1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book of poetry by award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George centers around the theme of a camping trip. Each poem tells of a part of the adventure that a family has as they camp, from setting up their tent when they arrive, to packing up and arriving home where the daughter - the narrator of many of the poems - unpacks and places her flannel shirt in the bottom drawer “where no one will find it/and wash away/my memories." In between, the family enjoys many aspects of their trip, which include observing wildlife, going fishing, visiting a bait shop, and, of course, toasting marshmallows.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This collection of 30 poems covers a wide range of styles in picture book format. Some are concrete poems, such as “Tent” and “Eavesdropping” (can you find the crescent moon?). Some poems have rhyme such as the description of toasting marshmallows where our narrator says it’s an art “a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection.” And some are freeform narratives telling the story of visiting a cave or the morning the little brother falls into the lake. But whether the poem includes rhyme or not, the language is always lyrical and musical. The reader can feel the mosquito in the onomotopoeia that brings the buzz to the ear, enjoy the path that takes the wanderer where “you didn’t know/you wanted to go” and feel the fear of something scratching on the tent outside. This collection of poems will have adults nostalgically remembering camping experiences and children and adults alike yearning to get outside and enjoy nature for the first time or all over again.
The poems are beautifully illustrated by Kate Kiesler’s acrylic paintings that draw the reader in and compliment the words of the poem. The reader will see the twinkling stars, feel the breeze blowing across the long grass of the meadow, and hear the buzzing of the bees in the field of wild mustard. Memories of an annoying little brother, quiet moments alone under a tree, or exciting times hand feeding a chipmunk will surface again through the vivid illustrations. While the paintings are realistic, the “soft focus” of each one will have the reader seeing the outdoors through a romantic lens. Even the mosquitoes and rain will seem like a pleasant experience. And as the book jacket flap states, the collaboration between George and Kiesler “will leave you with lively memories of a camping trip - even if you’ve never been on one.”
Children will find the poems fun and may clamor to go on a camping trip of their own. Many children will be able to relate to the brother and sister in these poems and will find the adventures very exciting. For kids who live in large cities and may not have had the chance to go camping, George and Kiesler can take them on a virtual trip that will feel almost as if they’ve been there themselves.
George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book of poetry by award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George centers around the theme of a camping trip. Each poem tells of a part of the adventure that a family has as they camp, from setting up their tent when they arrive, to packing up and arriving home where the daughter - the narrator of many of the poems - unpacks and places her flannel shirt in the bottom drawer “where no one will find it/and wash away/my memories." In between, the family enjoys many aspects of their trip, which include observing wildlife, going fishing, visiting a bait shop, and, of course, toasting marshmallows.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This collection of 30 poems covers a wide range of styles in picture book format. Some are concrete poems, such as “Tent” and “Eavesdropping” (can you find the crescent moon?). Some poems have rhyme such as the description of toasting marshmallows where our narrator says it’s an art “a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection.” And some are freeform narratives telling the story of visiting a cave or the morning the little brother falls into the lake. But whether the poem includes rhyme or not, the language is always lyrical and musical. The reader can feel the mosquito in the onomotopoeia that brings the buzz to the ear, enjoy the path that takes the wanderer where “you didn’t know/you wanted to go” and feel the fear of something scratching on the tent outside. This collection of poems will have adults nostalgically remembering camping experiences and children and adults alike yearning to get outside and enjoy nature for the first time or all over again.
The poems are beautifully illustrated by Kate Kiesler’s acrylic paintings that draw the reader in and compliment the words of the poem. The reader will see the twinkling stars, feel the breeze blowing across the long grass of the meadow, and hear the buzzing of the bees in the field of wild mustard. Memories of an annoying little brother, quiet moments alone under a tree, or exciting times hand feeding a chipmunk will surface again through the vivid illustrations. While the paintings are realistic, the “soft focus” of each one will have the reader seeing the outdoors through a romantic lens. Even the mosquitoes and rain will seem like a pleasant experience. And as the book jacket flap states, the collaboration between George and Kiesler “will leave you with lively memories of a camping trip - even if you’ve never been on one.”
Children will find the poems fun and may clamor to go on a camping trip of their own. Many children will be able to relate to the brother and sister in these poems and will find the adventures very exciting. For kids who live in large cities and may not have had the chance to go camping, George and Kiesler can take them on a virtual trip that will feel almost as if they’ve been there themselves.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*Starred review, School Library Journal: "...a child-focused sense of wonder...the poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths...A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes.”
*Starred review, Booklist: "Infused with the wonder and thrill of living outdoors, these are direct, satisfying poems that will engage kids at school, across the curriculum, or at home."
*Starred review, Publisher's Weekly: "...This volume by George and Kiesler is as delicious as a roasted marshmallow treat. George's poems shine, the images clear and startling."
*Children's Literature: "One can almost see the starlit night, taste the marshmallows, and hear the buzzing insects as words and illustrations combine in this unique collaboration."
*Kirkus: "Altogether, an engaging trip."
5. CONNECTIONS
*Teachers can ask children to compare the experiences of the children in the poems to their own experiences. Children may want to try writing and illustrating their own poems about outdoor experiences.
*Almost every child camps in the living room or the back yard at one time or another. Parents can use this volume to enhance the experience by reading poems and using flashlights on the ceiling or toasting marshmallows in the fireplace. Take a hike through the neighborhood after reading about the chipmunk, the moose, and the deer looking for wildlife native to the area, even if its simply the neighborhood cats, dogs, and birds.
No comments:
Post a Comment