Book Club: Outside In

Outside In by Daniel Thompson is our fourth book in the Blue Peter Book Club for 2026 and it’s all about discovering the wonders of nature. Packed with over 50 beautifully written and illustrated poems, this collection is sure to inspire you to head outdoors and see the natural world in a whole new way.

Joel and the Book Clubbers went to a park near Manchester to get involved with a pond health check. They took some samples of water from the pond to see how healthy the wildlife within it was, finding lots of cool creatures like tadpoles, midges, mayfly and damsel fly.

It was the perfect place to review a book that encourages readers to slow down, look closely and connect with nature. Joel chatted with the Book Clubbers to find out how Outside In made them feel and what they thought about poetry.

So, what did they think of the book?

"Before, I thought poems are not that great, not my type... But when I read it, it made me very, very happy!"

"I really liked the illustration and the different animals within it."

"Now whenever I go outside I always think what I can find in nature, what I can do, and just spend my time outdoors!"

"If someone likes nature and likes to spend their time outside, they should read this book and be calm."

Does that sound great to you? Then make sure you pick up this book and find a lovely spot outside to enjoy the nature around you.

Outside In is the ultimate book for nature fans. This beautifully illustrated collection of 50 poems will spark a love of nature, bring calm and happiness as it invites you to let the outside in.

We thought a poem would be the perfect way to describe this book…

So, head outside and sit beneath your favourite tree,

Open this book, you're sure to smile with glee,

With poems about wildlife and weather,

you'll even think jumping in muddy puddles is clever,

We're all here for seasons and the senses,

So why not bring a friend, read aloud, there is no consequences!

How did we do? Let us know in the comments below and write your own poem review of Outside In.

Discover the ins and outs of Outside In with BBC Bitesize.

You'll learn all about rhyming patterns and the different ways that authors and poets write their work. 

Discover the wonderful whimsy of alliteration, a writing style that can be used to make poems sound more musical and memorable. 

Once you're done reading, you can even put what you've learnt to the test with the Bitesize quiz all about poetry, rhyming and alliteration.

The excitement doesn't stop with The Cosmic Diary of a Future Space Explorer, keep watching Blue Peter to join the Book Club as we'll also be reading lots more incredible books ranging from nature poetry to fantastic fiction!

You can look forward to:

If you loved reading Outside In, or just love reading in general, the Blue Peter Book Club is the place for you!

Hang out with other book fans and discuss your favourite stories. Share your thoughts on the latest Book Club book, and maybe even your Blue Peter Book badge, too!

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