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  • A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant book cover
  • A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant book cover
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A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

by Jen Bryant

A poet’s calling alongside a medical career

$17.09 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Caldecott Honor Book

    Identified in the source as a Caldecott Honor Book.

  • Editorial selection

    New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book

    Named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A poet’s calling alongside a medical career

This picture-book biography traces William Carlos Williams’s life as he balances writing poetry with the work of earning a living as a doctor. The Passaic River provides a point of connection to his sense of freedom in writing, while his notebooks show poetry as a continuing part of his life. Jen Bryant’s text is paired with Melissa Sweet’s mixed-media illustrations. An extensive timeline, notes from the author and illustrator, further-reading suggestions, and a selection of Williams’s poems add context beyond the biographical narrative.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 9–12 interested in poets and literary biography.
  • Young readers curious about how creative work can coexist with a professional career.
  • Readers who appreciate picture-book biographies with timelines, notes, and poems.

Themes

Poetry and creative expressionWork and vocationWilliam Carlos Williams’s life and writing

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

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.

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