Poetry, as Dr. Julia Knowlton reminds me, is a basic human instinct—it was the first and only literary form for centuries. Humans are wired to discover patterns and learn from rhymes, rhythm, and repetition. She knows what she’s talking about; a poet and professor, having taught French for 28 years (currently at Decatur’s own Agnes Scott College), she's well acquainted with the art of language acquisition. Her previous volumes of poetry have been written for adults. This newest release, “A to Z: Poems for the Very Young”, is intended for infants, toddlers, and very young readers to gently guide them on their journeys of grasping the English language. A poem for every letter of the alphabet, these four-line rhyming verses reveal themes of nature, daily routines, toys, and imagination.
Children’s creativity is endlessly inspiring, illustrator Leah Owenby intones, who came onto the project after connecting over social media. Julia posted her “O poem” poem about the seashore, and the beauty of its simplicity moved Leah. Often, academic and creative work takes place in solitary silos, and this collaboration has been a breath of fresh air for both of them. Her line drawings in the book, one for every poem, harken back to the simple joys she felt as a child moving a pencil across a blank page. This connection to childhood wonder is a thread throughout the book, viewing elements of humanity through young eyes, and honoring that special time in life. Julia is nostalgic for her early days of motherhood when she discovered the world anew through her two daughters, Claire and Madeleine, to whom the book is dedicated.
These delightful short poems are nursery rhymes in their purest form, thoughtfully written to soothe reader and listener alike, with a musicality that encourages memorization. Julia had not previously considered writing children’s literature, and Leah always wanted to illustrate a children’s book but was unsure if it would ever happen. This project is a poignant reminder that we are never too young or old to tap into our imaginations and find new ways to grow. And with this release, plentiful wonders are waiting in the ancient magic of poetry.
Claire hears a loud thunderclap
and sees lightning in the sky.
Her mom holds her on her lap
saying “soon this will all pass by.”