Wildflower Emily: A Story About Young Emily Dickinson

by Lydia Corry, Lydia Corry (Illustrator)

Overview

Emily Dickinson is one of America’s greatest and most original poets of all time. When you hear her name, you may imagine the famous recluse whose withdrawal from society became legendary. But it’s time to meet a new side of Emily, one that is powerful, adventurous, and joyful.

Follow along as we delve into Emily Dickinson’s childhood, revealing a young girl desperate to go out exploring—to meet the flowers in their own homes. Wade through tall grasses to gather butterfly weed and goldenrod, the air alive with the “buccaneers of buzz.” And, don’t forget to keep a hot potato in your pocket to keep your fingers warm.

This is Emily Dickinson as you’ve never seen her before, embarking on an unforgettable journey in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts, with her trusty four-legged companion, Carlo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250405500
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	136 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lydia Corry attended the Royal College of Art and has been a devoted illustrator ever since. She specializes in watercolor, ink, and gouache. Wildflower Emily is Lydia’s first graphic novel, but she’s illustrated plenty of books before, including The Corgi and the Queen, written by Caroline L. Perry; the Tindims series, written by Sally Gardner; and The Girl Who Talked to Trees, written by Natasha Farrant.
Lydia Corry attended the Royal College of Art and has been a devoted illustrator ever since. She specializes in watercolor, ink, and gouache. Her work includes Caroline L. Perry's The Corgi and the Queen, and the Tindims series created with her mother, Sally Gardner.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2024

Gr 3–5—Corry brings readers along on an engaging, charming, and sometimes surprising introduction to Emily Dickinson. Her early teenage years as a burgeoning and avid botanist are the focus. Dickinson is seen at school with her best friends while they eagerly enjoy science. As wildflowers are her favorite plant, she is determined to head outside, explore, and record. Her family thinks it is not safe for Dickinson to go by herself but they do not stop her. Instead, her father gets her a dog. Carlo, likely a Newfoundland, is very big and very devoted to her. As Dickinson's companion and guard, he will enjoy 17 years of friendship with her. Together they explore fields and forests, and they get lost but save themselves. Sprinkled throughout the day's journey are Dickinson's poems, each fitting perfectly with the setting and mood. Corry brings out aspects of the poet that are not often ascribed to her, such as being adventurous with a mind for science. She is an amazing gardener, baker, and prodigious letter writer. Although Dickinson becomes a recluse in her 20s, she remains surrounded by her loving and supportive family. Soft sepia tones are used for interiors while the outdoors are full of colors and contrasts, especially the flowers and the small creatures she and Carlo encounter. Pressed flowers and intricate borders decorate the added information at the end of the book. VERDICT A beautiful and endearing introduction to Dickinson, her poetic inspirations, and her special bond with her dog. Perfect for a poetry unit or a shelf on women writers.—Elisabeth LeBris

School Library Journal

★ 2024-07-19
A young Emily Dickinson excitedly explores the natural world.

As familiar as the American literary giant may be, many are still stumped and stymied by her uniquely phrased poems. Even well-known verses—“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” and “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”—may leave readers with questions. In this beautiful, soft-edged story full of sylvan sprawl, the poet—here an adolescent girl enamored with botany—sets out to study flora on its home turf. With her shaggy dog Carlo in tow, she ambles far from home and sets her sights on woodland wonders. She admires “how soft a caterpillar steps,” gazes in awe at an orchid, and converses quietly with a snail. Dickinson’s prolific verse is elegantly interposed with equally mesmerizing visual poetry. An image of Emily taking in the summer breeze is paired with the verse “a soft Sea washed around the House / a Sea of Summer Air”; in her imaginings, the waves of a golden ocean engulf a glistening field. As her outing ends, evening approaches and its “Vastness…Wisdom…Peace” are framed by mellow hues of purple-pink twilight. Corry’s delight in illustrating botanical imagery with soothing colors and rich textures shines through in every step Emily takes and every specimen she observes.

A deeply satisfying, accessible illumination of the green world that inspired Dickinson’s intriguing, intimate poems. (more information on Dickinson and Carlo, further reading)(Graphic biography. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews