Wildflower Emily by Lydia Corry (2024)

Last week, I bought a stack of vegetable and wildflower seeds. This week, we finally had a bump of warm weather. I am sick of the gray grass and ready for the budding life spring brings, which is why Wildflower Emily is the perfect book to pick up at your next library visit. Lydia Corry crafted such a beautiful graphic novel about Emily Dickinson. Emily was a curious girl who loved getting lost in nature. She collected wildflowers, observed insects and wrote poetry. She never married and cherished her time alone, with her dog Carlo. I read this aloud to my Kindergartener and 2nd grader and they loved it, but I also could see my 12-year-old niece enjoying this as a quick read. This graphic novel left me wondering. I love a book that sparks further curiosity. I need to know more about Emily Dickinson! Corry’s illustrations are reason enough to pick up this book – I want to wallpaper my room with these divine drawings! 

Heart: Let’s follow Emily Dickinson’s lead. Let’s take time in nature. Let’s respect the small things. 

Head: Emily never wanted to be famous. She is now one of the most well-known poets. She lived at home, unmarried, until she died when she was 55 years old. After her death, Emily’s sister found 1,800 poems in her room. Clearly, the family decided to publish her work. What are our thoughts on publishing work posthumously? Would this recluse want to be world famous? Are her poems ours for the taking?