Module 4: A Visit to William Blake's Inn

APA Reference of Book: Willard, N. (1981). A visit to William Blake’s inn. New York, NY: Voyager Books.

Book Summary: This is a book of poems as a tribute to the poet William Blake. It allows the reader to meet the different characters who are staying at the inn, including a tiger, a rat, the King of Cats, the Man with the Marmalade hat, and two sunflowers. It is a fantastical world where anything can happen at the inn. For example, two dragons bake the bread for the guests at the inn, and two angels are in charge of washing and shaking the feather beds. William Blake is also included as a character in the book, as the one in charge of the inn. He is an eccentric, magical man who even takes the guests on a walk down the Milky Way.

Impressions: Besides reading “The Tiger,” I am not familiar with William Blake’s poetry, so this picture book of poems was a good introduction to Blake and his characters. Depending on the reader, it might spark some interest in children to also look up William Blake’s poetry. The inn is a non-threatening place to stay, and one never knows what to expect there. The illustrations are full-page, colorful, detailed, and whimsical. I especially like the large artwork of two different airships, as well as the illustrations of the inn that show a side view of each room and the occupants within them. This is a good book to read aloud to children, but one must be willing to explain certain words and phrases to young children who may be unfamiliar with them.

Professional Review: (Original punctuation of this review was retained) “Nancy Willard has written a magical and original collection of metrical verses emanating from “William Blake’s Inn,” habited by Blake’s creatures. Dragons brew and bake, angels wash and shake feather beds, a rabbit shows the rooms, and guests are such as the man with the marmalade hat, the King of Cats and the poetical child-narrator who, for breakfast, is served “Brisket with Basilisk Treat.” Although the poems tell their own story of bedding down and waking up in the magical inn, knowledgeable adults may take pleasure recognizing the elliptical references to Blake’s own poems (“ ‘Ah, William, we’re weary of weather,’/ said the sunflowers, shining with dew.”) or Blake’s rhythms (“William, William, writing late”/ by the chill and sooty grate,/ what immortal story can,/ make your tiger roar again?”). The poems are rich verbally, seldom labored and happily loony at times. The spell is momentarily broken by the Father William tone of “ ‘I’m terribly cold,’ said the rabbit./ ‘My paws are becoming quite blue.’ ” But overall, Willard’s conception and execution are inspired. She is the rarest jewel among children’s verse writers – a poet never cloying, never cute. The book is doubly to be treasured for the splendid illustrations. Poems and pictures, integrated in spirit, flow into each other across double-page spreads. Sunflowers, a celestial limousine, cats, tigers, rabbits, birds in a gazebo – here, truly, is God’s plenty.”

Neumeyer, P. (1981). A visit to William Blake's inn (book review) [Review of the book A visit to William Blake’s inn, by N. Willard]. School Library Journal, 28(4), 69. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2200/ehost/detail/detail?sid=ab866f71-0d8a-42f5-94fa-0c11dcd65de0%40sessionmgr106&vid=4&hid=115&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#AN=5573383&db=a9h

Library Uses: Children can use art/craft supplies to create their own characters who will stay at William Blake's inn (human, animal, or even a fantasy creature) on paper, and if desired they can create a short poem to go with the character.