Emily Dickinson

by S.L. Berry

Each book in this innovative series is a combination of poetry and biography. Concise yet revealing biographical segments are interspersed with selections from the poets' works. A strong visual background enhances the reading experience, as real-life photographs are combined with interpretive illustrations. All of these elements join together to create an inspiring introduction to the lives and works of Some of the world's finest poets.

Genres: Poetry

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2015

Reviews

[m]

i'm literally in class rn but i finshed a boooook
i didn't know who Emily was before reading this book but i'm intrigued by her work

[Cecily Robertson]

Rating based on Dickinson's poetry, not the book. I did enjoy reading the snippets about Emily's life.

Some parts of my favorite poems:

The brain is wider than the sky
For put them side by side
The one the other will contain
With ease and you beside
The brain is deeper than the sea
For hold them blue to blue
The one the other will absorb
As sponges, buckets, do
The brain is just the weight of god
For heft them pound for pound
And they will differ, if they do
As syllable from sound

Some keep the sabbath going to church
I keep it, staying at home
With a bobolink for a chorister
And an orchard, for a dome
Some keep the sabbath in surplice
I just wear my wings
And instead of tolling the bell, for church,
Our little sexton sings
God preaches, a noted clergyman
And the sermon is never long
So instead of getting to heaven, at last
I'm going, all along

I reckon when I count at all
First poets then the sun
Then summer the heaven of god
And then the list is done
But looking back the first so seems
to comprehend the whole
The others look a needless show
So I write poets all

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody too?

Because I could not stop for death
He kindly stopped for me
The carriage held but just ourselves
And immortality

[Julie]

Berry beautifully balances photos and biographical information with several of Dickinson's poems and botanical artwork by Dugald Stermer. Written for older children, and part of a "Voices in Poetry" series this is a great introduction for children and adults to Dickinson. I look forward to reading more of Dickinson's poetry, and I feel it will be a richer experience knowing her life story. I'm also going to check out the other poets in this series. Would definitely recommend.

[Lmichelleb]

This biography is not one for younger children, but the mix of artwork, photographs, poetry, and biographical details are such a lovely combination for an older child or adult to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into the joys and struggles of Miss Dickinson, with appropriate poetry to further express her own words on certain topics, like the beauty of nature or the mystery of death.

[Ashley Kempkes]

1.5

Awful. No details, wrong and outdated information. No analysis on the poetry, though it does go along with the "biography" part. Good for a very young reader I suppose? Who doesn't want to read as much text. But still... Description of her death was good, and the poems that went along were some of my favorites.

[Gail Sacharski]

One of my favorite poets, this book gives a biography of Dickinson's life with beautiful illustrations of flowers with the poems & family photos & illustrations. There are many fascinating facts, some of which I was not aware but which now make understanding some of her poems easier. A beautiful work of art.

[Deborah]

Give a sampling of Emily Dickinson's poetry and the highlights of her life. Beautiful illustrations and some photographs of parts of Emily's life accompany the text. A nice intro to the life of Dickinson.

Grades 3-5

[Dick]

I used this book in my research paper/biography for Emily Dickinson. Great source and wonderful for using quotes from her poems! :)

[Jessica]

Better than other similar books, but not wonderful. I enjoyed learning about the life of Emily Dickenson.