Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems

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

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Toasting Marshmallows is a colorful collection of poetry that will take readers on a lyrical journey as they read poems about activities and emotions related to camping and the outdoors. The first poem in this collection pulls readers in with a piece of formed poetry in the shape of a tent discussing how to successfully build one, with subsequent poems discussing the excitement of summer storms, rowing, fishing, forest walks, and more. The thirty poems in this collection give readers a visual and descriptive experience into the art of camping and the great outdoors.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a well-crafted collection of camping poems that will delight readers of all ages. The rhythm and the use of imagery that come through in George’s writing take the reader to the outdoors describing the sounds, smells, and noises of camping. Some poems take on the visual form and shape of the topic, while others move around on the page and onto some of the illustrations for a dramatic visual effect. The use of figurative language brings objects like the river, and special places like a dark cave to life with descriptions that evoke emotion and imagery:

“River words run in scallops and scribbles, … River writes, river talks.”

“The cave breathes icy and ancient, measuring time with slow drips that echo as water hits granite somewhere deep in this cavern.”

The illustrations in this collection of poetry give readers a visual image that matches the strength of the writing with the use of oil painting that carefully depicts dark and light, vibrant colors, and a natural setting.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
ALA Booklist, starred: “George’s astute imagery pairs beautifully with Keisler’s rich, warm-toned oil paintings to impart a strong sense of the pleasures of a rural landscape.”

Publishers Weekly, starred:, “… All around, an invitation to experience joy and wonder.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Other poetry collections by the author can be shared with students to compare and contrast other stylistic forms of writing.
*Students can illustrate poems or can create poetry that takes on the form of the subject to display in the classroom.

Selected Titles by Author:

Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems
The Great Frog Race and Other Poems
Book!
Fold Me a Poem
Up!
Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems
Little Dog Poems
Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems