Poetrees, written and illustrated by Douglas Florian. Beach Lane, Simon & Schuster. 2010. $21.99 ages 6 and up

"Giant Sequoias

Ancient seers
Of three thousand years.
Heavenly high.
Friends to the sky.
Spongy thick bark.
Large as an ark.
Gargantuan girth.
Anchored in earth.
Grow by degrees
To world's tallest trees.
Never destroy a
Giant sequoia."

I have come to expect so much from Douglas Florian...and he never disappoints. I love and use every single book of poetry that he has written, regaling avid and attentive listeners with his wordplay, his humor, his research and learning and his unabashed enjoyment of the English language as he explores animal species, space, dinosaurs, pets and now, trees. What a remarkable poet, who helps kids to see there is poetry everywhere, that hard work will help you find the right word to use and that looking at the world with a clear lens will help you discover so much you have not yet seen.

In his new book, he turns his attention to trees: their leaves, roots, rings, bark, seeds and the many different types of trees that are indigenous to countries around the world...thirteen to be exact. He keeps to his usual pattern, with a color-filled illustration to match each poem. This book is read lengthwise, which provides real perspective for all material included...from the front matter to the 'Glossatree' following the final poem. In this 'glossatree' he includes further information about each of the trees included. In an author's note, Florian tells his readers that he loved trees as a child and still does, now understanding how much they mean to our good health and the health of our planet.

I was immediately drawn to his illustrations...he reports that they are crafted on primed paper bags using mixed media that includes watercolors, colored pencils, stamps, pastels, and collage. They are full of texture and intriguing to ponder. Placement of art and text adds another dimension to the enjoyment of the 'whole' book.

Add to that his signature strength when choosing words and phrases to describe his subject. He is a master at wordplay and leaves us thinking about a turn of a phrase, a word choice and line breaks.

Enjoy:

"Coconut Palm

I'm nuts about the coconut.
I'm cuckoo for the coco.
I'm crazed for this amazing nut.
For coco I am loco.
I'm never calm to climb this palm.
I scurry up and hurry
To knock one down onto the ground,
Then eat it in a flurry."