Hoberman, Mary Ann and Linda Winston, ed. 2009. THE TREE THAT TIME BUILT. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks. ISBN 9781402225178 [Suggested Grade Levels 3- 6]
REVIEW
A scientist asks questions of the world. A poet reflects upon life in the world. Hoberman and Winston pull together a variety of poems connected to the natural world that span the fossilized past to the immediacy of morning dew on a spider’s web. Each poem is evocative of the natural world past and present, from “Dinosaur bone / alone, alone, / keeping a secret / as old as stone” to the fact that “There is a grandeur, if you look / at every organic being.”
Correlating the collection to a tree built by time, the editors provide commentary and information at the conclusion of numerous poems to guide the reader towards understanding the connections between the poem and science. With a bibliography for further reading, the editors also provide a short informational notation of each poet represented in this collection. Readers will find much worth rereading in this volume, becoming a staple of any classroom or library.
CONNECTIONS
Each of these poems could be integrated within a science focus. A poem could start a new study, providing a literary viewpoint of a scientific principle, or be used as a connection to the integration of subjects. Not to be outdone, the variety of poetic types and styles lends themselves well to a poetic unit or just to share on a daily basis in a classroom or library.
RELATED BOOKS
Other collections of nature poetry:
Michael, Pamela, ed. RIVER OF WORDS: YOUNG POETS AND ARTISTS ON THE NATURE OF THINGS. ISBN: 9781571316806
Brenner, Barbara. THE EARTH IS PAINTED GREEN: A GARDEN OF POEMS ABOUT OUR PLANET. ISBN 978-0590451352
By Christine J. Rayl
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