All The Year Round
by John Yeoman, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Interest age: 4 to 7
Reading age: 5+
Published by Andersen Press, 2017
About this book
With Quentin Blake's instantly recognisable illustrations, this picture book contains 12 funny poems by writer John Yeoman: one for each month of the year.
The poems are less about particular focus-points of the seasons and more about entertaining activities best suited to every month. Some of these are more easy to predict – spring cleaning in April, a picnic in July. Others are unexpected and inspired: pick up a musical instrument in March to chase the winter cobwebs away! Settle down with a good book in November, when the days start to get dark. By the time you get to December, the final suggestion will leave a smile (of agreement) on your face...
This is a really lovely book to dip into throughout the year, especially whenever you hear the desperate shrieks of 'I'm bored!'. Even more fun to return to the book every year and repeat those activites with the comforting sheen of routine. It's also a sweet way to get your child to think about the passage of time and how a year fills up.
Of course, All The Year Round is also very funny, with lots of gentle humour and earthy illustrations from Quentin Blake that really capture the fizz and farce of close family life.
About the author
More books like this
-
A First Book of Bugs
by Simon Mole, illustrated by Adam Ming
4 to 9 years
-
The Library Book
by Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Ian Morris
4 to 9 years
-
Stop That Dinosaur!
by Alex English, illustrated by Ben Cort
4 to 9 years
-
It's Only Stanley
by Jon Agee
2 to 9 years
Lists of recommended reads
-
Our favourite poetry books (younger children)
From re-invented fairy tales to classics from Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, here are some poetry books your child is sure to love and want to read out loud.