by Vihaan Agarwal, Grade 7
A masterful fusion of scientific insight seamlessly integrated with captivating poetic expression was delivered in the session on STEM Poetry by Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca. The talk introduced us to her book Your One and Only Heart, which simplifies complex anatomical explanations of the human heart through lyrical poetry, displayed alongside striking artwork.
This approach is an attempt to catapult elementary readers into fresh thinking, so that they can understand complex concepts with relative ease. Rajani LaRocca engaged the audience with a readout of the text built around pairs of contrasting qualities: hidden and noticeable, energetic and relaxed, simple and complex. Through these verses, LaRocca shows how the heart while being a biological pump can embody opposites while still working tirelessly to keep us alive, giving the readers the necessity and importance to strike a balance in every aspect.
Lauren Paige Conrad’s clever use of colors in the illustrations deepens the impact of the text while making it visually playful and inclusive. Children of different backgrounds and abilities appear throughout, reflecting diversity and connection. Diagrams and notes provide clear explanations for curious readers who want to dive deeper into science.
During the entire talk, LaRocca not just seamlessly blended art and science, but highlighted the importance of understanding the peculiarities behind human life, and taking an objective approach while dealing with emotionally trying situations (like a character having leukemia in her novel-in-verse, Mirror to Mirror). She highlighted the importance of de-stressing oneself through the analogy of a simple ink dropper which if not relaxed is unable to drop the ink.
In the end, Rajani’s informative and inspiring talk underlines the importance of resilience, simplicity and connection by celebrating the heart as a hardworking organ, a symbol of life, and a source of endless fascination.
