16 Words

William Carlos Williams and "The Red Wheelbarrow"

Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Look inside
This simple nonfiction picture book about the beloved American poet William Carlos Williams is also about how being mindful can result in the creation of a great poem like "The Red Wheelbarrow"--which is only sixteen words long.

"Look out the window. What do you see? If you are Dr. William Carlos Williams, you see a wheelbarrow. A drizzle of rain. Chickens scratching in the damp earth." The wheelbarrow belongs to Thaddeus Marshall, a street vendor, who every day goes to work selling vegetables on the streets of Rutherford, New Jersey. That simple action inspires poet and doctor Williams to pick up some of his own tools--a pen and paper--and write his most famous poem.

In this lovely picture book, young listeners will see how paying attention to the simplest everyday things can inspire the greatest art, as they learn about a great American poet.
LISA ROGERS writes children's books from the shores of a pond outside of Boston, Massachusetts (and sometimes from on the pond itself, where she kayaks almost every day in summer). She lives with her husband, daughter, and many pets. View titles by Lisa Rogers
Chuck Groenink grew up in the Netherlands, where he spent his formative years climbing trees, drawing, reading, and cycling. He graduated from the Artez Institute of Visual Arts in Kampen, and is the illustrator of many picture books, including I Am Not a Fox by Karina Wolf. Chuck moved to the United States in 2010, going from Portland, Oregon, to Kinderhook, New York, where he lives with his wife, dog, three cats, and several rowdy chickens. View titles by Chuck Groenink
Discussion Guide for 16 Words

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

"At once spare and lush: a gorgeous introduction to the power of poetry." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"
Williams’s koanlike poem closes the story, its marvel of compacted meanings crystallizing everything that has come before. " —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Great for reading aloud, this will also be a good choice for launching poetry units and inspiring neophyte poets.” —Booklist
  
“A unique picture book that shows how poetry can capture a feeling or an image with a few well-chosen words.” —School Library Journal

“Debut author Rogers suggests that there is power in noticing, as Williams did—finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.” The Horn Book 

About

This simple nonfiction picture book about the beloved American poet William Carlos Williams is also about how being mindful can result in the creation of a great poem like "The Red Wheelbarrow"--which is only sixteen words long.

"Look out the window. What do you see? If you are Dr. William Carlos Williams, you see a wheelbarrow. A drizzle of rain. Chickens scratching in the damp earth." The wheelbarrow belongs to Thaddeus Marshall, a street vendor, who every day goes to work selling vegetables on the streets of Rutherford, New Jersey. That simple action inspires poet and doctor Williams to pick up some of his own tools--a pen and paper--and write his most famous poem.

In this lovely picture book, young listeners will see how paying attention to the simplest everyday things can inspire the greatest art, as they learn about a great American poet.

Author

LISA ROGERS writes children's books from the shores of a pond outside of Boston, Massachusetts (and sometimes from on the pond itself, where she kayaks almost every day in summer). She lives with her husband, daughter, and many pets. View titles by Lisa Rogers
Chuck Groenink grew up in the Netherlands, where he spent his formative years climbing trees, drawing, reading, and cycling. He graduated from the Artez Institute of Visual Arts in Kampen, and is the illustrator of many picture books, including I Am Not a Fox by Karina Wolf. Chuck moved to the United States in 2010, going from Portland, Oregon, to Kinderhook, New York, where he lives with his wife, dog, three cats, and several rowdy chickens. View titles by Chuck Groenink

Guides

Discussion Guide for 16 Words

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Praise

"At once spare and lush: a gorgeous introduction to the power of poetry." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"
Williams’s koanlike poem closes the story, its marvel of compacted meanings crystallizing everything that has come before. " —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Great for reading aloud, this will also be a good choice for launching poetry units and inspiring neophyte poets.” —Booklist
  
“A unique picture book that shows how poetry can capture a feeling or an image with a few well-chosen words.” —School Library Journal

“Debut author Rogers suggests that there is power in noticing, as Williams did—finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.” The Horn Book 

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