A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

Jen Bryant (Author) Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

Description

2009 Caldecott Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book
A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
NCTE Notable Children's Book

When he wrote poems, he felt as free as the Passaic River as it rushed to the falls. Willie's notebooks filled up, one after another. Willie's words gave him freedom and peace, but he also knew he needed to earn a living. So he went off to medical school and became a doctor -- one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing poetry. In this picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant's engaging prose and Melissa Sweet's stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.

Product Details

Price

$18.00 $16.74

Publisher

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Publish Date

August 01, 2008

Pages

Dimensions

9.2 X 10.2 X 0.4 inches | 0.85 pounds

Language

English

Type

Hardcover

EAN/UPC

9780802853028

BISAC Categories:

Biography & Autobiography - Literary

Poetry - General

History - United States - 20th Century

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About the Author

Jen Bryant has written numerous books for young readers, including Georgia's Bones and A River ofWords, winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award.Her book A Splash of Red (Knopf)received the Schneider Family Book Award and theNCTE Orbis Pictus Award for nonfiction. She lives inPennsylvania.

Melissa Sweet has illustrated more than eighty children's books, including the Caldecott Honor books The Right Word and A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams both written by Jen Bryant. She also wrote and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails; Carmine: A Little More Red, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book; and Balloons Over Broadway, a picture book biography that was named a 2011 Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Picture Book. When she is not in her studio, Melissa can be found taking an art class, hiking with her dogs, or riding her bicycle. She lives with her family in Rockport, Maine.

Reviews

Starred Review, School Library Journal, September, 2008
"This stunning picture-book biography combines a lyrical text with wonderfully creative mixed-media illustrations in an impressive and personable homage to an extraordinary and accomplished man."

Starred review, Kirkus Reviews, July 2008
"With plain words, appropriate to the style of this master of clear and precisely worded poetry, and brilliant images, Bryant and Sweet introduce Williams and his poetry in a fresh, accessible way.... It is entirely possible that this offering will not only acquaint readers with the man and his poetry but will also inspire creativity -- Williams would no doubt be pleased."

Shelf Awareness, October 2008
"....the passion of both author and artist for their subject shine through on every page--in the pacing, in the layering of the compositions and, fittingly, in the carefully chosen details."

Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal
"This gorgeous collage of words and images reveals bits and snatches of Williams's life -- an ordinary childhood, a love of science and nature, a busy medical career, and a quiet obsession with poetry. The writer's words are incorporated into the colorful multimedia artwork, creating a lively, lyrical picture-book biography."

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