Days Like This

This book contains awesome writing-- poetry that engages even adults who don't love poetry, but love to share special reading moments with children. It appeals to boys and girls (a good thing, since much children's poetry is illustrated with foofy, flowery art... which I do like, as well). My 3-year-old-daughter knows them all. We often recall lines from the poems when we're out in the world, making for fun shared moments and common ground between us. My husband enjoys reading it to her, too. The illustrations set the perfect tone. I have given this as a gift to children who's parents later thanked me for this jewel. Thank YOU, Simon James, for creating a treasure for our family.

"Days Like This" is the perfect introduction to poetry for a small child. The sketchy, squiggly illustrations are just as captivating as the simple, sweet poems that accompany them. Each illustration tells a story by itself--a refreshing story of the wide, open world--while the poems focus the reader (or listener) to consider a single aspect of that world. The text and the pictures worked so beautifully together that I'm not sure if I can say which was illustrating which. It's a symbiosis I've never experienced in a book of poetry before, but let me assure you, it is thoroughly enjoyable!

This lovely picture book of small poems captivated my youngson. Simon James' pen and watercolor illustrations beautifully setoff a collection of whimsical verse that spans the four seasons. "The Wind came running over the sand, it caught and held me by the hand."