A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

Gr 36This 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, gurgleswish, 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 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred Review, School Library Journal, September, 2008
"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."

Starred review, Kirkus Reviews, July 2008
"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."

Shelf Awareness, October 2008
.."..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."

Curriculum Connections, School Library Journal
"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."