BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: Poems and Paintings. Greenwillow Books.
ISBN 978006009280

PLOT SUMMARY

In this book , Douglas Florian presents his reader with a group of poems dealing with the coming of spring. We say goodbye to winter,, watch plants grow, do handsprings, play ball, endure rainstorms, pick berries ride bikes and engage in spring cleaning. All the common spring activieties receive their own poems.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There is a light, breezy feel to these poems that recreates the carefree joys of childhood in spring. Joyous wordplay combines with simple vocabulary and gentle rhymes to induce a sense of peaceful relaxation in the mind of the reader. The author’s child like drawings, done in watercolor and colored pencil, reinforce the atmosphere generated by the words . This is a book for parents to sit back and enjoy with their children on a lazy spring day. Afterwards they will feel the urge to get up and take a walk together outside. The word is waiting.

REVIEW EXCERPT

“…Florian's latest collection celebrates spring and all it has to offer. From longer days and staying outdoors to thunderstorms and bee stings, Florian's clever poems and watercolor and colored-pencil paintings provide a refreshing look at this season.”

Dunne, D., & Ebeling, P. (2007). Poetry Pals: Communicating through Verse. Book Links, 17(1), 33-36. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052



5. CONNECTIONS

Florian, D. (2003). Autumnblings: Poems & paintings. [New York]: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060092795