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A dazzling, soaring compendium of illustration and verse, I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree presents a poem for every day of the year – including those that leap.

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Capturing themes of the natural world, this sumptuous volume gathers together an exciting sweep of names, including works from Ted HughesWilliam Carlos WilliamsEmily BrontëCarol Ann DuffyJohn UpdikeGrace Nichols and William Blake. From ice-dusted birch trees on a January night to an autumn glimpse of a hawk in flight, this landmark anthology sings with the power of language to capture the magic of our changing world.

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These thoughtful poems have been gathered from all around the world, and specifically chosen to suit each individual day of the year. The selections were curated by Fiona Waters, a passionate champion of children’s literature. Waters has worked with children’s books all her life as a bookseller, publisher, author and reviewer, and won the CLPE Poetry Prize in 2005. In collecting the poems for I Am the Seed, Fiona and the publisher Nosy Crow have maintained regional spellings and usage, in order to preserve the integrity of the originals.

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The captivating and playful illustrations are provided by Frann Preston-Gannon, who was previously shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2013 for The Journey Home. She has brought life and imagination to every page, enough to make children and adults alike stop in their tracks.

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"In a year of exceptional publishing, this book really stood out for its thoughtful collection of poems gathered from around the world, partnered with captivating and playful illustrations. The finished product, in both content and design, is intriguing in a way that stops children and adults alike in their tracks."

 

 Florentyna Martin, Waterstones Children’s Buyer

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“A real 'Hymn to nature.’ says Nosy Crow of this outstanding poetry anthology and I wholeheartedly agree. Stylish and distinctive but with real child appeal. A book to share, educate, entertain and to treasure.”

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Fiona Noble, The Bookseller

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Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd 
ISBN: 9780857637703 
Number of pages: 336 
Weight: 2110 g 
Dimensions: 280 x 255 x 33 mm

WInner Waterstones Gift of the Year 2018

Winner Red Big Book Awards 2019

Shortlist British Book Awards 2019

Winner Children's 0 - 8 Trade category BBDP Award 2019

Nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award 2020

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