Poetry Friday Book Review - My Letter to the World and Other Poems

A few weeks ago when I hosted Poetry Friday I shared a short poem by Dickinson. Kelly Fineman left a comment about it in which she said, "I've been on an Emily kick myself lately - I honestly think it's the fall weather that does it, since I binged on her about this time last year, too." Binge indeed. I seem to be reading Emily at every turn, and somehow, just like Robert Frost, she feels right for fall. So today, I thought I'd share my review of the book My Letter to the World and Other Poems, the newest book in the Visions in Poetry series from Kids Can Press.

Here is a description of the series.

Visions in Poetry is an innovative and award-winning series of classic poems reinterpreted for today’s readers by outstanding contemporary artists in distinctively beautiful editions.

How would I describe this book? Imagine the poems of Dickinson come to life and in color. Close your eyes and try to picture them. What do you think they would look like? Dark and gray is what first comes to mind for me. So when I saw the illustrations that Isabelle Arsenault created for the seven poems in this book, I found myself nodding in agreement with every turn of the page. She has captured the spirit of Dickinson and her poetry in a most striking way.

The poems in this volume are (in order):

• Epigram from Part One: Life (This is my letter to the world...)
• LXXXII from Part Two: Nature (There's a certain slant of light...)
• XXVII from Part Four: Time and Eternity (Because I could not stop for Death...)
• XXVII from Part One: Life (I'm nobody! Who are you?)
• CXII from Part Four: Time and Eternity (I felt a funeral in my brain...)
• XII from Part Three: Love (I cannot live with you...)
• XXXII from Part One: Life (Hope is the thing with feathers...)

There is a wonderful rhythm to the order of these poems, and the choice of ending with hope is a smart one. The cover illustration is the one that accompanies the first lines of this poem, a contemplative Dickinson with a brightly colored bird on her shoulder, whispering in her ear. The next page is dark and gray, with the brightly colored bird carrying a flower through dark and storm. The final stanza illustration shows Dickinson sitting on a bench (ink bottle) holding the flower. The scene is gray (chilly). Standing tall beside the sitting poet is a tree, fashioned/imagined from a feather quill. To get a feel for these illustrations you can view a few spreads from the book at the publisher's site.

There is as much to read in the illustrations as there is in the poem themselves. This is an absolutely stunning pairing. My only complaint is that many readers will have difficulty telling where one poem ends and another begins. The only marker for the start of a new poem is the first word, which is simply italized and printed in pale green ink.

I loved this book and recommend it with enthusiasm.

Book: My Letter to the World and Other Poems
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 48 pages
Grades: 4-10
ISBN: 978-1554531035
Source of Book: Review copy received from Raab Associates.

The round up this week is being hosted by Anastasia Suen at Picture Book of the Day. Do head on over and take in all the great poetry being shared. Before you go, be sure to check out this week's poetry stretch results.

Other Reviews: Fuse #8 and Big A little a