Imagine written by Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Lauren Castillo is a picture book biography that traces the poet’s young life through a series of paths that he took during his childhood and teen years. His experiences delivered him into the world of writing where he eventually became U.S. Poet Laureate from 2015-2017.
On his journey he chose to notice the beauty of nature, to enjoy the closeness of being part of a family of farmworkers, to accept the challenge of going to a new school as the seasons changed, to learn English from scratch and capture words from the air. “If I grabbed a handful/ of words/I had never heard and/sprinkled them over a paragraph/ so I could write/ a magnificent story, / imagine”
The word “imagine” is an open-ended invitation to young readers to imagine how each path taken can sculpt the direction of their own life. There are sixteen such experiences to imagine put forth by the author.
Lauren Castillo’s touching illustrations, rendered in pen and foam monoprint technique, are richly colored and softly textured. We see the boy smell chamomile flowers, play with tadpoles, drench himself in the moonlight, collect water from the next village, learn English, play with words and use all his senses to arrive at poetry. “If I picked up/my honey-colored guitar/and called out my poem/ every day/ until it turned into a /song,/ imagine”
Imagine written by acclaimed poet Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Caldecott Honor Book award winner Lauren Castillo suggests to children 6-9 years of age to live a life of curiosity, courage and awareness ( Candlewick Press, 2018).
Questions/activities for Imagine
The following question is on the back cover: Who might you be when you grow up? Have you ever thought about that? How did the many experiences and interests of the boy in this story (the young Juan Felipe Herrera) move him toward being a writer? What could your interests and experiences indicate you might be when you grow up? Think about what you are very good at doing and what you have always wanted to try. Also, think about the books you enjoy and the hobbies you have. Keep a small notebook of your thoughts. You can ask a parent to help you get started.
Can you imagine going to a new school for the first time and not knowing how to speak or read the language all the other children are using? Take a look at the illustration that shows the young boy at the door of his new classroom. How do you think he feels? Who will welcome him into the class? Where do you think he will sit? Now, look at the next illustration. What does he do to help himself learn English?
Have you ever been the new kid? Did anyone welcome you into the group? Have you ever been the person to welcome a new child into your class? Draw a picture of either welcoming situation. Celebrate it!
