A Review of TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061804597X.

PLOT SUMMARY

From staking the tent to treasuring the memories, Kristine O’Connell George, presents the many facets of a family camping trip in this collection of poems.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Speaking with the voice of the big sister, George omits not one detail of this adventure and accurately portrays the multitude of joys one might find while camping in the wild. The poems are written mostly in free verse with vivid images shining brightly in the language. Even without Kiesler’s colorful, realistic paintings, the concrete poem “Tent” is easily pictured, “Blooming, bright orange.” Still, her work beautifully complements George’s words and each picture projects a clear moment as if reflecting the narrator’s favorite memories in a treasured snapshot.

Like the magic that so often accompanies a camping trip, the family’s first animal encounter quickly follows the tent-raising as a doe enters the clearing. In “A Doe,” one can easily picture the family admiring their handiwork, then holding their breath and admiring their visitor briefly before she darts back into the forest. George captures every exploration of the campers, following them from meadow to lake and bait shop to cave; even illuminating the necessity of a flashlight in four simple, but strong, haikus - each bathed in its own circle of light.

No haphazard collection, these poems are clearly arranged to tell a story. “Two Voices in a Tent at Night” finds the young siblings facing mysterious noises and saying “Something is scratching/on our tent./Is not./Is too/Is not.” The moon and stars fill the sky of the double-page spread, only the moon forms a poem itself, “Eavesdropping,” as the children debate. The story flows, beginning to end, from the “smooth dirt” beneath the tent until the memories are tucked away, wrapped in a favorite flannel camping shirt, wearing the lingering scents of campfire and pine. Start packing now – these verses will leave you yearning for toasted marshmallows and a night or two in the great outdoors.

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
Book Links: A Lasting Connection
Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award CLCSC
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children
Children's Literature Choice 2002
Nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Master List, the Kentucky Blue Grass award, and Indiana's Young Hoosier's award.

Reviews:

From School Library Journal - 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 Boston Globe - “Poems convey a wonderful sense of place as a family enjoys the vastness and immediacy of nature while camping." by Stephanie Loer,

CONNECTIONS

Introduce cinquain or haiku forms of poetry using “Sleeping Outside” and “Flashlight.” Encourage students to practice writing a poem using one of these forms.

Host a camping-themed read-in. Set up a tent, build a “campfire” and invite children to share their favorite outdoor stories. Read Toasting Marshmallows aloud to set the mood!

From: http://www.kristinegeorge.com/teachers_guide_toasting_marshmallows.html