie Kay.

I always find with books like these, I immediately turn to see what poem is on my birthday then have a look at birth dates of friends and family too. You can dip in for a solitary moment and then find yourself spending a quiet and rewarding half hour relaxing in the poems of nature.

This is a wonderful book to share too. Finding Magic by Eric Finney celebrates the wonders of nature and I think brilliantly sums up this book:

If you’re looking for magic

It’s easily found:

It’s everywhere,

It’s all around.

Reviewed by Philippa Morris