BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Kerley, Barbara. 2004. WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA. Illus. by Brian Selznick. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-439-35791-8
PLOT SUMMARY:
Kerley takes readers on a lively path walking along with one of America's greatest poets, Walt Whitman. In her work Walt Whitman: Words For America, Kerley shares a biography of Whitman in a story form beginning with his apprenticeship to a printer at age 12. Whitman's love of words is nurtured in this role, and he quickly grows into an entrepreneur by age 19 owning his own newspaper. Whitman's love of words is only matched by his love of his country, and it is the merging of these two loves that dominate the remainder of the book.
After traveling the young nation seeking to meet her people, Whitman longs to become a voice for America and to express the "true spirit of the nation" (p. 5) which he finds in her ordinary citizens. Although his consummate work, Leaves of Grass, is not a huge success upon publication Whitman continues to pursue his love of poetry. Beyond inspiring his words and work, Walt's adventures across the country foster a deep concern in him about the ills of slavery and the potential for conflict in America because of it.
The bulk of Kerley's work describes the efforts of Whitman during the Civil War. Whitman begins a war-long calling to work, to minister, and to serve injured soldiers after his own beloved brother is wounded. He reads to soldiers, he feeds them, and he spends every possible moment with the soldiers he believes represent the best of our country. Walt takes menial work in Washington, D.C. in order to stay close to the army hospital; during his days in the capital he often crosses paths with President Lincoln. These meetings are mere passings in the street but are profound to Whitman. He comes to love and appreciate the President and worry about the weight of the War born by this man. After the Civil War ends, Walt's joy is turned quickly to grief as the President is assassinated which inspires his classic "O Captain! My Captain!".
Ultimately, Walt found recognition later in his life after the word of his great and sacrificial work during the Civil War spread. "The Good Gray Poet" became the thing he desired most...the voice of his beloved nation.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Kerley's work is presented in a logical and chronological order, and she provides a wealth of resources for readers at the conclusion of the book. Sources used in the creation of the book are broad and well-respected lending a strong trust in the accuracy of the piece. The accuracy of this non-fiction production permeates even the illustrations. Selznick spent time traveling to places from the story and reviewing the original sources. This effort inspired his illustrations and that commitment to detail is apparent in his vivid and sometimes bold paintings.
The illustrations begin their impact on the title page of the book. The title page is opposed by a page which appears to be a typesetting. Whitman's work as a printer is how his biography begins, and this illustration captures the reader's attention. Whitman's own words are included in several of the drawings as elements of his poems are included. His words of "O Captain! My Captain!" and a depiction of his penning of this work is starkly represented by Selznick through black pages of illustrations.
Kerley includes excellent access features at the end of her book. A discussion of Whitman's life post-Civil War and a look at his interaction/connection to President Lincoln is included providing an excellent springboard to further study. Personal notes from both author and illustrator are contained in the resource area as are the complete texts of some of Whitman's poetry.
REVIEWS/AWARDS:
*Sibert Honor Book
*Horn Book: "splendid"
*School Library Journal (starred review): "Delightfully old-fashioned in design, its oversized pages are replete with graceful illustrations and snippets of poetry. The brilliantly inventive paintings add vibrant testimonial to the nuanced text." (Marilyn Taniguchi)
*Booklist: "Like his collaborator's narrative...Selznick's contributions reflect a keen passion for research, right down to the subtle references to early editions of Leaves of Grass in the book's typeface and design." (Jennifer Mattson)
CONNECTIONS:
*ask students what things represent America to them; students could follow up with poems or illustrations of their own
*have a selection of others books about the Civil War ready for group readings or for individual circulation
*have students look at maps of late 1800 America to see where Whitman traveled on his journeys
*read aloud portions of Leaves of Grass
*read biographies of President Abraham Lincoln
*have students make their own notebooks as Whitman did; students could keep them with them for a week and jot down observations of the world around them leading to a poem writing time at the end of the week
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