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

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.

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.)

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!

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.