Autumnblings: Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian Review
By Kelly Hartman
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. Autumnblings. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2003 ISBN 9780060092795
PLOT SUMMARY
Throughout the 48 poems in this collection, Autumnblings is an invitation to celebrate fall. Florian uses various poetic elements such as whimsy, concrete poetry, and wordplay to share his love of this beautiful season. With the turn of each new page, the reader is given a fun and fresh perspective of "all things" autumn.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Readers of all ages will find themselves captivated by this short collection of 48 poems all dedicated to the season of fall. The youngest readers will observe and be amused by Florian's positional words like falls and tumbled cascading down the page; and older readers will appreciate the wittiness of the poet's purpose in doing so.
It's the simple things found in this collection that the reader will find so appealing. For instance, Florian uses a rhyming couplet to list things he loves and then hates about autumn. Readers will find themselves agreeing or disagreeing with Florian, and most likely to attempt their own lists in the same poetic style.
In Autumnblings, Florian takes common experiences of the fall season, like apple picking, the wind, and animals, but gives a new fresh perspective to each. His whimsical way of introducing nonsense words like autumnatically, autunm-ation and hi-bear-nation becomes a delightful surprise, offering a special pop to what could be an otherwise boring topic for his audience. Florian knows that his audience will appreciate the visualization and imagery offered in his concrete poems A Falling Out and Geese Piece. Furthermore, Florian's watercolor drawings and paintings compliment the feelings of warmth and whimsy created by his poems. Each page is clearly designed to welcome the reader into a familiar, fun, fall-time experience.
Whether you anticipate autumn or are indifferent to this season, Autumnblings may just blow in and make you fall in love.
AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Cooperative Children Book's Collection selection, 2004
"The 48 rhyming poems include explorations of traditional fall symbols and experiences such as pumpkins, migrating birds in flight, and changes in fall leaf colors and weather. There is nothing traditional about Florian’s poetic style, however, and his crisp, colorful poems continue to surprise and delight the reader." Kirkus Review August 2003
CONNECTIONS
Highlight Douglas Florian the month of March since he was born on March 18th.
Teaching Books interviews, blogs, and all titles written by Douglas Florian
Gather Seasonal Poetry
Summersaults 0060292679
Winter Eyes 0688164587
Expository Writing Connection
Read “What I Love About Autumn” (page 10) and “What I Hate
About Autumn” (Page 13) aloud. Chart the reasons for loving and hating autumn. Brainstorm more reasons and add to chart. Students can choose one reason to elaborate for an expository writing prompt: Explain why you love or hate the autumn season.
TexQuest Resources
Study these concepts from Autumnblings using our TexQuest resources in our virtual library. See Mrs. Hartman for the username and password.
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