The Blank Page

Is a blank page really blank? Beloved poet Alberto Blanco pulls back the curtain and illuminates all of the elements hidden in a single piece of paper: the tree it was made from, the rain and sun that allowed the tree to grow, and the people that created it. An enlightening read for readers young and old, it soon becomes clear that a blank page contains the whole cosmos.

In The Blank Page, world-renowned Mexican poet Alberto Blanco inspires children and adults to keep looking deeper, to never take things at face value. Charming illustrations by Rob Moss Wilson portray a world that slowly comes to life in a single sheet of paper: first the tree, then the forest, then the people are discovered, revealing the whole interrelated ecosystem of our world. As Blanco says: "Where nothing happens, there is a miracle we are not seeing."

Alberto Blanco is a poet, translator, essayist, and visual artist. Born in Mexico City, he is the author of over 30 books of poetry. He has also published translations, essay collections on visual art, and children's books. Blanco's poetry has been translated into over 20 languages. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Fulbright Commission, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Mexican National System of Art Creators. He was named the National Poet Emeritus of Mexico in 2018. He lives in Mexico City.

Rob Moss Wilson keeps several cauldrons of creative juices on a perpetual simmer, including but not limited to: painting landscapes and people enjoying themselves and their surroundings; writing small poems about mundane joy; building kinetic light sculptures; and drawing anything he fancies, for himself and others. He lives by a creek in Martinez, California.