The Orchard Book Of Poems - Softcover

What The Orchard Book aims to do is re-introduce poetry into our verse-deprived lives. "Pick a poem, any poem, and read it to yourself," she urges. "If you like it, try reading it aloud. If it sounds good, learn it by heart. It'll stay in your heart and you can use that poem whenever you need it." By including everyone from Anon to Yeats, including the Beatles, John Clare, Dylan Thomas, Walt Whitman, and lesser knowns like the wonderful Meryn Peake, Mitchell makes it easy for children young and old to track down cherished poems and discover new favourites as well. A smattering of line drawings by the talented Chloe Cheese lends enticing warmth to this most cosy collection. "Poetry is your mind dancing / To the drumbeat of your heart," Mitchell writes. The poems she's chosen more than prove this true. --Martha Silano

Adrian Mitchell was born in London and studied at Oxford University where he passed most of his time learning to write poems. After leaving University, Adrian spent several years as a journalist and his great claim to fame is that he was the first reporter on a national paper to interview the Beatles.

Adrian became a full-time writer of plays, stories and poems and was regarded as one of the country's finest poets and playwrights. He was also a regular performer for adults and children and gave over a thousand poetry readings throughout Britain, Europe, USA, Africa and Asia.

Adrian's plays included The White Deer, The Wild Animal Song Contest, Mowgli's Jungle, The Snow Queen and The Pied Piper for children, and for adults, Tyger (The National Theatre) and Man Friday. Adrian's version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company for whom he also adapted Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass for the stage. He also wrote three Beatrix Potter plays which were staged with great success by The Unicorn Theatre for Children - Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Peter Rabbit and His Friends.

Adrian passed away in December 2008 and is survived by his wife, who runs the bookshop Ripping Yarns, in Highgate.

www.adrianmitchell.co.uk