Inspired by the life and craft of Mary Oliver, My Poet celebrates the joy of connecting perception and experience with words, with glowing artwork by Jen Hill and profound text by Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan.
Patricia MacLachlan has written a lyrical ode to writing, to poetry, and to the celebrated American poet, Mary Oliver. In this mesmerizing picture book, a little girl wants to write, and one summer day she joins the poet who lives nearby to explore a town on Cape Cod. Together, they look. Together, they touch. Together, they find words. All things in the natural world, the girl discovers, bring words to the poet. Can the girl find the words to write her own poetry, too?
Glorious artwork by New York Times bestselling illustrator Jen Hill illuminates the text. Mary Oliver passed away in 2019, but her way of seeing the world inspired this book. Although not biographical, the story captures the author's personal connection to the famous poet, as summarized in the author's note.
Hill's illustrations are bright and breezy, loose, and beachy. First-person narration from the child's perspective lends an open, curious tone that may inspire readers to be close observers and try their hands at poetry, too. VERDICT A gentle but formidable addition to picture book collections everywhere; as nuanced as a poem, it spells out as much as it withholds and leaves readers with questions they'll be inspired to try to answer themselves. -- School Library Journal (starred review)
[A] dreamy introduction to the art and craft of writing [from] late Newbery Medalist MacLachlan. Lucy's quiet joy in learning to find her own words, encouraged by the poet, is uplifting for anyone who has engaged in creative process. This inviting book reads as an ode to the late poet Mary Oliver, the Cape, and new undertakings. -- Publishers Weekly
A love of words, walks, and a watery natural landscape highlight an intergenerational friendship in this posthumously published picture book from Newbery winner MacLachlan. Hill's blowsy, light-washed pictures capture the area's magic. A sweet paean to inspiration and contemplation. -- Booklist
Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022) was the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She was also the author of many beloved picture books, a number of which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily.
Jen Hill is the illustrator of several books for children, including Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. She is also the author-illustrator of Percy and TumTum: A Tale of Two Dogs. Her love of poetry was sparked by her fifth-grade teacher. Jen lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can visit her online at www.jenhillstudio.com.
Target Age: 4-8
Katherine Tegen Books
Pub Date: September 06, 2022
0.5" H x 8.7" L x 10.4" W
32 pages
hardcover