a face is a poem

A beautiful poem celebrating each other, a face is a poem by Julie Morstad is a gentle reminder about the beauty in every face.

Julie Morstad shares wonder and beauty and curiosity with readers to build empathy and understanding in young readers through this free verse poetic story.

This large book asks questions of readers and invites us to use our imaginations and wonder about each other, about the wonderful things that our faces can do and what would happen if our faces looked different. I love how this story can grow with readers. With young readers, we can take the words at face value and perhaps be a little silly with our imaginations. With older readers, the questions are quite profound and can lead to some incredible conversations about diversity and kindness.

I love that this book is a poem that does not rhyme. The free verse poetry fits perfectly with the narrative that faces don’t fit into a perfect pattern or formula. Faces are unique and beautiful and messy just like the poem.

The art also by Julie Morstad is such a feast for readers. Colour interspersed with black and white line drawings draws the readers into the narrative and offers food for the imagination. The book is large which makes it so easy to share with a big group and for everyone to be able to connect with the illustrations and the words. It’s equally wonderful for sharing one on one and really diving into some of the amazing pictures. I especially love the page where the faces are all rearranged, bringing into contrast our ideas about beauty and how those ideas can change and evolve.