A Child's Garden of Verses

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Alice Provensen (Illustrator), Martin Provensen (Illustrator)

Scottish novelist, poet and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson dedicated A Child's Garden ofVerses to Alison Cunningham, the nurse of his early childhood years in Edinburgh—a time whose essence he strove to recapture in the sixty-four poems of this long-treasured collection. Here, in "The Land of Counterpane" and "The Land of Nod," and in such delightful lyrics as "My Bed Is a Boat," "Autumn Fires" and "Windy Nights," are rhymes and images children and their parents have cherished together since A Child's Garden of Verses was first published in 1885.
Alternately humorous and whimsical, grave and fearful, courageous and determined, the poems touchingly voice the many moods and currents of a child's imaginings. All sixty-four poems are reprinted in this edition in large, easy-to-read type. New illustrations by Thea Kliros capture the magical spirit of this beloved classic of children's literature.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Classics, 19th Century

76 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 1999

About the author

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.

Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my very first “real” poetry book. Of course many books for young kids have text that is a form of poetry. But this book, first published in 1885, is a true book of poems aimed at kids. I’ve always loved it and therefore have always enjoyed poetry. I’m sure being introduced to this book at a very young age influenced my tendency to seek out other poets and poems to read throughout my childhood and adolescence. My original copy was lost; the copy I now own I bought as a replacement when I was about 12. The “decorations” in my edition are by Eve Garnett.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a OK book. I liked how all of it rhymed but it was a bit boring. I definitely think a series of unfortunate events was way better!!!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does not hold all the poems, but it has most of the great favorites. I wanted to get it into goodreads because the illustrations, by my long-deceased friends the Provensens, are so much fun. Sad to say, no one had posted it before. The illustrations are a different style from those of Jessie Willcox Smith or Tasha Tudor. The book we have belonged to our daughter, now in her 40s and survived plenty of playroom handling. The Willcox Smith edition, a loved classic, is not so robust a volume, would be easier to break or damage by a spill.

[molliekay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before republishing this book, someone should have sat down and looked at the illustrations. They're unbelievably racist and I'd be horrified to give this to any family. The only black characters in the book are in servant status or are being made fun of. If I were buying a version for my library, I'd pass on this one and look for an updated edition.

[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became familiar with this book when my Dad read me a copy of his.
These poems are perfect for children and adults alike because they inspire your imagination. When you read the poems you actually get pictures in your head. There are some that I can see when I'm walking down the street ( The Swing) when I see kids swinging it reminds me of myself swinging, pushing my sons and their friends on the swing, and the sights you could see as you asked to go higher and higher. "How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh I do think It it pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!"
Then there's the poem (Bed in Summer) " in winter I get up at night And dress by yeiiow candlelight. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day". I remember myself being called in from playing outside, when it was still light out, and being told it was time to get ready for bed. It was still light out, and kids were still outside playing...why did I have to come in and go to bed? I remember watching outside and seeing everything going on. Even as an adult it's hard to come in when it's still light outside.
Robert Louis Stevenson has been long-loved as a poet. The illustrations in this book are well-done. I highly recommend all of the poems to adults and children.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reissued version of a collection of 35 poems written by Robert Louis Stevenson back in 1885 and published in 1951 may remind older readers of some of the poems they loved when they were young. I certainly remember reading and trying to understand "My Shadow," "Time to Rise," and "The Land of Nod" when I was a little one. Every family should have this book in its collection so youngsters and adults can choose their favorite ones to memorize and share throughout the day. The rhyming lines make them all fun to say, and Stevenson has captured many of the joys of childhood perfectly here. The illustrations work well here to complement the poem and send readers' imaginations soaring. While all the poems don't work the same charms on me now as they did when I was younger, they still brought back to mind some idyllic times when I was growing up in the country in East Tennessee.
Good for the publisher for bringing this collection back for the next generation of readers.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How do you like to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue . . . “ My mother must have read these poems to us when I was a child, because I could practically hear her voice again as I read through them. (On the other hand, I hear my Dad’s voice in the more gruesome stories of Poe.) There’s always magic in poems and stories that are read aloud to children, and I know that today’s kids have their favorites (which harried parents are coaxed into reading to them over and over again), but many of them are downright idiotic. I know children who can quote The Lorax or Green Eggs and Ham, but are these stories and poems going to enrich their lives when they’re adults? Will they give them an ear for good poetry, or good literature? I don’t know the answer to that one, but I really appreciate what A Child’s Garden of Verses added to my childhood, and I’m really grateful that I heard these poems read aloud.

[Brandon Current · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skip

There are a lot of great poetry anthologies for kids. This one can be passed without missing much. Though there are a couple gems in it, most are sentimental rather than speaking to the range of childhood. The rhyme structure is really the main problem. No creativity. No complexity. No beauty. Taken all together it is monotonous. Children should be exposed to all the beauty of poetic range.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best poems ever.
My Nana bought this for me when I was three. She bought it during a trip to England.
Some of my favorites
My Shadow
The Land of Counterpane
Bed in Summer
Windy Nights
The Swing
And
Time to Rise

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume of poetry didn't really capture Jack's imagination, so towards the end it was becoming a bit of a chore. Still, it was fun encouraging him to look up archaic words like "counterpane" and "looking glass".

[Wil Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book in this time of craziness

The illustrations are wonderful. The childlike nature of the poetry helps us on the way through the craziness that the world seems to have become. No politics here just hopes and dreams. It is great way to fight off the negativity of the day.

[Chelsea Szczyrbak]

Completed 10/13/25

[Meredith Broadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this aloud to my kids (kindergarten age and preschool). We all enjoyed it. We've been in the habit of reading one at a time (ideally each day, but in reality it took months to finish) but this week my 4yo son especially kept asking for more. We finished this morning after breakfast, and they immediately wanted to know when our next poetry book would arrive (I have When We Were Very Young on order).

I have four copies of these poems, but this edition is my absolute favorite. The artwork by Alice and Martin Provensen is lovely and enhances the verses. I was surprised by my decrease in interest when we read from other editions with different illustrators. My friend picked it up at a thrift store when my daughter was born, and I will always be grateful. It's not in great condition but it is staying on the shelf!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the Little Golden Books edition of this when I was very young, and it's one of the few books from my childhood that gives me goosebumps to remember it. I loved pouring over the warm and beautifully detailed Eloise Wilkin illustrations. She created the world that these poems will always live in, in my mind.

(edit - Here is the actual edition we owned: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60...)

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reason Robert Louis Stevenson is so well-remembered. He had a knack for finding the right word in the right place, and his poems about childhood always hit the right spot.

The illustrations in this book complement the rhymes perfectly.

Please note that this edition is oversized, and it may be difficult to put on your bookshelf.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely and I enjoyed reading a poem or two each day with my 6 year old.
"The Whole Duty of Children"
A child should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able.

I think my favorite was "The Lan of Counterpane" which is about a sick child playing with his toys in bed. Julia couldn't pick a favorite.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Golden Books strike again. Bonners' illustrations are a perfect compliment to Stevenson's cheeky poems. All the surrealism of Dali but none of the terror; all the whimsy of Maxfield Parrish and the drama of Wyeth. I was charmed, through and through.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic poetry that stands up to the test of time. Poems still as relevant today for children as they were when Stevenson first penned them. Lovely and appropriate illustrations by the Caldecott-award winning Alice and Martin Provensen.

[Blackbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother read poems from this book to me every night until I was about 10. By then I could read them to her. I still have so many of these poems memorized.

[Kiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this as a small child and I recall loving it. The pictures were amazing.

[Geoffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world is so full of wonderful things,
I'm sure we should all be happy as kings.

Received this as a gift on Christmas, 1964 and I still have it. That says it all, doesn't it?