A Fresh Look at The Road Not Taken

First lines of many poems are highly recognizable. In some cases, several stanzas or the entire poem can be recited by heart. That's likely true for one of Robert Frost's most well known poems: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN. You can hear Frost recite it by clicking HERE (preceded  by an ad you can skip).

Memorization and recitation of poems have been shown to benefit the literacy, fluency, and learning of young people. Check this interview and notes. My unscientific opinion is that this is true for anyone, any age. 

Familius Books, 2019

Whether you know this particular poem or not, I urge you to take a close and reflective look at THE ROAD NOT TAKEN: Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood. The author, of course, is Robert Frost, and not a single word has been changed from the original poem. The publisher's note reveals that Frost originally wrote this poem as a joke about indecisiveness, but it has become a quiet anthem to self-determination, reflection, and appreciation for the journey itself. IN this picture book, illustrations created by Vivian Mineker lift the poem from the ear and offer a story for the heart that explore these expanded interpretations.

Line by line and page by page, the choices of daily life lead the young boy through many stages of human growth, each becoming a step toward the next until a boy becomes a man, a man becomes a partner, a couple raise a family, and so on. The fluid, rounded art is vibrant but subtle, wrapping the reader in both comfort and encouraging mindfulness. 

I've loved this poem since first reading it in my youth. The layered illustration approach and line-by-line unrolling of life revealed a deeper appreciation than I had previously enjoyed, despite years of rereading, reciting, and reflecting on this poem. 

I suspect it will do the same for you.

Young people will enjoy the book for its colorful appeal, for the visual narrative, and for the familiarity of scenes like collecting leaves, walking with a dog, etc. The book format also provides a tool for memorization, for recitation, and even for choral reading. 

I hope you'll give this a close look and consider using it with every age.

On a further note:

Graduation season is upon us. This title will make a remarkably suitable gift. Another title I've recommended (and gifted) ever since it first released is Wherever You Go, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.

Miller's book came to mind while I was reading THE ROAD NOT TAKEN for several reasons. The illustration styles are quite different, but both use rounded, flowing forms and  sweeping movement to propel the text forward. Both have a lyrical optimism and convey trust for the characters' choices. Both suit the immediacy of the moment and scenes, but offer a long view that fosters confidence and joy in each moment of the unfolding days and years. 

In the same way, either (or both!) will be treasured as gifts in during the time of celebration, but will intensify in meaning and relevance with each passing year.