A Song About Myself
Age 6+
Picture Books
Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka brings John Keats’s words to whimsical life in the poet’s only work written for children.
He was a naughty boy,
A naughty boy was he,
He would not stop at home,
He could not quiet be.
English poet John Keats is remembered for his great odes and sonnets — making this lighthearted, little-known poem a special treat. As written in a letter to his young sister when he was feeling homesick on a visit to Scotland, Keats runs his rhymes up and down and all around, leading the reader on a playful chase in and out of language and meaning while caricaturing both himself and what it means to be an aspiring poet. In perfect synchrony, the celebrated Chris Raschka illustrates Keats’s droll words with his signature vibrant, energetic watercolors.
Creators
John Keats was born in London on October 31, 1795. While he trained in medicine and was a licensed apothecary, he never practiced. Instead, he devoted his life to poetry, and his own poetic work is striking in its vivid imagery and use of classical mythology. He died of tuberculosis in 1821.
Chris Raschka is a two-time Caldecott Medal winner, for A Ball for Daisy and The Hello, Goodbye Window, written by Norman Juster. He is also the creator of The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra and illustrated four acclaimed poetry anthologies edited by Paul B. Janeczko. Chris Raschka lives in New York City.
Reviews
Acquisition noted
Publishers Lunch
Raschka injects fresh whimsy into a bit of linguistic tomfoolery from one of the poet’s letters to his younger sister…Visually boisterous, great fun to read aloud, and likely to incite some “wond’ring” along with the laughter.
Kirkus Reviews
With the Caldecott medalist Raschka’s always enjoyable watercolor art, the puckish little poem makes an effervescent picture book.
The New York Times Book Review
Caldecott Medal and Honor winner Chris Raschka brings a playful poem by John Keats to life with his vibrant watercolor paintings.
Literacy Daily
