Words with Wings and Magic Things

A School Library Journal Best Book of 2025
A 2025 White Raven Selection
A Kirkus Reviews Best Kids Book of March 2025
One of School Library Journal‘s 6 Inspiring Poetry Books
A Barnes & Noble Best Kids Book of March 2025
An Early & Middle Readers US Indie Bestseller
A Southern California, Children’s Interest Indie Bestseller
One of the Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids of 2025
One of Poets.org‘s 2025 Featured Fall Books for Young Readers
A Brightly Best Picture Book of 2025

“The perfect book to show kids that writing and drawing can transport them to new worlds.” —New York Times

“Burgess displays a keen intuition for what will get kids laughing — and what will make them think. . . . Broad and subtle in turn — verse to stay with readers for years to come.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

“Burgess celebrates wordplay in a way that transforms the ordinary into the exceptional. Salati’s engaging illustrations successfully help bring the poems to life. Together, they make a perfect combination to be read and enjoyed on one’s own or shared as a delightful read aloud . . . . This is an extraordinary collection filled with poems to savor and illustrations that will both captivate and delight young readers.” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“In this delightful collection of poems, Words with Wings and Magic Things, Matthew Burgess takes us on a wild adventure, with poems ranging from silly to sensitive, nonsensical to insightful. . . . Words with Wings and Magic Things is sure to inspire readers to seek bold and courageous adventures. Many will likely even pick up a pen and create their own poetry.” —STARRED REVIEW, BookPage

“Burgess offers fantastical fragments and affirming messages throughout this rich trove of impish verse. In digitally colored pencil drawings, some stylistically reminiscent of Maurice Sendak’s in A Hole Is to Dig, Caldecott Medalist Salati offers slyly understated vignettes of children dancing, dreaming, encountering creatures, and more.” —Publishers Weekly

“Burgess twists the strands of language into invented words that make perfect sense in Salati’s scene of feasting monsters. . . . Poets and artists can accomplish magic.” —Imaginary Elevators

“Words with Wings and Magic Things is a whimsical illustrated poetry collection for young readers. . . . [containing] over 50 poems showcasing the author’s love of language, words and rhyme. Readers can’t help but smile at its combination of silliness and heart. Burgess’ poems are a playful celebration of imagination, being yourself, and making magic out of the mundane.” —Quebec Library Association