Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People
Brown adds to her growing list of noteworthy picture-book biographies with this lyrical introduction to poet Pablo Neruda. “From the moment he could talk, Neftalí surrounded himself with words that whirled and swirled, just like the river that ran near his home in Chile,” begins the simple, rhythmic text that follows Neruda from childhood to adult fame as an activist and beloved “poet of the people.” Brown distills events into just a few words on each page, and younger children may need further explanation about why, for example, Neruda is pursued by soldiers. And while Paschkis’ whimsical portraits honor the poet’s heritage and work with streams of words woven into the vibrantly patterned artwork, the intriguing design elements include many references that seem aimed at older children and adults. Still, Brown’s succinct lines read like a poem themselves, and they emphasize the infinite places writers find inspiration, from seashores to coal mines to the faces of people they love. A long biographical note and suggested resources conclude this handsome offering. Grades 1-3. --Gillian Engberg