(2) K-3 Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Berne's picture-book biography is a lyrical appreciation of Dickinson's skill with words, painting a vivid picture of the poet's special abilities ("With the power of her words-- / and the freedom of her imagination-- / she tasted spices in foreign lands, / and hid inside a flower..."). Interspersed passages from Dickinson's poems and letters serve as examples of points made in the text. They also appear throughout in Stadtlander's sumptuous, painterly gouache and watercolor illustrations, which masterfully blend the historical and the fantastical to showcase Dickinson's surroundings or imagination. The text itself is lengthy but full of glimpses into Dickinson's inner life, highlighting her love of nature and books and exploring the philosophical and religious questions that influenced her behavior. Both author and illustrator rely on butterfly imagery, one of many elements emphasizing Dickinson's "relationship to nature and the beauty of her work," as the artist's note puts it. Also appended are an author's note, a reading list, and more on reading, writing, and sharing poetry. (For a more lighthearted introduction to the poet, see the picture book review on page 114 of Jane Yolen's Emily Writes.)

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier. Since not much is known about Dickinson as a child, Yolen constructs a fictional experience of what might have inspired her poetic observations later in life. Readers follow a very young Emily as she shows her three-word rhyming poem ("Frog and bog!") to her distracted father, who doesn't pay attention; her mother, abed, who doesn't open her eyes; and the more encouraging Mrs. Mack, their landlady. After communing outdoors with nature--the source of inspiration for her poem--Emily returns inside to search for new ideas (what rhymes with envelope?), with help from Mrs. Mack ("Hope, my dear girl. That's the best rhyme"). From Emily's youthful vantage point, Yolen indirectly explains a good deal about her life and interests, allowing readers to think--just as Emily does--"about the real and the unreal" and what lies in-between (it's poetry, according to Emily). An appended author's note and samples of Dickinson's poetry help put all these snippets of story into context. The pastel-hued watercolor and ink illustrations reflect Emily's precociousness and curiosity. Nineteenth-century period details set the scene throughout the book's balanced mix of spot art, full-page images, and double-page spreads. (For a more traditional picture-book biography of Dickinson, see Jennifer Berne's On Wings of Words, reviewed on page 137.)