Module 3- Book 1:Poetry book by Douglas Florian-

1. Bibliography
Florian,Douglas.2003.Autumnblings Ill.by Douglas Florian.
New York,NY: Greenwillow. ISBN:0060092793

2.Plot Summary

Douglas Florian answers the questions "What do you like about autumn" and "What do you not like about autumn?" in poems that celebrate the particular joys and disappointments unique to the season of autumn in this companion
volume to Winter Eyes and Summersaults. This book is aimed at children ages 5 and up.

3.Critical Analysis
Florian uses a wide variety of poetry techniques in an unobtrusive way ,to celebrate with children, the joys of poetry and the delights and drawbacks of autumn.

Florian sometimes employs short simple lines with every line rhymed. This rhyme scheme is called identical rhyme.

The poet alters the rhythym of the poems according to the subject matter.
The quick,sharp,fast falling rhythym of the poem,"What I Love about Autumn."mimicks the rapid fall of autumn leaves in a strong wind,while other poems like "Autumnblings"trip over the tongue with a gradual rising and falling sound that gives the impression of tumbling and slowly descending.

The author also makes good use of the onomatopoeia words like "screech"in the poem
Up and Down
"Up in a tree a screeching jay
is teaching others:
Stay Away!"
This particular poem also makes use of a typed up and down word pattern that follows the rise and fall of the speaker's voice in a way that must naturally engage children.
Indeed,Douglas Florian pulls out all the stops and uses a wide assortment of techniques to grab the attention of his young readers

The poem "Plump Pumpkin" uses the color orange of the pumpkins, a play on words and the alliteration of the title,as well as silly humor,and vivid images to interest little children.

"Plump Orange Pumpkin.
Plump orange cat.
Plump orange full moon-
Orange you fat."


The language used in Autumnblings stirs up a variety of moods and energy levels;it is at times energetic,contemplative,silly or even playful like the knock-knock jokes that kids love.

The simple,spontaneous and bright watercolors that illustrate each poem really seem as they are done by children,but they are drawn by the author. He uses a style that seems deliberately clumsy,yet charmingly naive,especially when he draws hands and faces. This is very impressive.

Florian describes the joys of the season in poems such as "What I Love About Autumn"

He describes the autumn wind in a captivating way.
The Wind
"Blow-Drier
Kite-Flier
Leaf-Dancer
Seed-Prancer
Hat-Tosser
Earth-Crosser"

Florian uses direct, simple language in a way that reflects children's speech patterns. The poems contain a sense of joy and movement that helps introduce the season to South Texans,who only experience 2 seasons: "hot" and "not as hot."



4.Review Excerpts

School Library Journal:
"These delightful poems about the season are imbued with a sense of innocent wonder. Attractive watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations cheerfully capture the childlike whimsy and colors of fall."

Booklist:
"Using rhyme, meter, and puns to good effect, as well as changes in fonts and type, he adds to the sense of movement and joy in the poetry."

Connections:

This book of poems should be read aloud to a group.
After you read these poems try these ideas:
Collect autumn leaves and smell them.Write down all the words associated with the leaves.
Have students compose an acrostic about Autumn together.
Harper Collins website suggests leaf related crafts such as making leaf rubbings.Other ideas from the site include talking about other animals that hibernate and tying these discussions to the poem "HiBearNation".

Other poetry books by Douglas Florian about seasons.
Summersaults ISBN:0060292679
Winter Eyes ISBN:0688164587
Poetry books by other authors about a season.
Winter Friends by Mary Quattlebaum.
ISBN:9780385908689