"Are you a scientist?" I ask.

Marianne stops writing and looks up. "No, I’m not a scientist — I’m a poet."

"Oh," I reply. I’ve never met a poet before. "What, exactly, does a poet do?" I ask her.

"For me, being a poet begins with watching."

On a trip to the zoo, young Jonathan returns a lost hat to Marianne, a woman who wears all black and scribbles notes in a little book. When Marianne invites him to tour the zoo with her, Jonathan makes a new friend and learns that he too can write poetry.

With lighthearted illustrations and a poetically told story, this picture book about poet Marianne Moore offers readers a glimpse of the writing process and encourages them to become writers too.

Awards
Society of Illustrators "The Original Art" Annual Exhibition 2006

Discussion Guide
Feel free to download this guide for use with your students.