Edgar Degas little realised when he painted “Beach Scene” in the 1870s that his impression of sand, sea and sky would inspire dozens of poems by 21st-century English children. Summer Time is an attractive anthology created by pupils from Crick Primary School as part of the National Gallery’s Take One Picture scheme. Reception classes describe playing on the beach, Year 6 produce meditative haiku, with much excellent writing in between. The collection is also an example of the fundraising idea launched by the School Book scheme, which allows schools’ publications to be sold online at Amazon. Summer Time costs pound;7.95.

www.amazon.co.uk

www.theschoolbook.com