OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS By: Kristine O'Connell George

Bibliography
George, Kristine O'Connell. 1998. OLD ELM SPEAKS: TREE POEMS. Ill by Kate Kiesler. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395876117.

Plot Summary
OLD ELM SPEAKS is a collection of tree poems. The poems in this book are not about a particular type of tree, but about the various ways that trees affect our world.

Critical Analysis
Kristine O'Connell George uses various types of poems to get readers to see trees from various viewpoints (highway, cradle, and horse), varying points of view (children, animals, and even the tree itself), a life cycle (old elm to new elm), and a year cycle (Spring-Winter). George also uses language that creates allusions that can be analyzed with older students but that also allows younger students to appreciate the poems as well.

The illustrations in this book were created using oil paints. This type of paint gives texture through thickness and brush strokes. The colors and full page illustrations create a realistic setting for each of the poems and could stand alone as their own works of art.

Overall, the realistic paintings and wonderful mix of poetry allow young and old to view trees in different way.

Review Excerpts
starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "An invitation to experience joy and wonder."
starred review in BOOKLIST: "Both the picture book formatand the poetry in this collection are wonderfully enticing."
starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "this offering has lots of uses."

Connections
*This book can be used as an introduction into poetry and varying points of view.
*Have students write a poem about an object from a different point of view.
*Many of these poems are derived from observation. Have students create an observation log and then create a poem or poems based on their observations.