Willard, Nancy. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1981. ISBN 978-0152938239. Ages 9-12.

Influenced by William Blake’s poetry, the reader is taken on a journey to a make-believe inn run by the poet himself, and populated by the very characters and elements of his poems. Written in the style of some of William Blake’s most famous poems, the author has created a world rich with elements from his poetry as well as the time period in London in which he lived.  The illustrations serve to convey the author’s profound love for all things Blake, but as a whole the two magically come alive to the delight of young readers.

Williams, Vera B. Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart. HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN 978-0060294601. Ages 9-12.

When Amber and Essie’s father is taken to jail for forging a check, the two sisters must rely on each other to get through the hard times as their mother struggles to take care of the family. By telling this story using poems and illustrations, the author is able to convey much more emotion and meaning below the surface than with simple text.  Young readers will see two sisters who not only love each other very much, but who rely on each other for comfort and safety when the world they have always known is shattered.

Creech, Sharon. Love That Dog. HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN 978-0060292874. Ages 9-12.

This story, written in freeform poetry by Jack, tells of his initial reluctance to write poetry, as well as his growing interest in and penchant for writing that which he thought he could not. Many loose elements eventually come together in his final poems, which are both insightful, as well as heart wrenching. A quick and easy read, the book’s freeform gives the reader a chance to see directly into Jack’s innermost thoughts and feelings. Though written as poetry, the poems as a collective tell a story, and each element of the story builds into one major story about a boy and the loss of his dog. Reluctant readers will enjoy this simple book, and perhaps may be inspired to write some poetry of their own, as the book gives a variety of examples of different styles and techniques.