Toasting Marshmallows

Bibliography

George, Kristine O’Connell. 2001. TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS: CAMPING POEMS. Ill. By Kate Kiesier. New York: Hougton Mufflin Company. ISBN 061804597

Plot Summary

Toasting Marshmallows is a collection of thirty beautifully crafted poems that celebrate the events that occur on a family camping trip. George uses simple poems to capture the sounds, taste, sights, and events that occur through the eyes of a child. Campfires, getting dressed in a sleeping bag, toasting marshmallows, going fishing, and taking long walks alone give the reader a chance to experience what camping is all about.

Critical Analysis

George uses a combination of different poetic forms to describe the many different activities young children encounter on a camping trip. This book appeals to the young reader. Children will enjoy the use of rhyming words describing the mouth-watering taste of marshmallows in “Toasting Marshmallows” (toaster/roaster and reflection/confection/perfection). George also uses rich language like “Her chrome grille/ is a shy, wistful grin./ Her fading green paint/ peels in rusty scabs” to illustrate an old ’54 GMC flatbed found off a beaten path. Poems like Tent, Eavesdropping, and Flashlight are created forming images in the shape of the topic. These poems are playful and fun to read. Kids will also get a kick out of the play on words used in Sleeping Bag (I wriggle, scoootch,/ scrunch, and jiggle. Flop./ Front flips, back flips) and Mosquito Song (It’s meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!/ Mosqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeto!/ Is that you, Dinner?/ Greeeeeeeeeetings!).

Each poem is complemented with a vibrantly oil colored painting that captures the essence of each poem. Dark colors of blacks and blues landscape the night-life, while bright vibrant colors of yellow and green highlight the beautiful grassy fields. While Kiesler uses two pages to paint the backdrop of many poems, single pages are used for others.

Reviews

Booklist starred review: "fine collection brings the outdoors up close...direct, satisfying poems that will engage kids at school, across the curriculum, or at home."

School Library Journal starred review: “The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths. . . .A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes.”

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

Connections

Other books by Kristine O’Connell George include:

George, Kristine O’Connell. THE GREAT FROG RACE AND OTHER POEMS. ISBN 0395776074

George, Kristine O’Connell. OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS. ISBN 0395876117

George, Kristine O’Connell. HUMMINGBIRD NEST: A JOURNAL OF POEMS. ISBN 0152023259