Hoberman, Mary Ann and Linda Winston. The Tree that Time Built: a Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination.
Naperville, Il.: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky: 2009. ISBN: 13-978-1-4022-2517-8
SUMMARY
Inspired by Charles Darwin's
exploration and discovery of the secrets and beauty of the natural world around
us, Children's Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman, and anthropologist, Linda
Watson, created The Tree that Time Built: a Celebration of Nature, Science,
and Imagination, an anthology of over one hundred selected
poems inspired by science and nature themes. The anthology features a wide
range of poets and poetry forms. From
William Blake to Jack Prelutsky, from structured to free verse poetry, the
reader will discover poems that explore the wonders and mysteries of our ever-changing
planet Earth. In addition to the awe-inspiring
poems, explanations about the poetry writing techniques, the scientific background
of the topics of the poems, and other miscellaneous but intriguing thoughts are
offered at the bottom of each page of some selected poems. The reader will also find a glossary of poetry
and science terms, a list of suggested readings, and a brief biography of each
contributing poet at the end of the book, ending with an index of poets and
titles. Along with the beautiful array of written poems, an audio CD comes
with the book. The CD features poets and
other artists reading 44 selected poems from the book. The careful thought and
detail Hoberman and Watson incorporated into creating The Tree that Time
Built: a Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination makes it a
must-have for those who appreciate how poetry and science are kindred spirits
linked together by unbounded imagination.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Upon opening this incredible anthology of science and nature
poems, the reader is instantly captured by the beauty, mystery, and wonder of
the world around us. Hoberman and
Winston carefully chose poems whose themes relate to science and nature, and
then further divided them into thematic subsections with introductions to each
theme. For example "Oh, Fields of
Wonder," the first group of poems, begins with an introduction that
explains the poems in that section reflect on the wonders found in our world.
The reader is asked to "(ponder) over the mysterious uniqueness of each
living thing."
Hoberman and Winston carefully include scientific information in each
introduction, or as a small commentary at the bottom of some poems. For example, on the page that features
the poem "Buffalo Dusk" by Carl Sandburg there is a brief history at
the bottom of the page that explains how the near extinction of buffalo in our
prairies caused ranchers to herd the buffalo and breed them to save the
species. Another poem, a haiku about the stages of growth of a butterfly
called "Metamorphosis" by Mary Ann Hoberman, includes a brief
explanation of how perfectly the words that describe each stage of butterfly
development fell into creating a haiku. Jack Prelutsky's "The Polar Bear" is
followed by an interesting tidbit of information explaining that the polar bear's fur is not white as an adaptation for camouflage, but instead the hairs are hollow
and clear to collect the sun's rays for warmth as an adaptation to live in the cold polar regions.
The poems reveal the relationships between
all who live on Earth. Some of the poems accomplish this in a light-hearted voice.
Hoberman's poem "Cross-Purposes" personifies a bee and a
flower. The bee believes the flower's nectar is merely for her own nourishment.
The flower, however, knows the nectar exists to lure the bee to drink it, so
that when it flies away it will carry its pollen to another flower so that it
may procreate the species. Both the bee and the flower serve each other's
needs: Neither can exist without the other. "For the Future" by
Wendell Berry takes on a more serious
note about the value of a tree to the creatures who make their homes in it.
Charles Darwin and his observations inspire the central
theme of this book; it is through Darwin we have come to see the world as a
mysterious, beautiful, but somehow sensible and logical place. Hoberman and Winston
capture his imagination and his science and align them with poetry. The Tree that Time Built: a Celebration of Nature, Science, and
Imagination is a beautiful book that balances both science and
imagination in a clever, creative, and intelligent collection of poetry.
AWARDS AND REVIEWS
NCTE 2009
Notable Poetry Book
Lee Bennett
Hopkins Poetry Award - 2010 Honor Book
"The Tree That Time Built is a masterful integration of science
and poetry that gives readers a thoughtful perspective on life on our planet…This anthology would make an exceptional classroom resource for connecting
science and poetry across the curriculum" Sourcebooks
"From the
playful to the profound, the poems invite reflection and inspire further
investigation"-Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
CONNECTIONS
Listen to Mary Ann Hoberman read her poem "The Tree that Time Built" on this link: http://www.sourcebooks.com/spotlight/the-tree-that-time-built.html
Related
Books
Footprints
on the Roof: Poems about the Earth by Marilyn Singer
The
Sun in Me: Poems about the Planet compiled by Judith Nicholls
Enrichment
Activities
*Use related poems to introduce science
units to students.
*Celebrate Earth Day and Poetry Month in
April by reading poems from the book, and then have students write their own
poems about our planet.
PERSONAL
RESPONSE
What a beautiful anthology of poems that
celebrate our planet's diversity and balance! When I saw the list of poets, I
knew I held a treasure in my hands. Blake, Whitman, Prelutsky, Dickenson,
Lawrence, and Eliot only name a few of the celebrated poets whose work is
included in Hoberman and Winston's compilation of poems about nature. This book
will most definitely accompany me to my classroom to share with my science
students as an introduction to new science topics.
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