Toasting Marshmallows: camping poems

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, O’Connell Kristine. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Book. ISBN 061804597-X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Kristine O’Connell George has designed a poetry book that contains an array of thirty poems that incorporate a camping theme and adventures that include putting a tent up, dressing in your sleeping bag on a cold morning, going fishing, to toasting marshmallows on an open fire. These poems will help readers experience the outdoors and enjoy the peacefulness that nature attracts.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Throughout the poems, George has chosen to use the voice of a little girl to narrate the poems. The sentiment that is expressed through these poems helps the author set the tone of calmness, and tranquility that comes with being in nature. Some of the poems are written in the shape of the poems topic. Some examples are seen in the poems, “Tent and Flashlight.” The text in Tent takes the shape of a triangle, in the poem, “Flashlight, the text is in four circles like you would find shinning in the dark using a flashlight.
Katie Keiser captures each poem’s theme with vivid and soothing acrylic artwork that combined with the text gives the reader a clear understanding of the topic. Keiser uses a variety of colors to set the mood of each poem. Some examples include the poem “Storm.” Keiser uses greens, grays and whites to generate an atmosphere that is conducent to the onset of a rainstorm. Another example is in the poem “Wild Mustard.” Keiser uses bright yellow to entice the reader to use their imagination and put themselves on a hillside surrounded by wild mustards.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book: “The pleasure and surprises of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. Familiar camping experiences--including pitching a tent, sleeping in a sleeping bag, and watching a chipmunk--are described, in addition to more unusual experiences like walking through a field of mustard, seeing a moose, and discovering a cave. Richly colored paintings enhance the verses.”

School Library Journal: ." A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes.”-

Kirkus Review: “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.”

5. CONNECTION
Activity: Have room set up like a campsite and students can sit around a fabricated fire and read, “Toasting Marshmallows.” After students have read these two poetry books, have them pair up and create their own poem and illustrate it. Then students can share their poems to the class.

Other book to read:
Ruurs, Margriet. WHEN WE GO CAMPING. ISBN 9780887766855