At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter’s camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.

These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.

I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.

So, when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear land of Story-books.

I am once again delighted by the poetry of Stevenson. And, after reading Treasure Island to my kids, I appreciate how well he captured the spirit of adventure and the heart of a child even more. “The Land of Storybooks” is not very unique in structure, but it shapes a living picture in my mind. I’ve found that the novelists who are also poets (or perhaps poets who are also novelists?) do this best. His style also reminds me of most picture books today, and perhaps that is what leads me to picture this poem with such clarity. This poem, a little delight unto itself, captures what is so wonderful about reading books to children. Books enliven the imagination, beckon our hearts to discovery, and cultivate an adventurous spirit. Books shape us into who we will become. Reading this poem reminded me of the forts my brother and I made as children, and of sneaking out at night to read books together. It also encourages me to continue to read many and varied books to my children. Then perhaps they too will make a forest track around our living room, or create an imaginative landscape of blocks and blankets. Perhaps they will travel by horseback or by spaceship. But whatever their play, I hope it will be sparked from the Land of Storybooks, and I hope I can join them there.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Madelyn Rose Craig