Introduce children to the work of celebrated American poet Walt Whitman!

I’ve learned two central themes from Walt Whitman; Change is always possible and there is success after a struggle.  Whitman composed the poem “O Captain! My Captain!” after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865 and besides being a journalist, teacher, government clerk, and poet, he was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War and mourned the death of Lincoln.  Although his works were considered controversial at the time, he was a humanist who is considered one of the most influential poets in the American canon (aka ‘free verse’) and an important person to read in the literary world.

Carefully chosen for kids, 35 illustrated poems are presented and explained by New York University professor Karen Karbenier, PhD, a Whitman expert in the children’s series Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman includes enlightening commentary for each poem, definitions of key words, and a foreword by the expert. Vibrant illustrations invigorate the poetry.  Starting off with “I Hear America Singing,” the collection includes excerpts from “Song of Myself,” “O Captain! My Captain!”, poems from Leaves of Grass, and many more thought-provoking, descriptive, and kid-friendly selections.

About the Illustrator:  Freelance illustrator and fine artist Kate Evans has worked for many high-profile clients, including Random House, HarperCollins, V and A Magazine,The Guardian, and National Geographic. Her illustrations have been published in many countries around the world.Combining delicate line drawings with watercolor washes, Kate produces images that reflect the richness of their subject matter. Her illustrations suggest subtle emotional states and have been frequently used by publishers to capture the complexity of particular places and situations.