poetrees written by douglas florian

Florian, Douglas. Poetrees. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781416986720

Plot Summary:
     Poetrees is a compilation of eighteen poems related to trees. Each poem is uniquely designed to describe various trees with the inclusion of some tree elements. Not only does this book include a vivid description of tree elements, but the inclusion of a 'glossatree' is provided for a more thorough definition of each tree and element.

Critical Analysis:
     Poetrees follows the criteria of a thematic collection through the usage of a specialized anthology directly attributed to trees and their elements. This thematic collection of poems was written by Douglas Florian who incorporates many elements of poetry including: sound patterns, structure, and meaning. Florian introduces this collection with the usage of concrete poetry, as seen in the poem, The Seed; a simple twenty-five word poem in the shape of an infinity sign. This poem describes the life cycle of a seed but is written in a manner symbolizing that the life cycle of a seed is infinite. Not only is the life cycle of the seed depicted through the context, but it is also depicted visually. Within the poetic element of structure, Florian incorporates the usage of stanzas and form. Most poems within this collection consist of one stanza; however, Weeping Willow consists of four stanzas that are comprised of couplets utilizing an 'abab' rhyme scheme. The overall context of Florian's collection consists of vivid imagery and adjectives used to convey a detailed depiction of the trees described with the utilization of descriptive poetry.
     Within this thematic collection, Douglas Florian encompasses the theme with the usage of brown paper bags as his canvas. With the usage of watercolor paints and oil pastels on top of this unconventional canvas, Florian incorporated vibrant and symbolic illustrations to convey each poem. Specifically conveyed through the poem of Weeping Willow, Florian incorporates personification through the illustration of human eyes paired with tears that are depicted as leaves; thus, correlating the concept of weeping with a weeping willow tree. Not only does Douglas Florian provide his readers with entertaining and vivid imagery through his poems, but he also pairs this imagery with imaginative and detailed illustrations.

Awards Won:
National Parenting Publication's Gold Medal (1994), Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Poetry (1995)

Review Excerpts:

"Starting with the book’s title and ending with a final “glossatree,” the wordplay in Florian’s latest poetry collection provides plenty of fun...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." - Booklist

"Trees recieve a witty and informative rhyming appreciation...the poems live up to his usual high standard...Readers and listeners will learn and laugh." - Kirkus Reviews

“Florian’s richly watercolored collages, accompanied by verse, evoke a whole forest of trees. Sometimes it takes just a handful of words. “From the acorn grows the tree - slowly, slowly,” he writes, as an oak fills a two-page spread, stained onto paper.” - New York Times Book Review

" Florian uses deftly crafted, refreshingly unforced rhymes to celebrate a dozen trees and their components. The roles of seeds, roots, bark, and tree rings are all given poetic attention, while the trees included range from coconut palm and baobab to weeping willow and yews. Play with words and with their arrangement on the pages abounds, as does wry humor. The book opens from top to bottom to allow the trees to grow vertically across the gutters. The mixed media illustrations are delightfully innocent, suggesting perhaps the directness of children..." - Children's Literature

" In this unusual collection, Florian focuses on several types of and parts of a tree, with poems about seeds, roots, bark, leaves, and tree rings. Solid in their meter and rhymes, the poems are idiosyncratic rather than comprehensive, creating a hybrid of information, wordplay, and artistic invention. Appropriately enough, Florian's sophisticated collages are created on primed paper bags allowing him to combine interesting textures, chalk, colored pencils, stamps, and oil pastels. In addition to familiar oaks and birches, Florian (Dinothesaurus) explores more unusual trees, including the dragon tree, monkey puzzle tree, and baobab. The book is designed to be held and read vertically, allowing Florian to showcase the height of trees like the giant sequoia or banyan from treetop to root bottom. However, some may find this makes for awkward lap reading. Teachers in particular will find Florian's “Glossatree” at the end useful. Filled with facts about the trees described in the poems, it also includes a brief bibliography and author's note describing Florian's lifelong fascination with trees." - Publishers Weekly

"Florian focuses on trees (seeds, bark, leaves, roots, and tree rings) and introduces readers to 13 species from around the world. An oversize, double-page illustration accompanies each poem. Some are read lengthwise, which enables the artist to highlight the awesome height and size of trees. The selections are accessible and concise, with child-friendly wordplay and artful design: of the "spreading," "treading," "always-outward-heading" banyan tree, Florian concludes: "It's not a tree—/It's a forest!" The primitive illustrations—crafted on "primed paper bags" using mixed media including gouache watercolor paints, colored pencils, rubber stamps, oil pastels, and collage—range in nuance from whimsy to mystery and reverence..." - School Library Journal

Connections:
Customers who purchased this title also bought the following titles, also written by Douglas Florian: Poem Runs: Baseball Poems, Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings, and beast feast.

Interactivity:

• Ask children what their favorite tree is and have them use adjectives to describe it.
• Point out the trees in the book and ask children if they've ever seen it and where.
• Ask children the benefits of trees i.e. oxygen, paper, homes for animals.