Death of a Hat: A Brief History of Poetry

A celebrated duo reunites for a look at poems through history inspired by objects — earthly and celestial — reflecting the time in which each poet lived.

A book-eating moth in the early Middle Ages. A peach blossom during the Renaissance. A haunted palace in the Victorian Era. A lament to the hat in contemporary times. Poetry has been a living form of artistic expression for thousands of years, and throughout that time poets have found inspiration in everything from swords to stamp albums, candles to cobwebs, manhole covers to the moon. In This Is Just to Say: A History of Poetry (in 50 Objects), award-winning anthologist Paul Janeczko presents his fiftieth book, offering young readers a quick tour of poets through the ages. Breathing new life into the poems in this expansive collection is Chris Raschka’s colorful, imaginative art.