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Nancy Willard
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A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers Hardcover – Picture Book, September 8, 1981

by Nancy Willard (Author), Alice Provensen (Illustrator), Martin Provensen (Illustrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 152 ratings
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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.
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  1. Reading age
    4 - 7 years
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 6
  5. Lexile measure
    NP
  6. Dimensions
    8.25 x 0.5 x 10.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
  8. Publication date
    September 8, 1981
  9. ISBN-10
    0152938222
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0152938222
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Blake Leads A Walk On The Milky Way
Blake Tells The Tiger The Tale Of The Tailor
Blake's Wonderful Car Delivers Us Wonderfully Well
Epilogue
The King Of Cats Orders An Early Breakfast
The King Of Cats Sends A Postcard To His Wife
The Man In The Marmalade Hat Arrives
The Marmalade Man Makes A Dance To Mend Us
A Rabbit Reveals My Room
The Sun And Moon Circus Soothes The Wakeful Guests
The Tiger Asks Blake For A Bedtime Story
Two Sunflowers Move Into The Yellow Room
When We Come Home, Blake Calls For Fire
William Blake's Inn For Innocent And Experienced Travelers
The Wise Cow Enjoys A Cloud
The Wise Cow Makes Way, Room, And Believe
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

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, including Sailing to Cythera: And Other Anatole Stories and The Island of the Grass King: The Further Adventures of Anatole, both winners of a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. 

Alice and Martin Provensen have been honored by the Art Books for Children Citation of the Brooklyn Museum, by the Gold Medal for illustration of the Society of Illustrators, by exhibitions at the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and by being included on the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year list on nine occasions.

Alice and Martin Provensen have been honored by the Art Books for Children Citation of the Brooklyn Museum, by the Gold Medal for illustration of the Society of Illustrators, by exhibitions at the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and by being included on the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year list on nine occasions.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; First Edition (September 8, 1981)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0152938222
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0152938222
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NP
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.5 x 10.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 152 ratings

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Nancy Willard

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
152 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the poems and illustrations charming and wonderful when read aloud to children. They also describe the story as delightful and a great poetry book.

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ImageryPoetryStory
13 customers mention "Imagery"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the imagery in the book charming, fabulous, and satisfying. They also say the rhymes lead to a wonderful read-aloud experience.

"A delightful Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor book. Quirky and whimsical poetry. This book is pure joy." Read more

"...This was a wonderful read when my son was a toddler until about 6, and both of us still remember verses from our favorite poems (or the entire poem)..." Read more

"...It's a beautiful book to read aloud, poetic for sure...." Read more

"...The illustrations are truly gorgeous, sometimes even surprising, and feel exceptionally creative in showing some details of a more traditional time...." Read more

12 customers mention "Poetry"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the poetry in the book great, quirky, and whimsical. They also say it's pure joy.

"...Quirky and whimsical poetry. This book is pure joy." Read more

"...In the end, I feel it meets those needs admirably. The poems are funny (along with their accompanying illustrations) and stand alone, yet tell a..." Read more

"...It's a beautiful book to read aloud, poetic for sure...." Read more

"...The poems are often beautifully constructed, and the stories they tell are quite enjoyable, often surreal...." Read more

4 customers mention "Story"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the story delightful.

"...and stand alone, yet tell a loose tale when read together...." Read more

"...style, but once you get the rhythm of the writing the stories are magical and imaginative...." Read more

"...The poems are often beautifully constructed, and the stories they tell are quite enjoyable, often surreal...." Read more

"...Sounds wonderful when read aloud to a child. It's a delightful story." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

MistressViolet
5.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2024
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A delightful Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor book. Quirky and whimsical poetry. This book is pure joy.
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Avid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful good night read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
The poems of this book tell the story of the Inn of William Blake, with odd creatures in the attic, and an array of animal characters with distinct personalities. Academically it does resemble the writings of Blake, but the underlying "educational" value pales in comparison to value this book had as part of my toddler's good night routine. When reading aloud, the poems have a rhythm and measure to them which almost becomes musical, yet is calming and a visual delight at the same time. Also, it can easily be broken into smaller portions by selecting a different poem or two each night. This was a wonderful read when my son was a toddler until about 6, and both of us still remember verses from our favorite poems (or the entire poem) six or more years later.
4 people found this helpful
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Batfan7
5.0 out of 5 stars Original
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2012
Verified Purchase
Let me say upfront that I am not a poetry fan, but I do wish my kids to learn to appreciate this art and so I bought this book with that goal in mind. In the end, I feel it meets those needs admirably. The poems are funny (along with their accompanying illustrations) and stand alone, yet tell a loose tale when read together. The rhythm is not uniform for every poem, which is perfect to demonstrate that poems are not all have the same structure.

I didn't finish this book and then convert to a poetry lover, but I did find it enjoyable and I can still admire its quality. It is a work worthy to share with my children.
3 people found this helpful
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A. Tucker
5.0 out of 5 stars Fall in love
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017
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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.
8 people found this helpful
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Kristin Cerda
4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely all around
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2014
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(Full disclosure: I'm a poet raising an arty and brainy kid, so that certainly colors my opinion of this book.)

Over the last year, this has become one of my favorite children's book. Though it is intended for older children, my son loved it even as an infant. The illustrations are truly gorgeous, sometimes even surprising, and feel exceptionally creative in showing some details of a more traditional time. The level of inspiration the author draws from Blake's actual verse is lovely--you can easily find the fire and wonder of his work in these poems. The poems are often beautifully constructed, and the stories they tell are quite enjoyable, often surreal.

My one and only criticism is there is a poem where the cat writes a letter to his wife where he instructs her not to get fat in his absence. Since we don't body shame in our household, I've re-written that line in the text of our copy of the book.
8 people found this helpful
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Janice
5.0 out of 5 stars Review: A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy Willard
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2016
Verified Purchase
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. Janice
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This is my go to gift for families
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2018
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I LOVE this book - the poems - the illustrations - everything. I buy it over and over to give as gifts and make sure I have a copy on hand for my self,
One person found this helpful
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Paul Magana
5.0 out of 5 stars Every dad with little kids should read them this at bedtime
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2019
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Read this book to my daughters at bedtime. Bought this one for my Great Children.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ann M. Collett
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, clever and entertaining.
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Wonderful, funny, clever story to celebrate Blake and entertain any child. I loved it. And it’s for my 7 year old grandson. I think the ten year old will appreciate the nonsense too!! Marvellously illustrated too.
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Emily-Kate Kuhs
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Poems with Wonderul Illustrations
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
We are loving this book. The poems are often ludicrous, which is actually rather appealing to us. We are especially loving the poem When We Come Home, Blake Calls got Fire. The children will soon have it memorised and we will hopefully recite it for family at Christmas time.
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Radhika Aannd
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on September 22, 2014
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A beautiful book that every child must read. Lovely illustrations. Delivered on time and in good condition.
One person found this helpful
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house.full.of.books
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2016
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We enjoyed this little treasury of Blake's poems. The pictures are nice and the selections well chosen.
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muguet1215
4.0 out of 5 stars やさしい絵本
Reviewed in Japan on May 4, 2004
Verified Purchase
子供用の絵本なのに、大人が見てもとても参考になります。人や動物の顔がとってもやさしいのですが、動きや体の線はリアルに描かれていて、子供っぽすぎない感じが気に入りました。色使いもやさしくて、控えめなところが大好きです。宝物の本の一つに加わりました。
3 people found this helpful
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