Troika Books to publish poetry from Zaro Weil

Troika Books will publish When Poems Fall From the Sky, a new poetry anthology by Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award-winner Zaro Weil in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The publisher holds world rights to the anthology, which was an in-house project devised and created with Weil. Publication is slated for June 2021, with full colour illustrations throughout by Junli Song.

The synopsis reads: "At its heart this new anthology of poems, raps, rhymes, haiku and little plays is a tender and thoughtful love-letter to earth, promising children a riot of imagination, humour and joy. In exquisitely illustrated full-colour pages trees, birds, animals, rivers, flowers, mountains and insects each share their own magical stories. And the stories they tell, the 'poems' that fall from the sky, subtly and powerfully illuminate our hope and collective role as guardians of our earth."

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will sell When Poems Fall From the Sky through its shops and website and will support with promotion of the title.

Roy Johnson, commercial director at Troika Books said: "Troika is delighted to be involved in the publishing of this wonderful book and a special thanks to RBK for all their help and support in making this book happen."

Weil commented: "It has been an incomparable thrill to write this poetry book in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Not only because, like the rest of the world, I stand in awe of Kew's scientific exploration and guardianship of the natural world, but because I believe that science and poetry are simply meant for each other and that our particularly human appreciation of the natural world is, at heart, poetic. Writing this book has given me the opportunity to share my personal view of nature through the prism of the extraordinary, enchanted and thoroughly magical Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew."

Gina Fullerlove, head of publishing at Kew said: "We are delighted to be associated with this beautiful little book inspired by our gardens. Connecting with and understanding nature is ever more important in these times and this anthology provides an enchanting way for children and adults to do just this."

Weil and Song also worked together on the poetry anthology Cherry Moon, also published by Troika in 2019, which won the CLiPPA award in 2020.