A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers

Inspired by William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, this delightful collection of poetry for children brings to life Blake’s imaginary inn and its unusual guests.

About the Author:

Nancy Willard has loved William Blake’s poetry from the day she first heard it. While writing the poems in this book, she built a six-foot model of the inn, decorating it with moons, suns, stars, and prints of Blake’s paintings. The model with its residents—the characters that appear in this volume—stands in her living room. Nancy Willard published her first book when a high school senior—an inset in the Horn Book, which was called A Child’s Star. Formerly a lecturer in the English department at Vassar College, she is the author of a number of well-received children’s books. Read more here.

A Few Reviews:

“The Newbery Medal-winning, Caldecott Honor book about an imaginary inn belonging to William Blake, where remarkable guests are attended by an even more remarkable staff.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“This is a favorite of mine. At first read I wasn’t sure, but the more I get to know it the more I love it. It’s a beautiful book to read aloud, poetic for sure. A little hard to understand the story the first time you read it as you get used to the style, but once you get the rhythm of the writing the stories are magical and imaginative. There are lots of little parts that I just fall in love with.”

“I love this book of brilliant poems. Fabulous use of language, brilliant imagery, musical rhythms and satisfying rhymes lead to a wonderful read- aloud experience every time. Having bought it for myself and my children, I bought for another little girl, who also told me she loved it. Highly recommended.”

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