POETREES

 POETREES by Douglas Florian

1.Bibliography 

Florian, D. (2010). Poetrees. Beach Lane Books. ISBN: 9781416986720 

2.Plot Summary 

The book Poetrees written by Douglas Florian is a collection of poems about seeds, roots, and many different trees. It includes artwork of many types of trees that were created by the author. 

3.Critical Analysis 

This book had so many distinctive features to enjoy. The Book is read at the turn of 90 degrees. The reader will read the book longways. The poems in the book have rhymes schemes, rhythm, and various poetry styles. The poems give information about the specific trees that the reader will come away with knowledge about the variety of trees in the book. There is figurative language used throughout the poems and a play on words. For example, in the poem Bristlecone Pine, the line that says, “For fifty cen-trees I’m alive.” 

The illustrations in this book are fantastic! The author used water colors , colored pencils, rubber stamps, oil pastels and collages on brown paper bags. As the reader explores the illustration, they will notice how the words in the poem are reflected in the pictures. For example, in the poem Yews, you see a grey tree on a dark background. The poem is about a tree near a grave. The words tell you the “Huge trunks are hollow as a cave, Home to gnomes, elves, and trolls. Sneaking peeks at yew through holes...” On closer inspection of the picture, you see the gnomes appearing in the nooks and crannies of the tree truck. You also notice a black cat and a ghost are also in the illustration and the tree is near a graveyard. 

The author also included notes and a “Glossatree” at the end of the book to support the learning of the reader. 

4.Review Excerpts 

Booklist (March 1, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 13)) The big pages are well suited for group sharing, as are the playful puns (Lovely leaves / Leave me in awe). The final fascinating notes on each tree, and on leaves, stems, and roots, spell out the call for conservation that is part of the poetry and pictures. 

Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2010) Swiveling his pages ninety degrees for tree-tall vertical spreads, the popular poet-illustrator celebrates the utility and diversity of trees in thirteen poems on a variety of species, plus five on such features as seeds, roots, and bark. 

Kirkus Reviews (February 15, 2010) The author is careful to include a "Glossatree," an author's note and a bibliography. Readers and listeners will learn and laugh. (Picture book/poetry. 5-9) 

5. Connections 

• • Invite children to read Redwood by Jason Chin ISBN: 9781596434301 then write a fact that they learned about a Redwood tree and a tree from the book Poetree. 
• • As a class create your own “Poetree” by having students either write their own poem or copy their favorite poem onto a leaf then hang from a small artificial tree. 
• • Create a center with watercolor paints and construction paper and allow students to paint their own. Have students write a cinquain or Haiku poem about a tree and then transfer to their painting.