Wildflower Emily: A Story About Young Emily Dickinson

by Lydia Corry

Emily Dickinson is one of America’s greatest and most original poets of all time. When you hear her name, you may imagine the famous recluse whose withdrawal from society became legendary. But it’s time to meet a new side of Emily, one that is powerful, adventurous, and joyful.

Follow along as we delve into Emily Dickinson’s childhood, revealing a young girl desperate to go out exploring―to meet the flowers in their own homes. Wade through tall grasses to gather butterfly weed and goldenrod, the air alive with the “buccaneers of buzz.” And, don’t forget to keep a hot potato in your pocket to keep your
fingers warm.

This is Emily Dickinson as you’ve never seen her before, embarking on an unforgettable journey in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts, with her trusty four-legged companion, Carlo.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Poetry, Middle Grade, Biography, Childrens, Nature, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson’s story is written in a very warm and fun way. It’s in a style of comic filled with vivid illustrations, short text and selected poems.

Emily was passionate about botany which she loved exploring in true nature. She did it with her big dog who was supposed to protect her.

When she listened to nature, her second passion woke up within her – poetry.

The story focuses on her early years before she became a recluse. It brings her adventurous and joyful side which truly shines through in this story.

The last pages are in a form of vignettes summarizing the years 1830-1886: how she wrote poetry, made her own books, loved baking, and about her siblings and community.

The target audience for this book is 8-12 years. For proficient readers it will be a breeze, and for those who need more encouragement it will be an enjoyable journey. With simple text and very warm illustrations, the story is presented in a fun way with character that engages and inspires to explore the nature, to be authentic, and to follow one’s heart.

It’s an amazing inspiration for young readers.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ma Biblio Perso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais quel magnifique album!
Tant par les illustrations, le choix des couleurs, le texte et les références aux poèmes. Cet ouvrage est un vrai petit bijou!

{L'histoire est entremêlée de ses propres mots, extraits de lettres écrites à ses amis et à sa famille, ainsi que d'une sélection de ses poèmes, retranscrits au fil du récit.}

Emily Dickinson est aujourd'hui reconnue comme l'une des plus grande poétesses ayant vécu.

Saviez-vous qu'après son décès, sa soeur a retrouvé près de 1800 poèmes cachés dans sa chambre?

Cet album est définitivement une œuvre d'art a découvrir!

[Kaylee Gwyn (literarypengwyns) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Lovely graphic novel and gorgeous illustrations. Can’t wait to buy the finished version!

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review *

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful book! The illustrations were beautiful and fit the tone of the story very well, and I loved how the author wove in Emily’s poetry. At times, I felt it was a little clunky to read, but overall I really enjoyed it!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful vignette of Emily Dickinson’s childhood! The illustrations are gorgeous and capture young Emily’s sense of whimsy, imagination, and deep appreciation for nature. I especially loved how seamlessly her poetry was incorporated into the storyline. Read for Libraries, Literature, and the Child.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

she's me i am her for real

[aspho’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story meant for younger readers as an introduction to Emily Dickinson’s life, and an ode to nature and poetry ! The illustrations were pretty and I liked the little documents at the end about how she lived her life

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

five stars mostly because the art style was sooooo gorgeous! loved that this focused on emily's love of botany; that's something i want to learn more about in regards to her! lovely, lovely book!

[Caroline Liberatore-Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Books for Kids 2025 read #4 -- thoroughly enjoyed this. A wonderful, whimsical, and relatable introduction to the poetry of Emily Dickinson for young readers.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little graphic novel about the intersection of Emily Dickinson and her beloved dog/nature companion and the natural world and poetry. Some things have been modified slightly and imagination has been widely applied.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning graphic novel brings young Emily Dickinson vividly to life! Through a lovely story set in Emily’s childhood, readers are taken on a journey that explores her love of botany, words, and her loyal dog Carlo. Together, Emily and Carlo explore wildflower fields, forests, bogs, and streams as Emily searches for botanicals to add to her collection. Meanwhile, Lydia weaves the poet’s beautiful words and poems seamlessly into the story’s fabric.

💐 I especially enjoyed the final section filled with fascinating facts about Emily—and Carlo! The author even shares Emily’s famous gingerbread recipe.

🌼 This delightful book is a wonderful introduction to one of the world’s greatest poets, inspiring curiosity and love for poetry in young readers!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet look at the life of Emily Dickinson, snippets of her poems, and the most beautiful illustrations. They are so dainty and breathtaking.

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read much of Emily Dickinson's poems but this graphic novel has certainly stirred my curiosity and I definitely will look for more about her.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful watercolor, gouache and colored pencil art. Paired with a wonder-filled story of nature, poetry, and friendship with a beloved pet.

[Marine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un ouvrage à la hauteur de la poétesse tout en couleur chatoyante et en poésie il ravit l’esprit et le cœur comme un jolie bouquet de fleurs sauvages.

[Livresse de Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probablement la plus belle BD que j’ai pu lire cette année, elle est vraiment magnifique.

L’histoire était douce et j’ai aimé en apprendre plus sur cette figure historique, je recommande vraiment 🥰

[emma charlton]

Classic poet Emily Dickinson’s childhood is explored through her botanical adventures with her Newfoundland Carlo. Emily loves her friends and family but spends her days longing for nature. Even her daily studies are focused on botany. With Carlo by her side, she takes off for day of adventure. They traverse fields and forests, appreciating the beauty of their surroundings through humor, wonder, and art.

Wildflower Emily is an excellent creative introduction to multiple nonfiction topics for young teens: history, poetry, and nature. Corry clarifies that the story is “streamlined” and creatively interpreted but contains many real aspects including Emily Dickinson’s own words from her letters. Throughout the book, there are snippets of poems inspired by nature and sketches and scientific names of the flowers she collected. The cover is representative of the story, which centers around Emily and Carlo in nature. It includes a slightly more colorful version of the graphic novel’s baseline palette, with additions of bright yellows and pinks. The writing mostly leans into third person narration of Emily’s inner thoughts and experiences with interspersed text bubbles with conversations to Carlo and interactions with peers and family.

The panels are designed creatively, with most gutters containing botanical illustrations and characters flowing out of or over panels. The nature-centric flexible illustrations aid in creating the mood and atmosphere of appreciation and exploration. The natural world has agency, including light fantastical elements of Emily talking to mushrooms and bees, perching on the leaves of flowers, and insects playing instruments and wearing hats. These are testaments to her creative inner world.

[Megyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildflower Emily is a children’s graphic novel about Emily Dickinson and her adventure in the wild with her dog. They go to look for flowers.

I really liked this story! It was whimsical and cute. I loved all of the different flowers throughout. The dog was a really cute touch. I loved the poem sprinkled throughout the book as well. The illustrations were very colorful and beautiful to look at. I loved seeing this side of Emily Dickinson since I don’t know much about her or her childhood. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in Emily Dickinson!

Thanks so much to netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Godwin Books for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new favorite book for me. It's a beautifully illustrated story about a girl who loves nature, roaming around with her trusty dog companion. But it's so much more.
Emily Dickinson is one of the most important poets, and this book incorporates some of her most famous works. It's also a story of someone who was always different, and her family loved, supported, and protected her without judgement.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this. I would recommend it for any age, even though it's geared towards children

[Kari Yergin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Just beautiful. It was great to think about Emily Dickinson as a child as opposed to the tragic adult which often seems to be focused on. Her delight in the things of nature and her sense of adventure made me wish I could’ve been her friend. The author managed to weave in some of her poems and words in ways that felt perfectly integrated. The illustrations were a gorgeous accompaniment, too.

[Candance Doerr-Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this graphic novel telling of young Emily Dickinson and her botanical passions. I had no idea that she had such a deep attachment and kinship with the outdoors and her beloved dog, Carlo.

The illustrations alongside the poems were lovely and inspire me to reread Dickinson’s poems in a new light.

MEW: NCTE book room

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautiful graphic novel I have ever read. It is about a time of Emily Dickinson’s life but none of her poetry. The illustrations are amazing and this would be a beautiful gift for a bookish tween.

[Lee Anne Veilleux · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’avais entendu parler d’Emily Dickinson, mais je n’avais jamais lu sa poésie. J’ai adoré la découvrir et aussi intimement. Les illustrations sont super belles et adaptées pour un jeune lecteur (public cible). J’aurais aimé en connaître plus sur sa vie, j’ai trouvé le livre court, même si c’était voulu. Ça a définitivement fait émerger mon intérêt à lire sa poésie.

[Sandy Krein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous little book about the poet Emily Dickinson and her shaggy ally, Carlo. The book is historically accurate, well written, and beautifully illustrated. The author makes great use of Dickinson’s poems and letters throughout. It’s a delightful book and I absolutely loved it.

[Opale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habituellement je ne mets mais les albums jeunesse ici vu que j'en lis énormément avec mes filles. Mais j'ai envie de garder une trace de ce magnifique album lu rapidement à la médiathèque ce matin. Les illustrations sont tellement belles, colorées et agrémentées de poèmes. Une pépite en album jeunesse

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, sweet, little story. It’s a fictional imagining of Emily Dickinson’s explorations in nature and how that influenced her poetry.

[Grace Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

little Grace would have LOVED this book (older Grace did too)

as a lifelong Emily Dickinson fan, i just have to say -- thank you, lydia corry.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a simple girl... I see a children's book about emily dickinson... I read it... I cry... I give it five stars on goodreads

[Breanne ~ The Literary Life of Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful and sweet, I loved it! I will definitely be getting my girls to check it out

[avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most beautiful, sweet illustrations. captures emily's magic and imagination perfectly. this book made me feel better on a bad day. spring is coming!!!!!🩷💐🌷🌹🪻🪷🌺🌸🌼🌻