Emily Writes: Emily Dickinson and Her Poetic Beginnings

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Description

Perhaps, she thinks, I'll make a poem. Emily smiles. The garden makes her feel all sunny, like a poet. As a young girl, Emily Dickinson loved to scribble curlicues and circles, imagine new rhymes, and connect with the bountiful flowers in her spring garden. The sounds, sights, and smells of home swirled through her mind and Emily began to explore writing and rhyming her feelings. She thinks about the real and the unreal. Perhaps poems are the in-between. This thoughtful spotlight on Emily's early experimentation with poetry as a child offers a unique window into one of the world's most famous and influential poets. Christy Ottaviano Books

Reviews

"Davenier's ink and watercolor illustrations capture a sunny, spirited moppet whose outdoor world is rife with inspiration . . . Winningly portrays a young writer who appreciates approbation but takes genuine, confident delight in her own accomplishment." --The Bulletin, starred review

"Yolen's love of language and her knowledge of the poet's life and work as well as her understanding of young children. . . An imaginative portrayal of the poet as a young child."--Booklist

"The imagined events of one day in the early life of Emily Dickinson foreshadow her future creations. The text moves along smoothly with plenty of appealing turns of phrase and engaging images. A warm portrait that even those unfamiliar with the iconic poet will likely enjoy."--Kirkus Reviews

"Yolen and Davenier portray Dickinson as a small child . . . Yolen conjures appealing possibilities. Davenier's loose-lined, color-washed ink illustrations capture childlike joy and curiosity."--Publishers weekly

"Yolen's cleverly constructed scheme will intrigue adult Dickinson fans. Davenier's multimedia sketches provide simple, deft views of characters and settings. Some parents might share this with children learning to read and write. It could also spark good discussion with older students studying Dickinson in poetry units." --School Library Journal

"From Emily's youthful vantage point, Yolen indirectly explains a good deal about her life and interests, allowing readers to think--just as Emily does--"about the real and the unreal" and while lies in-between (it's poetry, according to Emily). . . The pastel-hued watercolor and ink illustrations reflect Emily's precociousness and curiosity." --Horn Book

Author Bio

Jane Yolen is an author of hundreds of children's books, including Owl Moon, The Devil's Arithmetic, and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight She has been called "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" by Newsweek and "the Aesop of the twentieth century" by the New York Times. Her books and stories have won the Caldecott Medal among many other awards. janeyolen.com Christine Davenier is the New York Times Best Illustrated award-winning artist of many books for young readers, including A Very Fair Princess, the Piper Reed series, Emma's Circus, and the Miss Lina's Ballerinas books. She lives in Paris, France. christinedavenier.com