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A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams (Incredible Lives for Young Readers (ILYR)) Hardcover – Picture Book, July 9, 2008

by Jen Bryant (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

122 ratings

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A Caldecott Honor Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book
Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
School Library Journal Best Books, Nonfiction
An ALA Notable Book

Award-winning author Jen Bryant and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet team for a stunning portrait of poet William Carlos Williams.

When William Carlos William wrote poems, he felt as free as the Passaic River as it rushed to the falls. Willie’s notebooks filled up, one after another. His words gave him freedom and peace. But he also knew he needed to earn a living, so Willie went off to medical school and became a doctor – one of the busiest men in town!

Yet he never stopped writing poetry.

In this dynamic picture book biography, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations come together to celebrate an amazing man who found a way to both earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.

Features an extensive timeline, author’s and illustrator’s notes, recommendations for further reading, and a selection of Williams’ poems. A River of Words is part of Eerdmans’ Incredible Lives for Young Readers series.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 3–6—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. Bryant's poetic writing—"Gurgle, gurgle—swish, swish, swoosh…. The water went slipping and sliding over the smooth rocks, then poured in a torrent over the falls, then quieted again below"—describes beautifully how, as a child, Williams would lie peacefully by the Passaic River, listening to the sounds of the water; he appreciated nature and the ordinary experiences of life. Book pages form a background for some of the illustrations and prescription pads become the paper for the doctor's poetic scribbling. A lovely spread shows a display of constellations while in the foreground, the poet sits framed in the light of an attic window, with one of his poems about a night sky laid out on a book cover. Williams's poems, which appear in the book in a variety of colors and fonts as part of the art, are highlighted in uniform type with standard line breaks on the inside cover pages. A time line of his life juxtaposed with a list of world events, a brief author's note about his significance as a poet, and an illustrator's note that explains how Sweet researched the project are appended.—Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Bryant follows Call Me Marianne (2006), about Marianne Moore, with another picture-book introduction to a poet. Here, she focuses on William Carlos Williams, and she begins by suggesting that Williams’ childhood love of nature inspired the free forms and rhythms he chose for his first adolescent poems. During his adult medical career, Williams “scribbled a few lines . . . wherever he could,” composing his enduring, beloved body of work. The free-verse line breaks in Bryant’s text sometimes feel arbitrary, but her simple, spare language matches her subject well. Sweet’s mixed-media collages will draw varying age groups. Younger children will connect with the childlike drawings of figures, while older kids (and even young-adult art students) will appreciate the artfully layered paper compositions that include lines of Williams’ poetry. A comprehensive time line of Williams’ life targeted toward older kids (and teachers), suggestions for further reading, and a selection of Williams’ poems close this inspiring title that, like Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s Action Jackson (2002), shows that an artist’s work begins with deep, quiet observation. Grades 2-5. --Gillian Engberg

Review

"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." ― Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

"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." ― School Library Journal (Starred review)

"….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." ― Shelf Awareness

"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." ― Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal

“A visual and audible stunner. Kudos to everyone involved. Kudos all around.” ― Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (a School Library Journal blog)

“Inspiring.” ― Booklist

“Lively… insightfully portrays the writing life.”― The New York Times

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 (www.melissasweet.net) hasillustrated many award winning books, including ARiver of Words (Eerdmans), a 2009 Caldecott Honorbook, and A Splash of Red (Knopf), an NCTEOrbis Pictus Award winner and a Sibert Honor book. Shealso wrote and illustrated Balloons OverBroadway (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), winner of the2012 Sibert Medal and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award.Melissa lives in Maine.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 9, 2008
Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 34 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802853021
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802853028
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 18 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 0.32 x 10.25 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 6
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD820L

Best Sellers Rank: #100,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #37 in Children's Literary Biographies (Books)
- #79 in Children's American History of 1900s
- #753 in Children's Poetry (Books)

Customer Reviews:
122 ratings

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Jen Bryant
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Jen Bryant writes picture books, novels and poems for readers of all ages. Her biographical picture book: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,received a Caldecott Honor award and her historical novel in verse Ringside 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial is an Oprah Recommended Book for ages 12 & up. Other titles include Pieces of Georgia (IRA Young Adult Choices Pick), The Trial (about the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial), a 1960's-era novel Kaleidoscope Eyes (a Jr. Library Guild selection), Georgia's Bones, celebrating the creative vision of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, Music for the End of Time, based on a true story about WWII, and Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln.
Jen has taught writing and Children's Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with her family in Chester County, PA.
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Melissa Sweet
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Melissa Sweet is a New York Times bestselling author and has illustrated nearly 100 children’s books. Her work ranges from board books to picture books and nonfiction titles and her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, and for eeBoo Toys. She has received numerous awards including the Sibert Medal, NCTE's Orbis Pictus Award, as well as two Caldecott Honor awards: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, and The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus, both by Jen Bryant.
Sweet has written and illustrated four books: The New York Times Best Illustrated Carmine: A Little More Red; Tupelo Rides the Rails; The Sibert Award Winner Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade; and Some Writer! The Story of E.B.White.
Her newest book is How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander, (June, 2019).
Melissa lives with her husband and dogs in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit www.melissasweet.net.
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Customers praise the book's illustrations, with one noting how the richness of the poetry is beautifully blended with the visuals. The writing style receives positive feedback for being engaging, with one customer highlighting how it encourages creative word use.

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8 customers mention "Visual quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the illustrations of the book, with one noting how the richness of the poetry is beautifully blended with the artwork, and another mentioning how the pictures help readers engage with the poems.

"...loved it just as much as I did, and I'm sure the pictures helped them get into the poems...." Read more

"...Pairing her fabulous writing with Sweet's amazing scrapbook-style illustrations is genius. I hope they continue collaborating...." Read more

"...The narrative is great, and the illustrations are some of the best I've seen...." Read more

"...This is a beautiful way to introduce him to children. It is a gorgeous book and I would definitely recommend it...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it engaging, with one customer noting how the author uses words in creative ways.

"...of Words came when I opened the box from Amazon and the bright, wordy picture on the cover beckoned me cheerfully in...." Read more

"...Her writing style is as engaging as it is informative. As an adult, I learn a lot from her books as well and I love that...." Read more

"This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that requires time to appreciate each and every page...." Read more

"This is an absolutely beautiful book about a wonderful and approachable American poet. You will love reading it to your children...." Read more

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Jonathan Morse
It works for college students too
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2009
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

My first sight of A River of Words came when I opened the box from Amazon and the bright, wordy picture on the cover beckoned me cheerfully in. The next day I carried the book to my two sections of sophomore literature at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where we were just starting a block on Williams. The students loved it just as much as I did, and I'm sure the pictures helped them get into the poems. For me, especially, it was liberating to see an icon for "The Great Figure" that wasn't the familiar one by Charles Demuth.

But I found two errors to correct in the next printing. The illustrator's note runs together the title of Williams's poem, "The Great Figure," and the title of Demuth's painting, "I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold." And the chronology at the back of the book gets the beginning of World War II wrong by nine years.

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8 people found this helpful

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Helen
Bryant and Sweet together is genius!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2017
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Jen Bryant is fast becoming our favorite author of children's biography at our house. Her writing style is as engaging as it is informative. As an adult, I learn a lot from her books as well and I love that. Pairing her fabulous writing with Sweet's amazing scrapbook-style illustrations is genius. I hope they continue collaborating. My daughter and I were excited about this book because we loved our introduction to William Carlos Williams' poetry in Love that Dog by Sharon Creech (another favorite at our house). We were not disappointed!

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9 people found this helpful

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L. Wood
A wonderful book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2009
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
"A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams" is an incredibly engaging book. I bought it for my 10-year-old grandson, and he is impressed with it. The narrative is great, and the illustrations are some of the best I've seen. At the end of the book, there are comments from both the author and the illustrator that give the reader additional perspective on the man and poet that William Carlos Williams was. Several Williams poems are included in the book. I recommend it for any child interested in writing and/or poetry.A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

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5 people found this helpful

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Caglife
Beautiful book
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2013
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I got this as a supplement to our homeschool 4th grade English learning. I wasn't introduced to William Carlos Williams until my sophomore year of high school. This is a beautiful way to introduce him to children. It is a gorgeous book and I would definitely recommend it. My son read it independently and wrote a short report on Williams. My daughters, aged 4 and 6, listened to it as a read-aloud.

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5 people found this helpful

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KLZC
In between book
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2014
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Nice book but more attuned to adults than children. I am not sure a child will get much out of it.

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2 people found this helpful

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Marsher
Stunning
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2013
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that requires time to appreciate each and every page. The details in the illustrations are worth the time and, of course, the words of William Carlos Williams never disappoints. Using this book in a poetry unit with my third grades.

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2 people found this helpful

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Courtney L.
Gave as gift
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2014
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I gave this to my nephew as a gift, his mother was thrilled and loved the artwork. She enjoyed the fact that it was a book he could enjoy as he grows as well.

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Book Lover
I love this book and I will use it with my ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2015
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I love this book and I will use it with my library assistants (high school students). Creative, visually detailed about William Carlos Williams.

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Gayle Jervis
I always look for opportunities to introduce poets and poetry to my granddaughters and to increase their love for poetry
Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2017
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A lovely book about William Carlos. I always look for opportunities to introduce poets and poetry to my granddaughters and to increase their love for poetry. I believe this book achieves those goals.

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dirceu lopes ferreira
bom
Reviewed in Brazil on January 16, 2018
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
agradavel leitura ,
comprei para presentear minha neta
fiz a tradução pelo Google
um passeio com Willie e seus poemas

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