A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers

by Nancy Willard

Book Overview

1982 Newbery Medal Winner A 1982 Caldecott Honor Book Inspired by William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, this delightful collection of poetry for children brings to life Blake's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152938222
• Release Date: September 1981
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Marvelous Poetry and Illustrations

This children's book is dedicated to eighteenth century British poet and artist William Blake. A well-deserved winner of the 1982 Newberry Medal and a Caldecott Honor Book, this work consists of a series of catchy poems with very satisfying and detailed illustrations to complement them. Each poem has a rhyme scheme of sorts that make them sound clever, especially when read aloud. While each poem addresses a different topic, all the poems relate to each other collectively because they center on the comfortable and cozy William Blake's Inn. Every character and animal appears more than once throughout the book, and they stay at the inn. One poem that stood out of my mind is entitled "The King of Cats Sends a Postcard to His Wife." The illustration of the poem shows the cat sitting at the breakfast table with William Blake. One part of postcard written by the "King of Cats" said: "Have you set the kittens free?/ Do they sometimes ask for me?/Is our catnip growing tall?/Did you patch the garden wall?" I thought this portion was interesting because it seems as though a cat away from home would be concerned about these sorts of things (if indeed cats possessed human qualities). I would say that the illustrations are what maintained my interest throughout the book. Each illustration has yellow and tan hues, and some of the backgrounds evoke cartoon-like visions of London in William Blake's time. The illustrations are all very detailed, making it necessary to flip through the book more than once to fully appreciate them. Although this book is designed for children, I would recommend this book to people of all ages. Although children would not understand the poems due to a somewhat difficult vocabulary, they will enjoy the wonderfully detailed illustrations and smooth rhyme of the poetry. Most adults would appreciate the book as well because of the excellent illustrations and magical poetry that A Visit to William Blake's Inn has to offer.

one of my favorite books

A vsisit to William Blakes Inn is one of my favorite books ever. In a clever turn, nanct willard had turned the more famous characters from Blakes poetry into guest and attendents at his "Inn"" Angels make the bed, Dragons bake the bread,Tiger,tiger loses its strength,all adorned with gorgeous illustartions from alic and martin provensen. In the brief introduction,Ms willard explains how she became attracted to william Blake,then what led her to this book. My children even at a very young age have love this book. It's poetic scheme is simple yet elegant, which makes it also fun for the adult reading and challenging enough for a early grade reader.A wonderful, funfilled chidrens classic.And, Ms Willard is correct:poetry IS the best medicine.

Astonishing children's poetry

As a book fiend, I have tried to afflict my daughter with as any books as possible growing up. I bought her novels, picture books, pop up books, classics, contemporary award winners, and every other kind of book as can be imagined. But of all the books of poetry that I bought her, this extraordinary volume was my personal favorite. I loved reading it so much to her that I bought a copy for myself, and it now rests on my bookshelf between Whitman and William Carlos Williams (and just before that marvelous lover of Blake, William Butler Yeats). These are not just fine children's poems, they are fine poems. I have sent copies of this to friends with children, and close friends who are widely published poets themselves. All reacted with as much joy as I did. (Must add that I find the 2 star review below to be bizarre and incomprehensible. This is not intended to be William Blake, but poems written in homage to and in the spirit of the SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE. And in this the author succeeded superbly.)

The Beatles Meet Lewis Carroll!

Like some onion-skinned 18th century English manuscript, this books has the look of an old, ambered classic. It's a highly unique poetry narrative, filled with magical excursions and inventive characters, rather like the Beatles meet Lewis Carroll.The fanciful illustrations, featuring Russian Orthodox and Victorian architecture and recalling Da Vinci, Chagall (watch for the flying cow), and medieval manuscripts, are detailed and self-referential (without being overwhelming).The imaginative drawings perfectly suit the richly imaged poetic content: "The man in the marmalade hat bustled through all the rooms, and calling for dusters and brooms, he trundled the guests from their beds, badgers and hedgehogs and moles. Winter is over, my loves, he said. Come away from your hollows and holes."There are strains of Emily Dickenson as well,"'Belief` shall be a boat having both feet and fins." But perhaps this sounds too literary and serious. This is, above all, a fun and creative book for all ages: Children and adults will find inspiration to free their own poetic and pictorial musings. There is much to explore here. A book you'll turn to and treasure for years to come!

The only book to win both the Newbery and the Caldecott!

So far, only once has a book garnered both the Newbery and Caldecott Medals in the same year. This is that book (winner of the 1982 Medals). This book for young adults is a collection of new poems mirroring the poetry of William Blake, who is portrayed in this book as an innkeeper. The poetry challenges and excites the imagination. It is a highly recommended poetry book for young high school students.