Classic poems, made welcoming for children.
Twenty Autumns and Twenty Summers introduce children ages 4–8 to classic poetry: the poems in their original wording, a full-page illustration for every one, and a friendly explanation in plain words.
- 20 poems per book
- Ages 4–8
- Illustrated
- Paperback
Buy Twenty Autumns on Amazon → Buy Twenty Summers on Amazon →
For HalloweenTwenty Autumns is a gentle gift for ages 4–8, with nothing frightening in it. See the pumpkin poem →
Two companion collections
A gentle Halloween gift
Twenty Autumns follows the fall from its first golden mornings to Thanksgiving. Inside is the pumpkin poem: James Whitcomb Riley’s When the Frost is on the Punkin, with frost on the pumpkins, apples heaped in the cellar and a rooster on the fence — plus a full-page illustration and a page that explains the old farm words.
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock…James Whitcomb Riley, 1882 · Poem 14 of 20
Made for ages 4–8, with nothing frightening in it — a book for the boo basket that keeps going after October 31, all the way to Thanksgiving.
A simple way to meet classic poetry
Each poem is presented in three steps, giving children space to hear the original words, explore the illustration, and understand what the poem is saying.
Read it aloud
The original classic verse, carefully set on the page and short enough to share before bed.
Look together
A full-page illustration gives children something to notice, explore and talk about.
Understand it
“In plain words,” “What to notice” and “Words to know” make older language easier to approach.
Two seasons. Forty classic poems.
Two companion volumes created for reading aloud, looking closely and discovering poetry together.
Twenty Autumns
Twenty classic fall poems by Dickinson, Dunbar, Longfellow, Riley, Stevenson, Rossetti and others — each paired with a full-page illustration and a friendly explanation in plain words.
- Poems 20
- Poets 16
- Sections 5
- Pages 94
Twenty Summers
Twenty classic summer poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Edward Lear and Eugene Field — each illustrated and explained for young readers.
- Poems 20
- Poets 5
- Themes 5
- Ages 4–8
Inside the books
A full-page watercolor illustration for every poem — calm, uncluttered, and made to be looked at slowly.
Illustrations from Twenty Autumns and Twenty Summers
Made for reading together
Read aloud
The poems are printed in their original form, laid out so a grown-up can read them straight off the page.
Understand without a poetry lesson
A plain-words explanation follows every poem, so older language never becomes a barrier.
Notice more
Each companion page points out one idea or detail worth noticing — a natural way into talking about the poem.
Meet unfamiliar words
“Words to know” gives a short glossary wherever older vocabulary needs a hand.
What readers are saying
“The poems are well written and I love the plain words explanations, the deeper meaning exploration and the definitions of key words that are included. Extremely informative and a wonderful way to introduce children to poetry!”Lindsey M · Amazon review of Twenty Autumns
“They make you feel like you’re really there, in the heart of Autumn!”Troy West · Amazon review of Twenty Autumns
“There’s an explanation for the poems at the end of every one, so you can discuss it with your child and really get them involved.”Daniel W. · Amazon review of Twenty Summers
Twenty Autumns reviews on Amazon → Twenty Summers reviews on Amazon →
What children will read
Forty poems in all, grouped into five short sections per book so a collection can be read a little at a time.
Twenty Autumns
- Emily Dickinson
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- James Whitcomb Riley
- Helen Hunt Jackson
- Robert Louis Stevenson
- and ten more
Twenty Summers
- Robert Louis Stevenson
- Christina Rossetti
- Emily Dickinson
- Edward Lear
- Eugene Field
Classic poems, carefully presented
The Autumn collection identifies the historical edition used for each of its poems, collates every text against a second source, and includes source notes and short poet biographies at the back. Original spelling and dialect are kept as the poets wrote them, rather than quietly modernised.
Look closely for familiar friends
Lumi, Lia, Rio, Noa and Mossy appear throughout the illustrations, giving returning Cozy Pebble readers familiar faces to discover along the way — and Twenty Autumns introduces two new friends, Teo and Nyla.
Twenty classic poems, one season at a time.
A full-page illustration for every poem, and a friendly explanation in plain words.