The Lost Words: The bestselling, illustrated nature book – an enchanting read for all ages

This book was a response to some words, from the world of nature, being dropped from the children's dictionary, to make room for words about technology. So, children may never learn these words - oak, dandelion, adder etc - and so, their world could be shaped by what has been forgotten. Diminished, made poorer. This book is a response to this. The artist & writer have collaborated to show us the world of magic that these words encompass. Both the words & illustrations are of an unusually high level, it is truly beautiful, & can enchant any child or adult. It is a call to speak these words aloud, to "re-mind" ourselves of what we give our attention to, & make the choice to remember what could have been sneakily taken away from our consciousness. I have shown my copy to a number of friends, who have all rushed out to get their own, its that inspiring ! What I also find inspiring is that two thirds of all primary schools have been given a copy, so the great remembering is beginning.A great Christmas present for any artist or wordsmith!

Saw the exhibition for this book in a museum in Bournemouth when I was on holiday, and loved it. The illustrations were superb and the poems so accurately described the subjects. Also appreciated the ethos, being a lover of nature and a former teacher I am only too aware of how few children ever take a walk in the countryside, and how even fewer can recognise and name even common birds and plants.The book is a wonderful reminder of the exhibition, and does not disappoint. It is a book to treasure and pass on to future generations.

I bought this book to read with my 5 year old daughter, based on the Amazon recommended reading age of 5-7 years. The book is beautifully written and has stunning pictures: it is truly something to be cherished.My daughter has found interest in the pictures but I want to make it clear for other parents that the written text is far beyond the reading level and comprehension of a 5-7 year old. I honestly think that the content would be challenging to some (many?) teenagers or even adults!I read the poems to my daughter and then I carefully explain what they mean. This is absolutely fine and something I greatly enjoy but, based on the 5-7 recommended reading age, I had expected something which my child would be able to read.

Like other reviewers I heard about this book on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. I ordered it immediately. I was stunned at the size of it when I arrived. It really is big. Big and very beautiful too. Magical is probably the word that sums it up best. Not since Masquerade was published many years ago have I been so entranced by a book. I love that each word has a sort of double spread puzzle page where you try and find the letters, then there is the spell/poem itself with a gorgeous full page illustration and then another double spread of the flower or animal.Don’t take my word for it. Just buy it and treasure it. Books like this rarely come along. I see since I paid £15 for it just over a week ago when it had four reviews that it’s now a bestseller and even better, the price has dropped even further. What are you waiting for? I think I have made a further three sales just showing it to my friends.

This is, as others have said before, a beautiful book. Mixing both arts of poetry and painting in a most magical way. I bought it for myself, the children at my primary school and possible future grandchildren! When I first opened the amazon package, infact as soon as I got in from work , I gasped with sheer delight. The book is 15 inch x 10.5 inches and the pages are made from paper of a good weight and fine quality. The weave of text and art, I feel, is what really makes it. There is a poignant introduction then the flora and fauna, chosen from acorn through to wren, have 3 double pages for each. Having spent a good part of my evening pouring over each delicious page I tucked it under my arm and took it to school.Buy this book for yourself, your school and children (friends and grandchildren). Some of the royalties go to a good charity too. Quite simply I love it!

Great book with lovely illustrations.

Utterly exquisite.This book has taken my breathe away.I love the poetry, I love the art work.I love the size of the book. It invites you to dive in and be part of it.It is a book for everyone!Well done to the authors and illustrators.Real food for the soul.

Oh what a wonderful book! One I shall be reading to my grand-children for as long as I can. It is such a pity that the words have been removed from a well known children's dictionary, but this Writer and Illustrator have brought the words back to life for children to know. Bluebell, dandelion, raven, imagine this one being removed; conker! I ask you what kid doesn't love conkers, just to look at, let alone play with? Bramble, wren, starling (what about the murmurings they do?) and many more. I was aghast at the loss of these words, these beautiful words of Nature, these wonderous beings and plants that I grew up with, that my mother used to take me to places to find and watch. A wood of bluebells, sadly those I looked at have all gone now, sitting quietly watching and listening to the birds, playing with the buttercups, Do you like Butter? Magpies and the chant that goes along with them... Just so sad. BUT this book brings them all back, in verse, paintings and 'Spells' read aloud to children's wondering ears, they will allow the things to relive for at least another generation. I do hope so. Such good value as well the hardback book is large and easy to balance on a knee while reading to those eager little ones... I recommend this book a million %!

I ordered this just for me, and I'm even more excited about it now I have it. Its larger and heavier than I thought, with beautifully done art. The poems manage to be clever, entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking. Not a common combination. I absolutely love the focus on words. Beautiful use of the sounds and the sights of words. Definitely accomplishes its goal of making you fall in love with lost words! And not just for children!

"Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic" is a dialogue which has stayed with me from Harry Potter. 'The Lost Words' by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris, is a collection of words which the authors eloquently remind us of, so that they don't vanish from our language, hence vanish completely. It is a delightful heap of acrostic poems interspersed with paintings of raw wilderness. It is a book which, adults and children alike, can read through in half an hour and walk away with a fresh pair of eyes and a gladdened heart.The authors rightly call it a 'spell book'. Each poem and painting captures and conveys the spirit of a certain element of the natural world. 'Acorn' and 'Lark' would be my favorites.The book also prompts one to create one's own spell book, of disappearing words in one's own landscape. How many trees can most children name today? Or even adults for that matter? How many birds from their neighborhood? Possibly the words begin vanishing with the trees but I also believe that the converse can happen. Words and names are doorways to relationships. With nature. Maybe our cognizance of its elements will protect it, let it be, or be the beginning of a deeper relationship. Or rather a discovery of one with all life around.The Lost Words communicates this. 'An Explorer's guide to The Lost Words' by Eva John, which is freely downloadable, guides the enthusiastic teacher on how to use this book to engage children, although some of the activities/exercises I found were valuable for me as well. It also sparks off many ideas as to how the outdoors and wilderness can be interestingly integrated into the classroom.

This book is even better than the Amazon website preview shows. It's larger than I expected, with lovely, full page watercolor illustrations. The verse brilliantly evokes the essence of nature. The rhythm and choice of words is delightful. It's "poetry", but not "stuffy". Wish I had a child with which to share this. I'm definitely enjoying it. This is a feel-good book!The shipment was well packaged and arrived 2 weeks earlier than promised.

Finally an illustration book with an appropriate size to enjoy all the ilustrations... very well accompanied by the lyrics (in the sense of a song) by Robert McFarlane. Pure joy!

Absolutely gorgeous. I love the illustrations and the compact nature of the book- perfect for next to the bed and winding down