Bibliographic Data: Hoberman, Mary Ann and Linda Winston. 2009. The Tree That Time Built. Ill. by Barbara Fortin. Naperville: Source Books Jabberwocky ISBN: 978-1-4022-2517-8
Plot Summary:
The Tree That Time Built is a collection of poems that all have nature, science, and imagination as their common themes. The poems begin with stories of the world’s many natural splendors as seen in “Mushrooms”, “Nosegay”, and “Earthworms”. Dinosaurs and animals are introduced in “Dinosaur Bone”, “Dinosaurs”, and “The Iguanas of Santiago” and fall into extinction as the stories move into more human-centered topics as seen in “Earth’s Bondsman”. Translations, footnotes, and timelines are given at the bottom of most pages to further help the reader grasp the meaning and symbolism of each poem. An audio CD with 44 of the poems read aloud is included. The poems themselves are heavy hitters based on their own individual merit, but Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston arranged them in a manner that is both breathtaking and unsettling. One cannot read these poems and not feel transported to these stories.
Critical Analysis:
The idea of the Tree in The Tree That Time Built is similar to the idea of an individual’s family tree or genealogical history. This Tree, representational of life itself, started growing/laying down its roots when the first grains of sand started falling in the hourglass of the world. The idea of this Tree created by Fortin is expertly matched and paralleled through the poems her and Winston chose to comprise this anthology. The inclusion of classic poets such as Plath, Blake, and Frost only adds more credibility and dimension to this collection.
The rhythm of these poems is expertly crafted. The beat and subsequent meter of every stanza is perfectly aligned with the subject matter. It is difficult, of course, to speak of the rhythm of all fifty (plus) poems in this collection, but the “Secretary Bird” by Alice Schertle (pg. 158) serves as an excellent example. At this point in the collection, the poems have begun to shift to the extinction of animal and plant life based on the senseless acts of humans. As we meet these dying creatures, the rhythm of the poems appears less fluid, and is not unlike the steady sound of a quick beating heart.
Dip your quill,
in the sludge
along the river,
in the soot
from the smokestack,
in the poisoned lake,
in the burning rain.
Dip it in the blood of the great blue whale.
Take a letter, bird:
To whom it may
concern
The rhymes utilized by the poets in this book are done so in a manner that always elevates, never detracts from the meaning of the poems. Many poems do not even contain rhyming words, which is surprising and refreshing to find in a juvenile title.
“Metamorphosis” by Hoberman is powerful as it tells an entire lifecycle of a butterfly in six words and incorporates no rhyme.
Metamorphosis:
Caterpillar, chrysalis,
Butterfly is born.
Then there are poems like “Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field (pg. 124) that rhymes word sounds and not the actual words. It works very well and makes for a beautiful melody when the poem is read aloud (as all poems should be!).
It was time to fly,---
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
The language and imagery in this collection is unrivaled. The metaphors, phrases chosen, ways in which certain elements are explained or described, the pictures the words paint are rich and dripping with texture and emotion. Wislawa Szymborska best highlights the figurative language and rich imagery of The Tree That Time Built in her poem “In Praise of Self-Deprecation” on pg. 138.
The killer-whale’s heart weighs one-hundred kilos
But in other respects it is light.
There is nothing more animal-like
Than a clear conscience
On the third planet of the Sun.
These stanzas impart a strong message to the reader visually and emotionally. It is astounding that a poem can do that even after having been translated from Polish.
It is impossible to read this anthology or listen to the poems read aloud on the companion CD and not feel moved, whether positively or negatively. The poems are arranged masterfully, allowing for moments of silence and calm to be punctuated by frantic and harsh moving poems and/or high-tempo poems with heart breaking imagery to be quelled and treated by uplifting and sing-songy groups of couplets.
The illustrations by Barbara Fortin add another important element to this anthology: consistency. Through the intricate illustration of the Tree, its fallen leaves that appear on nearly every page, and a monochromatic pallet Fortin has helped to keep the book’s theme(s) at the forefront of the reader’s mind. The additional use of only the colors blue and green help solidify the feel.
It is interesting that a collection of poems with such strong thematic elements, figurative language, and (in many cases) fatalistic and depressing elements is for juveniles. Many of the poems need to be read over and over in order to fully grasp their meaning. Even the seemingly most simple of the poems is really hard-hitting.
However, as the only poetry I was exposed to when I was younger was Silverstein and Seuss I may not understand what is appropriate or fitting for this age group.
It is definitely an anthology that grows with the juvenile readers and that can be enjoyed by their parents alike.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
The major strength of the anthology is that the thematic elements are very solid. The order in which the poems appear truly sets a journey for the reader. The weaknesses I perceive are all directly related to the recommended audience of this collection. Many of the poems do not seem like they could easily be understood by children. The footnotes and introduction of the story alone are pretty advanced. (I do know that in reading Dr. Vardell's book that poetry above all other genres is accessible to every age group!)
Awards:
Reviews:
School Library Journal - "A thoughtful introduction describes the origin and organization of the book. Many pages contain footnotes that provide additional information about the poet, poetic terms and form, and suggestions for further consideration and discussion. A CD of poets reading their own work and poems written by others is included. This handsome collection is especially appropriate for classroom use and instruction along with Constance Levy's A Crack in the Clouds (S & S, 1998). From the playful to the profound, the poems invite reflection and inspire further investigation."--Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
Booklist: “Both poets and scientists wonder at and about the world.” Selected by Winston, an anthropologist and teacher, and Hoberman, the current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, this attractive, accessible anthology collects poems that celebrate both the facts and the mysteries of the natural world. [...] Even if the organization occasionally feels arbitrary, the well-chosen selections will provoke thought and inspiration. Explanatory notes accompanying many poems, a glossary of both scientific and poetic terms, short biographies of the poets, and an accompanying CD featuring a selection of the poems read aloud make this attractive and unusual hybrid of poetry and science a great choice for classroom sharing. Grades 3-7. --Gillian Engberg
Connections:
Plot Summary:
The Tree That Time Built is a collection of poems that all have nature, science, and imagination as their common themes. The poems begin with stories of the world’s many natural splendors as seen in “Mushrooms”, “Nosegay”, and “Earthworms”. Dinosaurs and animals are introduced in “Dinosaur Bone”, “Dinosaurs”, and “The Iguanas of Santiago” and fall into extinction as the stories move into more human-centered topics as seen in “Earth’s Bondsman”. Translations, footnotes, and timelines are given at the bottom of most pages to further help the reader grasp the meaning and symbolism of each poem. An audio CD with 44 of the poems read aloud is included. The poems themselves are heavy hitters based on their own individual merit, but Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston arranged them in a manner that is both breathtaking and unsettling. One cannot read these poems and not feel transported to these stories.
Critical Analysis:
The idea of the Tree in The Tree That Time Built is similar to the idea of an individual’s family tree or genealogical history. This Tree, representational of life itself, started growing/laying down its roots when the first grains of sand started falling in the hourglass of the world. The idea of this Tree created by Fortin is expertly matched and paralleled through the poems her and Winston chose to comprise this anthology. The inclusion of classic poets such as Plath, Blake, and Frost only adds more credibility and dimension to this collection.
The rhythm of these poems is expertly crafted. The beat and subsequent meter of every stanza is perfectly aligned with the subject matter. It is difficult, of course, to speak of the rhythm of all fifty (plus) poems in this collection, but the “Secretary Bird” by Alice Schertle (pg. 158) serves as an excellent example. At this point in the collection, the poems have begun to shift to the extinction of animal and plant life based on the senseless acts of humans. As we meet these dying creatures, the rhythm of the poems appears less fluid, and is not unlike the steady sound of a quick beating heart.
Dip your quill,
in the sludge
along the river,
in the soot
from the smokestack,
in the poisoned lake,
in the burning rain.
Dip it in the blood of the great blue whale.
Take a letter, bird:
To whom it may
concern
The rhymes utilized by the poets in this book are done so in a manner that always elevates, never detracts from the meaning of the poems. Many poems do not even contain rhyming words, which is surprising and refreshing to find in a juvenile title.
“Metamorphosis” by Hoberman is powerful as it tells an entire lifecycle of a butterfly in six words and incorporates no rhyme.
Metamorphosis:
Caterpillar, chrysalis,
Butterfly is born.
Then there are poems like “Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field (pg. 124) that rhymes word sounds and not the actual words. It works very well and makes for a beautiful melody when the poem is read aloud (as all poems should be!).
It was time to fly,---
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
The language and imagery in this collection is unrivaled. The metaphors, phrases chosen, ways in which certain elements are explained or described, the pictures the words paint are rich and dripping with texture and emotion. Wislawa Szymborska best highlights the figurative language and rich imagery of The Tree That Time Built in her poem “In Praise of Self-Deprecation” on pg. 138.
The killer-whale’s heart weighs one-hundred kilos
But in other respects it is light.
There is nothing more animal-like
Than a clear conscience
On the third planet of the Sun.
These stanzas impart a strong message to the reader visually and emotionally. It is astounding that a poem can do that even after having been translated from Polish.
It is impossible to read this anthology or listen to the poems read aloud on the companion CD and not feel moved, whether positively or negatively. The poems are arranged masterfully, allowing for moments of silence and calm to be punctuated by frantic and harsh moving poems and/or high-tempo poems with heart breaking imagery to be quelled and treated by uplifting and sing-songy groups of couplets.
The illustrations by Barbara Fortin add another important element to this anthology: consistency. Through the intricate illustration of the Tree, its fallen leaves that appear on nearly every page, and a monochromatic pallet Fortin has helped to keep the book’s theme(s) at the forefront of the reader’s mind. The additional use of only the colors blue and green help solidify the feel.
It is interesting that a collection of poems with such strong thematic elements, figurative language, and (in many cases) fatalistic and depressing elements is for juveniles. Many of the poems need to be read over and over in order to fully grasp their meaning. Even the seemingly most simple of the poems is really hard-hitting.
However, as the only poetry I was exposed to when I was younger was Silverstein and Seuss I may not understand what is appropriate or fitting for this age group.
It is definitely an anthology that grows with the juvenile readers and that can be enjoyed by their parents alike.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
The major strength of the anthology is that the thematic elements are very solid. The order in which the poems appear truly sets a journey for the reader. The weaknesses I perceive are all directly related to the recommended audience of this collection. Many of the poems do not seem like they could easily be understood by children. The footnotes and introduction of the story alone are pretty advanced. (I do know that in reading Dr. Vardell's book that poetry above all other genres is accessible to every age group!)
Awards:
- 2010 Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Book
- 2009 NCTE Notable Poetry Book
- 2009 Family Choice Award
- 2009 PW Cuffies Favorite Poetry Book
Reviews:
School Library Journal - "A thoughtful introduction describes the origin and organization of the book. Many pages contain footnotes that provide additional information about the poet, poetic terms and form, and suggestions for further consideration and discussion. A CD of poets reading their own work and poems written by others is included. This handsome collection is especially appropriate for classroom use and instruction along with Constance Levy's A Crack in the Clouds (S & S, 1998). From the playful to the profound, the poems invite reflection and inspire further investigation."--Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
Booklist: “Both poets and scientists wonder at and about the world.” Selected by Winston, an anthropologist and teacher, and Hoberman, the current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, this attractive, accessible anthology collects poems that celebrate both the facts and the mysteries of the natural world. [...] Even if the organization occasionally feels arbitrary, the well-chosen selections will provoke thought and inspiration. Explanatory notes accompanying many poems, a glossary of both scientific and poetic terms, short biographies of the poets, and an accompanying CD featuring a selection of the poems read aloud make this attractive and unusual hybrid of poetry and science a great choice for classroom sharing. Grades 3-7. --Gillian Engberg
Connections:
- This anthology is the perfect way to start introducing the Theory of Evolution to children. Like Vardell mentions in "Poetry Aloud", using these poems with oth
- Teachers, parents, or librarians can emphasize the importance of hearing poems read aloud by utilizing the companion audio CD that comes with the book. This will allow for rhyme, rhythm, imagery and on to be more easily understood by students.
- Mary Anne Hoberman also authored the beloved, A House is a House for Me.