The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects
Age 8+
Poetry
“Janeczko’s selections and Raschka’s characteristically airy illustrations let readers uncover layers of meaning, possibility, and emotion.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A book-eating moth in the early Middle Ages. A peach blossom during the Renaissance. A haunted palace in the Victorian era. A lament for the hat in contemporary times. Poetry has been a living form of artistic expression for thousands of years, and poets have found inspiration in everything from swords to stamp albums, candles to cobwebs, manhole covers to the moon. Award-winning anthologist Paul B. Janeczko and renowned artist Chris Raschka reunite for a look at poems through history inspired by objects reflecting the time in which each poet lived.
Creators
Paul B. Janeczko is the anthologist of numerous poetry collections, including the award-winning A Poke in the I, A Kick in the Head, and A Foot in the Mouth, all illustrated by Chris Raschka; as well as Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems, illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Paul B. Janeczko lives in Hebron, Maine.
Chris Raschka is the illustrator of many books for children, including The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and A Ball for Daisy, both Caldecott Medal winners; Yo! Yes?, a Caldecott Honor Book; and I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson. He is most recently the author-illustrator of The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra. Chris Raschka lives in New York City.
