1978년 ≪아동문예≫를 통해 추천 완료하고, 한국아동문학상, 경남아동문학상, 한정동아동문학상, 한국아동문예대상, 남명아동문학특별상, 천등아동문학상 등을 받은 시인 이창규의 대표작 선집이다. 이 책에는 ＜마음 태우는 나무＞, ＜할머니 손＞ 등 시인이 가려 뽑은 대표 동시 100여 편이 수록되어 있다. 지식을만드는지식 ‘한국동시문학선집’은 대한민국을 대표하는 111명의 동시인과 시공을 초월해 명작으로 살아남을 그들의 대표작 선집이다. 지식을만드는지식과 한국아동문학연구센터 공동 기획으로 4인의 기획위원이 작가를 선정했다. 작가가 직접 자신의 대표작을 고르고 자기소개를 썼다. 깊은 시선으로 그려진 작가 초상화가 곁들여졌다. 삽화를 없애고 텍스트만 제시, 전 연령층이 즐기는 동심의 문학이라는 동시의 본질을 추구했다. 작고 작가의 선집은 편저자가 작품을 선정하고 작가 소개를 집필했으며, 초판본의 표기를 살렸다.

시인의 말 ·····················xv 1부 무지개다리 모래 꽃 ······················3 목련화 ·······················5 무지개 ·······················6 미술 시간 ·····················8 미안 미안해 ····················10 산나물 보따리 ···················11 산들바람 ·····················12 산의 키 ······················13 세탁기 ······················14 수평선 ······················15 아파트 열쇠 ····················16 아픈 자국 ·····················17 어머니의 강 ····················18 어머니의 꽃밭 ···················19 육교 위에서 ····················20 일기 예보 판 ···················21 잠자는 전화기 ···················23 잠자리 ······················24 풀벌레 소리 ····················25 하얀 찔레꽃 ····················26 2부 해처럼 나무처럼 가족이라는 나무 ··················29 겨울나무 ·····················30 꽃나무 ······················31 꽃씨의 여행 ····················33 꽃집 아저씨 ····················35 나무도 사람처럼 ··················37 나무의 눈 ·····················38 나뭇잎 편지 ····················39 닮고 싶다 ·····················40 덤으로 준다 ····················41 데려가 주세요 ···················42 돌부처 ······················43 든든한 뿌리 ····················44 마음 태우는 나무 ·················45 물고기 ······················46 새로 난 길 ····················47 숨바꼭질 ·····················49 하늘 꽃 ······················50 할머니 손 ·····················51 흙 문 ·······················52 3부 별보다 고운 들꽃 감꽃 목걸이 ····················55 꽃 대궐 ······················56 꽃씨 한 알 ····················57 나팔꽃 ······················59 덩굴장미 ·····················60 돼지감자 ·····················62 마음속에 피는 꽃 ·················64 며느리밥풀꽃 ···················65 바윗덩이에서 ···················66 벚꽃 잔치 ·····················67 본보이기 ·····················68 봄꽃 편지 ·····················69 봉선화 씨앗 ····················71 봉숭아 꽃 ·····················72 수목원 견학 ····················73 수박 꽃 ······················75 아카시아 꽃 ····················76 우리 어머니 꽃 ··················77 호박꽃 ······················78 흙의 소원 ·····················79 4부 꽃다지 목걸이 새싹 ·······················83 낙동강 ······················84 물방울 심술 ····················86 바다의 소원 ····················88 반딧불이 ·····················89 시장바구니 ····················90 싫어하지 않아요 ··················91 아파트 이름 ····················92 어버이날은 ····················93 어시장 부둣가 ···················94 왕따 우산 ·····················96 우리 할머니 ····················97 은행나무 ·····················98 이상한 꽃 이름 ··················100 일기장 달력 ···················102 작은 구멍 하나가 ················104 장난하는 바람 ··················106 지팡이 ······················107 하회마을에 가면 ·················108 후회하는 바람 ··················109 5부 열두 달 크는 나무 똑같은 마음 ···················113 연등 ·······················114 갯바위 ······················115 거짓말을 몰라요 ·················116 게의 대화 ····················117 관심 ·······················119 궂은일은 내가 ··················120 나이 먹는 고추 ··················122 물새 발자국 ···················124 사이좋은 짝지 ··················125 색종이 공작 ···················126 서운하겠다 ····················128 순한 바람 ····················129 어머니 반짇고리 ·················130 5월은 이원수의 달 ················131 우리 어머니 ···················133 장독 항아리 ···················134 질그릇 ······················135 항아리 ······················136 해님의 마음 ···················127 이창규는 ·····················139 지은이 연보 ···················147

마음 태우는 나무 마당 귀퉁이에 우뚝 서서 시래기 한 접 걸치고 섰다. 어머니는 거기에 마늘 한 줄 걸고, 아버지는 거기에 갈쿠리 걸고 동생은 가오리연 하나 걸어 놓고 마음 태운다. 할머니 손 할머니 다독여 주시는 목수건 찬 바람 얼씬 못 하고 돈 한 닢 쥐여 주시는 할머니 손 잊히지 않는다. 한 숟갈 더 먹으라고 덥석 집어 주시는 나물 한 주먹 밥맛이 감돌고 있다. 찬 손 꼬옥 잡아 주시는 할머니 손 가에 주름진 미소가 얼음같이 녹는 것 같다.