Module 3: Poetry - TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA:

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X

PLOT SUMMARY:

Going camping with family can be one of the most wholesome, powerful, and moving experiences of childhood. In this collection of thirty concise yet engaging poems, Kristine O’Connell George manages to describe a variety of camping experiences in a way that is sure to mesmerize young readers. From pitching a tent to toasting marshmallows, George portrays the vivid, sensory-rich experiences of heading to the great outdoors in the beautiful and dramatic language of poetry.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS offers an excellent balance of free verse and rhyming poems, with each of the thirty poems contributing something unique to the collection. Both the rhythm and rhymes used sound natural and effortless when read aloud, making this a great poetry collection to share with young children. The playful arrangement of lines and spaces in several of the poems also adds to the appeal of the collection. For example, the lines of the poem “Tent” form a triangular tent shape, and each stanza in the poem “Flashlight” is carefully separated from the other three stanzas to give the illusion of four flashlight beams. In “Mosquito Song,” George also has fun exaggerating sound to replicate a buzzing mosquito: “It’s meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! / Mosqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeto!”

George is particularly skilled at utilizing language in engaging ways in this collection of camping poems. From personifying the moon in “Eavesdropping” to comparing a person in a sleeping bag to a caterpillar in a cloth cocoon in “Sleeping Bag,” George expertly weaves figurative language into her poems in ways that children can identify with. The careful word choice and captivating language of these poems will surely evoke powerful emotions in anyone who appreciates the beauty and wonder of nature.

Kate Kiesler’s wonderful paintings add to the power and appeal of the collection. Children will enjoy the beautiful visuals that accompany each poem as they are read aloud, and Kiesler does a great job of complementing the poems while capturing the vibrant sights of camping and the great outdoors. Readers will long to dive into Kiesler's paintings and toast marshmallows of their own under the gorgeous starry night sky.

TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS is an excellent poetry choice for children’s collections, and children will want to read and experience more of George’s poetry after reading this collection.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (March 11, 2001):
“Like their previous collaborations, The Great Frog Race and Old Elm Speaks, this volume by George and Kiesler is as delicious as a toasted marshmallow treat. George's poems are well crafted, varied and easily accessible.”

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (July 1, 2001):
“George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family's camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home. All of the selections convey a child-focused sense of wonder as the campers explore the lakefront and surrounding terrain, enjoy the marvels of the natural world, relish meals round the campfire, and toast marshmallows ("This is art-/a time of serious reflection/as my pillowed confection/slowly reaches golden perfection").“

From KIRKUS REVIEW (February 1, 2001):
“George deftly describes the satisfying sequence of familiar events in a summer camping experience in this collection of 30 related poems perfectly paired once again with Kiesler's inviting oil paintings (The Great Frog Race and Other Poems, 1998, etc.).”

CONNECTIONS:

*Other poetry books by Kristine O’Connell George:
George, Kristine O’Connell. 1998. OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395876117

George, Kristine O’Connell. 1997. THE GREAT FROG RACE. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395776074

*Other books about camping:
Van Dusen, Chris. 2003. A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811836037

Ruurs, Margriet. 2004. WHEN WE GO CAMPING. Ill. by Andrew Kiss. New York: Tundra Books. ISBN 0887766854

*Activities:
This collection of poems would be perfect to use during a unit on camping or the outdoors. Create a pretend campfire out of red, yellow, and orange paper, and grab some flashlights to read the poems out loud around your indoor campfire!

Students could also be encouraged to write their own short poems about camping or the outdoors. Writing poetry will be easier and more enjoyable when students draw on their own personal memories and experiences.

*Websites:
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Camping/index.shtml
http://www.kristinegeorge.com/