Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Kate Kiesler (Illustrator) "First, smooth dirt..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-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"). The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths. There's even a selection devoted to the "Mosquito Song." Each one is accompanied by a well-executed and evocative acrylic painting. Some of Kiesler's artwork sweeps across double pages to provide a dramatic vista-a meandering hiking trail, a field of wild mustard, a star-studded night sky-while other pictures reveal small, but equally telling details. In "Flannel," the child is shown holding her pine-, smoke-, and moss-scented camping shirt to her face, paired with the words, "I keep it hidden/in my bottom drawer-/where no one will find it/and wash away/my memories." A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes.
Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. . . .Richly colored paintings enhance the verses. -- Horn Book Guide

Whether playful or profound, the exquisitely crafted poems reverberate with eloquent yet effortless language, while the radiant acrylic artwork hints at the awe-inspiring mysteries of nature. -- Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061804597X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618045976
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,920 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect poetical treat for the camping kid, December 8, 2004

By	Emily Hawkins "moreta2" (Indianapolis, Indiana, US) - See all my reviews

After serving as a girl scout camp counselor for a summer, the poetry in this book certainly has meaning to me. The poems are wonderfully supported by soft painted illustrations. The story behind the poetry is a girl and her family going on a camping trip together... maybe an annual event. Written in her point of view, there are images of the animals she sees, scenes from the campsite, interactions with her family, introspective reactions to nature and the trip home.

I like the poetry itself for its imagery and emotional value. They are short, sweet and to the point, but very meaningful. I think my favorite poem is the one about the girl and her brother arguing about what is making the sounds at night outside their tent.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure enjoyment!, May 31, 2001

By	Sue Alexander (Canoga Park, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are, in each of Kristine O'Connell George's books, moments that make you gasp with the depth of insight she's put into words. "Toasting Marshmallows" is no different in that respect and is a joy to read. George has captured the sights, sounds -- and silences that are part of camping. With humor and joy, the camping experience -- from setting up the tent to listening to an owl --is illuminated and enhanced by the words in this delightful book of poems. A treasure for the summer -- and all year round!