Autumnblings by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. 2003. Autumnblings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060092785

Summary:  
In this topical collection of poems, Florian explores the sights and sounds of the changing of the season from summer to autumn to the encroachment of winter.  Accompanied by watercolor illustrations by the poet, the twenty-nine poems tumble through the distinctive ideas and images of fall:  apples, pumpkins, leaves, holidays, etc.  

Analysis:
The rhymes, repetitions, and rhythms of the poems are simple and appealing.  Florian uses form and shape of the words and lines themselves as well as the illustrations to visualize the meanings of the poems.  The word play that features in so many of the poems adds whimsy and playfulness.  The poet creates puns and invents new words like autumn-atically, fallicopters, owlphabet, and hi-bear-nate to capture those things that are so unique to this season.  Although the topics, rhymes, and poetic devices vary from poem to poem, the collection is drawn together by the overall theme as well as style, artwork, and a sense of fun.

Awards & Reviews:
From School Library Journal:  "A natural for use in classrooms and library programs, and accessible to newly independent readers, these poems will delight youngsters."

A Booklist review:  "Florian presents a winsome series of poems about fall, with the punning theme of the title carried throughout."

Connections:

• Use selections in storytimes for younger children with an autumnal theme.
• Have older students visit Florian's website www.douglasflorian.com or his poetry blog www.floriancafe.blogspot.com to learn more about the author and see more of his artwork.
• Introduce lessons about science and seasons with selected poems.
• Encourage children to write and illustrate their own seasonal poetry.
• Other topical poetry collections/anthologies about seasons:

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0060092807

Florian, Douglas. 2002. Summersaults: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.ISBN 0060292679

Florian, Douglas. 1999. Winter eyes: poems & paintings. New York: Greenwillow Books.  ISBN 0688164587

Rogasky, Barbara. 2001. Leaf by leaf: autumn poems. Ill. by Marc Tauss. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590253476

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red sings from treetops: a year in colors. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547014945

Yolen, Jane. 1986. Ring of earth: a child's book of seasons. Ill. by John Wallner. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 0152671404

Zolotow, Charlotte. 2002. Seasons: a book of poems. Ill. by Erik Blegvad. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060266988