UNDER THE POETREE (Virgin Leaf, Rs 95) by Lakshmi Shankar presents a collection of verse meant for children. The usual platitudes about the smiling sun, bubbling stream and pouring rain are ubiquitous in these lyrics. However, one would hesitate to call these poems ‘nursery rhymes’ since many of them are presented in flat, unrhymed lines. It is perhaps for this reason that the poems never quite manage to sparkle as traditional nursery rhymes always do. If anything, the relentless emphasis on cheery children and the bountiful Mother Earth makes them somewhat banal.

Here’s a poetry book that will appeal to The poems are short and simple and based on nature and its beauty. We believe that the author has tried her best to revive children’s interest in nature by creating poetry that revolves around the beauty of natural living things.
The book has poems about the sun, colourful butterflies, raindrops, stars, birds, basanth- ritu (spring) and similar subjects. It describes the beauty and preciousness of every element of nature in a poetic manner which is fun to read.
The poems have phonic words and some of them are tongue twisters which made it fun and enjoyable. It sure is a good read.

Children love myths and fairy tales. They also find irresistible anything that piques their imagination. Perhaps, for this reason alone poems have been more successful in capturing their fancy than that of adults. It is not easy to write poetry for children. One must be gifted with extraordinary imagination, an insight into a child’s psyche and the ability to create and imaginary world that appears real to a child. A world peopled by exotic, colourful beings living in the woods and meadows or among the stars or any such out-of- the –world location with a touch of mystery to it. No wonder, children’s literature comprises riddles, fables, legends, myths, nursery rhymes and folktales.
This collection has some beautiful poems that would appeal to children in the kindergarten. Simple, lucid lyrics conjure up familiar images in charming hues - flowers, raindrops, rainbows, bees and butterflies. The cadence echoes long after one has completed reading this slim volume.