Word after Word after Word by Patricia MacLachlan

"Some things happen in fours. On the fourth day of the fourth month after the winter holiday vacation, a famous writer came to our fourth-grade class. Her name was Ms Mirabel."

The focus of this story is on five kids - Evie lives with her dad and brother, she misses her mum but thinks the new neighbour might be a good wife for him; Henry lives with his mum and dad and he just wants his family to stay happy; Lucy's mum has cancer but she does seem to be getting better; May is upset because her family are adopting a new baby; and Russell's dog has died. 

Each of these kids does have something to write about and under the gentle coaching of Ms Mirabel each of them writes several terrific poems to share with their parents on the open day.

Here is one from Lucy:

Away

Shut it away!

Sadness.

Lock the door after it!

Sadness. 

Fold tears up and

Put them in a box

So they don't see

Light

Laughter

Joy!

Send sadness far away

So that even if you

Send for it

It doesn't hear you call.

You can hear a six minute audio sample here. And this link also takes you to some teachers notes. 

"Some words may make you happy, some may make you sad. Maybe some will make you angry. What I hope"—a sudden gust of wind made Ms. Mirabel's hair lift—"what I hope is that something will whisper in your ear." "What does that mean?" asked Russell. ... "You will know," she said.

Bookseller blurb: One spring, visiting author Ms. Mirabel comes to Lucy’s fourth-grade class to teach about the power of words and writing—lessons that subtly but powerfully change the lives of Lucy and her four friends. Each of the five is dealing with his or her own small childhood tragedy, such as the arrival of a new baby or the death of a special dog. The young writers discover their voices, and they also find ways to express their hopes and fears to those they love. Sure to inspire new generations of writers and readers, this contemporary novel from a beloved author and Newbery Medalist celebrates the power of words and language, stories and poetry. It also underscores a message that is near to Patricia MacLachlan’s own heart—that becoming a writer can help every person, young or old, to better experience the world. Reading this book is like a visit from Patricia MacLachlan herself!

My friend spied this book at a recent charity book sale. She knows I am both a huge fan of Patricia MacLachlan and also that I have begun a small collection of her books. My obsession began with Sarah, Plain and Tall - I think I have read it over ten times. It is my comfort story. Word after word after word published in 2010 is available but I sure did make a good saving. My copy cost AUS$1 and a new copy costs nearly AUS$35 here in Australia. 

I won't say that Word after Word after Word is MacLachlan's best book, but it's a book you'll like spending time with. All of her books are like that. Book Aunt

At its heart, this book is about the ways that writing and friendships can connect us to our own stories—word after word after word. It is a beautiful, authentic, grounded novel that you won’t want to put down Great Kids Books

Here are a few books by Patricia MacLachlan:

Patricia MacLachlan died in 2022. Here is a list of her books:

• Cassie Binegar (1980)
• Arthur, for the Very First Time (1980)
• Tomorrow's Wizard (1982)
• Seven Kisses in a Row (1983)
• Unclaimed Treasures (1984)
• The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt (1988)
• Journey (1991)
• Baby (1993)
• Edward's Eyes (2007)
• The True Gift (2009)
• Word After Word After Word (2010)
• Waiting for the Magic (2011)
• Kindred Souls (2012)
• White Fur Flying (2013)
• Prairie Days (2013)
• The Truth of Me (2013)
• Fly Away (2014)
• The Poet's Dog (2016)
• Just Dance (2017)
• My Father’s Words (2018)
• Dream Within a Dream (2019)
• Wondrous Rex (2020)
• A Secret Shared (2021)
• My Life Begins! (2022)

Plus the five titles of that follow the story of Sarah, Plain and Tall. And nearly 30 picture books.