I'm not a huge poetry fan, but do enjoy reading good poetry every now and then. So, the idea of a poem a day hit me with either a strong yea or nay. This collection won me over so much so that it's going to join a spot on my bookshelf.

The cover already sparks interest with its capturing, tiger's gaze. It does a wonderful job at setting the tone for the many poems to come, and does fit the type of illustrations found through this collection. I'm going to start with the illustrations because these are a treat as much as the poems themselves. The artwork portrays a more natural direction, keeping the animals in a more realistic direction, and yet, the touch of art is still present. While carrying an overall similar style, the illustrations hold variety and hint at texture, making each one enjoyable to discover and revisit. So, this is already a lovely collection on that end.

The book is broken up into twelve months. At the beginning of each month, there's a list of the poems and authors with the corresponding date. Each two-page spread holds one to four poems, and these do hold with the illustrations as well as the dates. Every poem highlights a different animal. They come from a various authors, cover various types of poetry, and represent everything from modern poems to traditional rhymes. So, expect a bit of everything from every direction to make a diverse mix. Some of them are serious, others invoke thought, and many add a touch of humor. A few are longer, which several verses, while others are composed of only a few words. So, expect a bit of everything.

The hardbound book has a wonderful quality to it, which guarantees more than a single year's worth of use. I was afraid it might be a bit much, but the mix makes it really enjoyable to use. I can recommend this one and am adding it to my favorites of the review year list. I received a complimentary copy and this collection is so lovely that I'm adding it to my book shelf. ( )