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ethib77's review against another edition
4.0
The author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end of this book are really touching. Beautifully illustrated, very interesting way to write a biography about a poet.
compass_rose's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeous book. LOVE the illustrations--perfect for the subject--poet William Carlos Williams.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know from poetry. And the only knowledge I have of William Carlos Williams as a line Hugh Blumenfeld's Mozart's Money https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4i_KrzNNjA (so I already knew he was a pediatrician, but not that he was a poet). But I like biographies. And obscure biographies as well. This one was an interesting choice, especially since I grew up in Northern New Jersey actually not all that far from where William Carlos Williams did. And yet this book fell kind of flat. There just wasn't enough poems integrated into the story. And it ended kind of abruptly. I appreciated the author's and illustrator's notes. But the poems on the end pages fell kind of flat.
misspentdays's review against another edition
The dynamic team of Jen Bryan and Melissa Sweet bring the story of poet and doctor William Carlos Williams to life.
The illustrations allow Williams's poetry to blend with Bryant's biographical text. From poetry emblazoned endpapers to colorful collages, the illustrations in this book are attention grabbing and add to the reading experience. Covering his life from a dreamy childhood to a busy adulthood as a family physician, this book conveys the importance of doing what you love—even if you pursue it as an avocation. Williams did not make his living as a professional poet, yet his work appears in text books and anthologies. This is a great inspiration for readers of all ages.
Bryant and Sweet have teamed up for a number of other award winning biographies, including recent Caldecott Honoree The Right Word and LYRC nominee Brave Girl. Their work not only wins awards, it is presented in such a way that readers are provided with rich layers to uncover on each page.
This skill holds true for A River of Words. Each page contains layers of design, many of which are his poems and notes. This helps illustrate the river of words in both his life and the book and is so well done, the reader expects to feel the layers on the page. This is a great biography for even young elementary students.
The illustrations allow Williams's poetry to blend with Bryant's biographical text. From poetry emblazoned endpapers to colorful collages, the illustrations in this book are attention grabbing and add to the reading experience. Covering his life from a dreamy childhood to a busy adulthood as a family physician, this book conveys the importance of doing what you love—even if you pursue it as an avocation. Williams did not make his living as a professional poet, yet his work appears in text books and anthologies. This is a great inspiration for readers of all ages.
Bryant and Sweet have teamed up for a number of other award winning biographies, including recent Caldecott Honoree The Right Word and LYRC nominee Brave Girl. Their work not only wins awards, it is presented in such a way that readers are provided with rich layers to uncover on each page.
This skill holds true for A River of Words. Each page contains layers of design, many of which are his poems and notes. This helps illustrate the river of words in both his life and the book and is so well done, the reader expects to feel the layers on the page. This is a great biography for even young elementary students.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a few pages to settle into the style, but I ended up thinking that the illustrations were a great compliment to the text - and the poems that are included along with the biographical information. And wow, the blue spread with the excerpt from The Descent of Winter? I want that on my wall. I've always had mixed feelings towards Williams' poems, but this is a perfect format for presenting them. I'm not sure about the audience - kids who need to read a biography for school might not find this to be the right format, but I can imagine it appealing to kids interested in poetry or collage-style art - you could spend a long time poring over the pictures and trying to figure out how they were put together.
This one took an honor at the Mock Caldecott.
This one took an honor at the Mock Caldecott.
azajacks's review against another edition
5.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
As an English major I had read William Carlos Williams's The Red Wheelbarrow, but it wasn't until I read this book that I understood why his work was so important. I loved reading it and looking at Melissa Sweet's illustrations--she is my new favorite illustrator, a spot held for many years by David Catrow's whose style could not be more different. This book also introduced me to new poem I might have to share with my students, "This Is Just to Say."
calistareads's review against another edition
3.0
I appreciate this book alot, but I think it is geared to a more patient and older audience. For kids, this book is slow and long on information. I think the artwork is fun with a collage feel to it. It looks like a poem in pictures.
I also didn’t know anything about William Carlos Williams. He was an American poet from the first part of the 20th century. He was a doctor and poet in his free time. He wrote many collections in his lifetime and is considered a big influence in American poetry. He loved nature and those rhythms are in the poems he wrote. I’m glad I got to know this story.
The nephew thought this book was totally boring. Nothing happened in his mind. He’s a doctor and writes poetry, done. He gave this 1 star. He didn’t like it. The niece thought this book was only a little interesting. It seemed long to her and slow. She gave this 2 stars, but she still isn’t interested in poetry.
I also didn’t know anything about William Carlos Williams. He was an American poet from the first part of the 20th century. He was a doctor and poet in his free time. He wrote many collections in his lifetime and is considered a big influence in American poetry. He loved nature and those rhythms are in the poems he wrote. I’m glad I got to know this story.
The nephew thought this book was totally boring. Nothing happened in his mind. He’s a doctor and writes poetry, done. He gave this 1 star. He didn’t like it. The niece thought this book was only a little interesting. It seemed long to her and slow. She gave this 2 stars, but she still isn’t interested in poetry.