A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy Willard
Winner, 1982 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
Inspired by Romantic English poet William Blake's" Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of
Experience," this book of poetry features unusual guests at Blake's imaginary inn.
Favorite Quote
Roast me a wren to start with.
Then, Brisket of Basilisk Treat.
My breakfast is "on the house"?
What a curious place to eat!
About the Author
Nancy Willard is the author of novels and poetry for adults and children. She was the first recipient of a Newbery award for a book of poetry. The text tucked inside the back flap of the book shows her dedication to this project: "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." A detailed biography is available at The Poetry Foundation.
My Project
For my project, I decided to work primarily with colored papers which I cut out and doodled on with black pen to add a sense of whimsy. The background elements were stamped in the metal and hand painted. I left the reflective aluminum background for the sky. The window features a sunflower inspired by the poem from the sunflower's point of view, "Our traveling habits have tired us / Can you give us a room with a view?"
Final Thoughts
The poems are charming and the illustrations are spot-on. This book also received a Caldecott honor award for its illustrations.
If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.