Cover of The Tree That Time Built by Mary Ann Hoberman
There seems to be a rise in children's poetry books, which have often taken a backseat to the fantasy and sci-fi novels that line bookshelves. We've seen recent titles such as Poetry Speaks and Hip Hop Speaks to Children hit the New York Times Bestsellers lists. Adding to the rise is The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination.
This is an amazing collection of poems that range from the birth of the universe to the age of dinosaurs and was published to inspire readers to think like a tree, and marvel at the miracle of life. In fact, the title refers to Charles Darwin's famous Tree of Life, his first sketch of an evolutionary tree describing the relationships among groups of organisms. It's ironic (or is it?) that this book is published in the double-anniversary year of Darwin's birth in 1809 and the publication of The Origin of Species in 1859.
All of the poems have been selected by Children's Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and teacher Linda Winston. Not only will this book delight poetry lovers, but it will also delight nature lovers. There are a wide range of poets included such as Jack Prelutsky, Joseph Bruchac, Patricia Hubbell, Langston Hughes, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
One of my favorite poems in this collection is "This World" by Mary Oliver. The poet desires to write a plain poem about the world--a poem without frills--but it's deemed impossible by the world itself. There are just too many beautiful things around us to explore and ask questions. That sums up this book because all of the poems focus on the wonders of our world. It's excellent to point out that poets, too, through observation and imagination--just like scientists-- discover new truths about our world, and they're displayed for everyone to see in their works of art.
The book includes 1 audio cd that includes 44 wonderful performances by the poets and a few close friends. For those who have wished they could combine their love of poetry and nature, this rich collection will not disappoint.
Additional Information:
Selected by: Mary Ann Hoberman, Linda Winston
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; Har/Com edition (October 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402225172
ISBN-13: 978-1402225178
Source of review copy: Publisher
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