A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

( 8 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Hardcover (New Edition)
$14.53
BN.com price
$17.00 List Price (Save 15%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$5.93
$17.00 List Price (Save 65%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (30)  
Used (14)  
New (16)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 30 (3 pages)
$5.93
(Save 65%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3285)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.93
(Save 65%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3285)

Condition: Very Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.98
(Save 65%)
Adsrus Media IA
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(1252)

Condition: Good
2008-07-09 Hardcover Book Good. No dust jacket as issued. Hardcover in mylar-covered dust jacket. X-Library Book with usual markings/attachments. Normal shelf and display ... wear. Minor cover wear... Read more Show Less

Ships from: Des Moines, IA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$5.98
(Save 65%)
Better World Books
Seller since 2006

Feedback rating:

(50880)

Condition: Good
Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase ... benefits world literacy! Read more Show Less

Ships from: Mishawaka, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.40
(Save 62%)
Friends of the Phoenix Library
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(540)

Condition: Good
2008 Hardcover Good This is a former library copy with library stickers and stamps. 100% of this purchase will support literacy programs through a nonprofit organization!

Ships from: Phoenix, AZ

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.41
(Save 62%)
The Paper Book Co
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(89)

Condition: Good
Good Condition! Ex-library copy with normal library markings. Hardcover with glossy dust jacket! Mylar cover to protect dust jacket. Tight binding and clean pages! Minor ... corner/edge wear. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Uniontown, OH

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$8.50
(Save 50%)
Textbookcenter.com
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(46116)

Condition: Very Good
SHIPS FAST! via UPS(AK/HI Priority Mail) within 24 hrs/ used sticker/some hilite

Ships from: Columbia, MO

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$8.50
(Save 50%)
Strand Bookstore
Seller since 2006

Feedback rating:

(4781)

Condition: Very Good

Ships from: New York, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.74
(Save 43%)
Sequitur Books
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(307)

Condition: New
Gift quality, Fine. 8vo. A superior copy without defect. Clean, unmarked pages. Fine binding and cover. Hardcover and dust jacket. Ships daily.

Ships from: Boonsboro, MD

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.76
(Save 43%)
ExpeditedBooksUS
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(887)

Condition: New
Shipped from US. Express shipping in 3 to 6 business days. Standard shipping in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 30 (3 pages)
Close
Sort by

Overview

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Willie loved to write — words gave him freedom and peace. But he also knew that he needed to earn a living, so when he grew up he went off to medical school and became a doctor — one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing.

In this picture book biography of poet William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man whose poems about ordinary, everyday things will inspire young readers to create poems of their own.

... See more details below
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Willie loved to write — words gave him freedom and peace. But he also knew that he needed to earn a living, so when he grew up he went off to medical school and became a doctor — one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing.

In this picture book biography of poet William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man whose poems about ordinary, everyday things will inspire young readers to create poems of their own.

Editorial Reviews

Sara London
[Williams's] creative impulses are beautifully conveyed in Sweet's collaged watercolor and pencil compositions, often layered over the covers of old clothbound books. Words are scribbled on ruled sheets, prescription pads, receipts…the narrative unfolds clearly and chronologically in graceful free verse…A River of Words insightfully portrays the writing life.
—The New York Times
Children's Literature
When he was young, "Willie" Williams enjoyed the woods and fields around his Rutherford, New Jersey, home. Bryant shows us the beginnings of his love of poetry and his writing as he grows up, moving from formal rhymes to freer verse. Since he must earn a living, Williams decides to study medicine, hoping to continue his poetry. As a busy doctor, he still keeps writing far into the night, drawing upon the memories of his youth and the notes about his friends, many of them famous, and his life. Bryant's story ends there, but there are pages of additional information, including a time line of his life paired with events in the world, notes from both author and illustrator, and a bibliography. Sweet has chosen mixed media, collage, and a somewhat free sense of design for her illustrations, perhaps to reflect the poetry. Her small watercolor paintings are integrated with all manner of images that she finds relevant. Theses are set on pages with large blocks of text, star maps, large typefaces, etc. All this stimulates our imagination as we prepare to enjoy the poems, nine of which are printed on the endpapers in this provocative introduction to a great poet and his work. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
School Library Journal

Gr 3-6

This stunning picture-book biography combines a lyrical text with wonderfully creative mixed-media illustrations in an impressive and personable homage to an extraordinary and accomplished man. Bryant's poetic writing-"Gurgle, gurgle-swish, swish, swoosh.... The water went slipping and sliding over the smooth rocks, then poured in a torrent over the falls, then quieted again below"-describes beautifully how, as a child, Williams would lie peacefully by the Passaic River, listening to the sounds of the water; he appreciated nature and the ordinary experiences of life. Book pages form a background for some of the illustrations and prescription pads become the paper for the doctor's poetic scribbling. A lovely spread shows a display of constellations while in the foreground, the poet sits framed in the light of an attic window, with one of his poems about a night sky laid out on a book cover. Williams's poems, which appear in the book in a variety of colors and fonts as part of the art, are highlighted in uniform type with standard line breaks on the inside cover pages. A time line of his life juxtaposed with a list of world events, a brief author's note about his significance as a poet, and an illustrator's note that explains how Sweet researched the project are appended.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

Kirkus Reviews
With plain words, appropriate to the style of this master of clear and precisely worded poetry, and brilliant images, Bryant and Sweet introduce Williams and his poetry in a fresh, accessible way. The spare text manages to give an impression of his liberating childhood, his affinity for the ordinary, the successful marriage of his medical profession with his writing and the modernist artistic community of his time. The mixed-media illustrations, created primarily with watercolor and collage, take their inspiration from vintage books. At once vividly childlike and highly sophisticated, they have enormous visual appeal. The single-page renderings of Williams's brief poems are brilliantly conceived in colorful hand-lettering and collage, which might have been hard to read if they weren't so artistically compelling. It is entirely possible that this offering will not only acquaint readers with the man and his poetry but will also inspire creativity-Williams would no doubt be pleased. (timelines, bibliography, author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book/biography. 8-12)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780802853028
  • Publisher: Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
  • Publication date: 8/28/2008
  • Edition description: New Edition
  • Pages: 34
  • Sales rank: 274,689
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: AD820L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 9.30 (w) x 10.00 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Jen Bryant has written several books for young readers, including Music for the End of Time (Eerdmans), Pieces of Georgia, and the acclaimed novel-in-verse The Trial (both Random House). Jen lives in Glenmore, Pennsylvania.

Melissa Sweet has illustrated The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon, Tupelo Rides the Rails, and Carmine: A Little More Red (all Houghton Mifflin), which was given the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award. Melissa lives in Rockport, Maine.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 8 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(4)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(1)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 27, 2009

    Gorgeous book for children (and definitely also adults)

    Very well done. A tiny bit hokey (Willie) but overall excellent. I donated a copy to my local library and they say it's a hit.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 11, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    9780142407332

    A river of words.

    I enjoyed reading the book "A river of Words," it had a great story line for children. It started out with Willie laying by the river and then it ended with him writing poetry. It shows children that if they love something they should continue to do it. I would suggest for teachers to read this book to their students.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 11, 2010

    What the deuce?

    If this book were, actually a river of words the river would be brown and filled with dead fish. Epic fail. It is uninteresting and I think it would be hard for kids to read because they would lose interest in the "storyline." The pictures are ugly colors and they do not appeal to me visually. I do not particularly like the mish mosh of random pictures I am bombarded with throughout the book; it feels too disorganized to me. I couldn't get into it and I just didn't like it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 11, 2010

    A River of Word

    I liked the story A River of Words. The illustrations and the illustration techniques were very amazing. Melissa Sweet did a great job doing illustrations. This story as well was very well written and I commend Jen Bryant on a job well done. I think this book would be the kind of book a child would and could ready very easily and enjoy. I enjoyed reading it and really enjoyed the Illustrations. The poems that Williams writes are different but very good and interesting. I am use to poems rhyming but he doesn't really rhyme in his but they are still good and he expresses everything very well. I enjoyed this book very much.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 11, 2010

    A River of Words- The Story of William Carlos Williams

    A River of Words is a children's book written by Jen Bryant telling the story of William Carlos Williams. The amazing pictures in A River of Words were illustrated by Melissa Sweet. A River of Words tells the poet and doctor William Carlos Williams life story through descriptive sentences and short poems that children are capable of understanding. Not only does A River of Words tell an influential man's story in a fun, interactive way, but it sends the message to children that they can do more than one thing that they love. Choosing one path in life does not mean that you must give up other joys. This is an important life lesson all people should learn, especially young children. The colorful pictures depicting William Carlos Williams's life draw the reader in even more. With bright, descriptive, fun pictures children can understand the story even better. Through A River of Words children are introduced to an excellent life lesson and different writing techniques. A River of Words is an excellent, worth while read that children should be introduced to.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 11, 2010

    Review on A River of Words

    This book was very good with the story line and keeping me interested in what was going to happen next. I loved the art work and the way the artist put words into the background for example when he is laying by the river, the river has the words flowing though it which made me more interested. This book I know I would put into my classroom and have my kids read it. It shows ambition of the boy to do what he loves and become a poet because he loves it so much.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 8, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 11, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit