Genre 3--Book Review 2

BIBLIOGRAPHY

George, Kristine O’Connell. 1998. OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN: 0-395-87611-7

PLOT SUMMARY

Kristine O’Connell George, one of the primary voices in children’s poetry, offers a volume of thirty shorts poems about the life of trees, the life in trees, and the life surrounding trees. As a whole, OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS, is a metaphor for the world. In one poem, “Bridge,” a tree is literally a bridge but figuratively a difficult crossing in growing up, “This tree across the stream / is a trickier bridge / than it might seem. / Quick quickly skipping / or slow slip tiptoe, / it’s a wet and mossy, / often soggy / crossing.” In others the trees offer advice, food, or hiding places.

Kate Kiesler illustrates the book with images of trees and children—one lovely painting for each poem.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS by Kristine O’Connell George speaks to the reader in a calm, steady voice. The quiet tone of the thirty poems asks the reader to slow down and notice. The collection opens with exactly that comment in “Oak’s Introduction,” “I’ve been wondering / when you’d notice.” The personification of the mighty oak responding to a child who had stopped for a moment sets the mood for the poems that follow.

George uses a variety of poetic forms including haiku, concrete poetry, and free verse and although the book is marketed to children, the poetry is sophisticated and brings to mind the work of Williams Carlos Williams. Her language includes intelligent metaphors as in “Bud,” “Snap open the clasp-- / and you will find, / inside this tiny valise, / one rolled and folded / neatly packed / leaf.”George’s playfulness with language—especially alliteration—pleases the reader’s ear and the unconventional use of rhyme (not in a specific pattern) sometimes surprises and sometimes nudges.

Kate Kiesler’s oil paintings reflect the poetry in exactly the right way. The colors are subdued and the images seem slightly out of focus—in an impressionist style. One of the most beautiful, the illustration for “Broken String,” evokes a winter day with the remnants of summer still a memory.
George and Kiesler together have created an exquisite, dreamy book about one of nature’s greatest gifts—trees.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Booklist Editor's Choice

Starred Review from BOOKLIST, September 1, 1998
Kiesler's warm oil paintings beautifully complement the poems, making for a totally satisfying experience that is sure to be a favorite of anyone who's ever stopped to notice trees. -Helen Rosenberg

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, September 1, 1998
A celebration of these mighty living things and the people who love them.-Pamela K. Bomboy

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, September 14, 1998
Dedicated to "the saplings," this leaf-filled collection would make just the right gift for nature lovers.

CONNECTIONS
There are many websites that include wonderful activities that correspond to the book.
The author’s website offers lesson plans for teachers, an author’s biography, and audios of the poet.
http://www.kristinegeorge.com/

A library blog lists some great activities and further study ideas including making a salad from things that grow on trees .
http://k8talksbooks.blogspot.com/2008/03/old-elm-speaks-by-kristine-oconnell.html

A study of trees for Arbor Day seems a great time to read the book along with a version of Johnny Appleseed.

Create a classroom “tree” where students write their poems (copied or created) on large leaves and attach them to a tree trunk on a bulletin board.