My Heart Was a Tree

My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.

-Ted Hughes

Inspired by the bluebell woods behind his house, the story of Jean Giono (the man who planted trees) and the poem the above quote is taken from, ‘My Own True Family’, this book is a love song to trees.

Yuval’s glorious illustrations make the book visually stunning, a fitting tribute to the lush richness of trees and the abundant life which they support. From the insect and leaf strewn end papers and hard cover under hidden beneath the dust jacket to the , each page is beautifully decorated.

The collection contains both stories and poems, some taking the viewpoint of the trees themselves, some about the animals who live in and around them and some about the people who rely on their bounty. One of my favourites, ‘I Was There’ is written as if by an olive tree which witnesses Penelope, wife of Odysseus, longing for her husband, his return and then the writing of the poem by Homer. Another, ‘A Whisper of Blossom’, is accompanied by a note about van Gogh’s painting ‘Almond Blossom’, giving the reader some context for the poem. ‘The Singing Tree’, having survived bombing, sees life return once more, a symbol of hope and renewal.

The poems and stories in this collection are ideal for sharing, exploring and enjoying, perfect for school and home alike. It is a treasure trove of treats, celebrating the majesty and beauty of trees.

My Heart was a Tree: Poems and Stories to Celebrate Trees

Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Yuval Zommer

Two Hoots ISBN: 978-1529094794

Chipping Norton Literary Festival: The Big Book of Nature Art

On Saturday, I went to the Chipping Norton Literary Festival and the Cotswolds town looked lovely in the sunshine. Yuval Zommer was painting the window of Jaffe and Neale, the bookshop, to celebrate 10 years of the festival, creating a bright, beautiful display.

His new book, ‘The Big Book of Nature Art’, is the latest in his ‘Big Book of…’ series and his event later in the day was to celebrate this. As everyone was arriving and settling, Yuval circulated amongst the audience, chatting to the children. He showed them copies of his books- and there were many cries of ‘I’ve got that one…’ from the children- involving them in reading the titles and holding books for him as he was talking. His patience and desire to involve everyone was lovely!

‘The Big Book of Nature Art’ is packed with 22 craft projects which can be completed in four steps. Inspired by nature, each project combines using natural objects with recycled materials which are easily found at home to prove that ‘each child is a nature artist’! From cardboard cacti to flying fish, from sneaky snakes to forest owls, the book offers a wonderful range of projects to inspire and engage. Advice and tips are given at the end of the book and there are 15 ants, hiding throughout the pages, to find.

Yuval explained that everyone was going to make an owl, using a paper cup for the body and leaves for ears. The children loved it- and were so creative! When they had finished, Yuval admired each one in turn and every child ‘won’ a sticker. It was such a lovely session, showing just what can be made with found objects- and a little imagination!

The Big Book of Nature Art Yuval Zommer

Thames and Hudson ISBN: 978-0500652930

The Lights that Dance in the Night

Telling the story of the Northern Lights as they weave their magic across the Artic skies, ‘The Lights that Dance in the Night’ is the perfect story for winter evenings. Although the book’s blurb calls it a ‘wonderfully festive picture book’, it brings light and joy to the long, dark January nights!

The lyrical, descriptive text is a joy to read aloud as it describes the joyous dance of the lights across the sky, uniting all below in wonder and delight as they ‘sashay’ and ‘sway’ in the sky above. As ever with Yuval’s books, the illustrations are stunning; full of colour and detail, they are truly captivating. The cover is a particular joy with touches of sparkle and a textured, tactile surface.

However, as well as being a beautiful story in its own right, canny teachers will instantly recognise the many ways in which this book could be used to enhance other curriculum areas. The ‘purpose of study’ section of the Geography National Curriculum opens with the statement: A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and this ‘The Lights that Dance in the Night’ certainly does that! This is one of those stories which sparks endless questions and lines of enquiry for children of all ages, not only about the formation of the lights themselves, but also the animals and people who inhabit this region.

Storytellers wove our lights

into tales for long, dark nights.

A constant source of wonder and fascination across the years, the northern lights not only feature in traditional tales of the people indigenous to northern lands, but also feature in stories told more recently, like ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’ by Michelle Paver. Yuval’s story could be used to inspire writing poetry or descriptive writing about the lights and his illustrations are sure to tempt children to explore a variety of art techniques.

Sitting perfectly with Yuval’s other books, ‘A Thing Called Snow’ and ‘The Tree That’s Meant to Be’, ‘The Lights that Dance in the Night’ is sure to become a firm favourite.

The Lights that Dance in the Night Yuval Zommer

Oxford University Press ISBN: 978-0192769848