FOREST HAS A SONG: POEMS written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and illustrated by Robbin Gourley

Review by Christi De Leon

a.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

VanDerwater, Amy Ludwig. Forest has a Song: Poems. Ill. by Robbin Gourley. Boston: Clarion, 2013. ISBN 9780618843493

b.    SUMMARY & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This collection includes twenty-six nature poems about the forest as a girl perceives through her experiences. All poems are written by one poet, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. The poems take place during all four seasons and include a variety of topics related to life in the forest. Specifics include plants, animals, fossils, bones, sounds, and weather.

Forest Has a Song takes the reader on a tour into the woodlands through many engaging poems. The poems are written from a girl’s point of view as she sets foot into the forest with her dog and other companions. Although each poem is natural and easy to understand, a variety of forms are found. Examples of haiku and a couplet are among the shorter poems. Many poems rhyme seamlessly like “Forest News,” while others are written in free verse as in “Waiting for Deer.” Personification is made evident by a talking frog in an entertaining poem called “Proposal.” Alliteration is included in poems such as “April Waking.” Each poem, written with quality, is unique in the way it brings the forest to life.

The watercolor illustrations throughout the collection are just as inviting as the words, complementing the gentleness of the forest’s song. This artwork allows the reader to observe as the characters take a journey through the woods. The white background draws the reader’s attention to both the illustrations and words. There are numerous opportunities for educational connections throughout this book on topics such as animals, plants, seasons, weather, and habitats. Through making these connections, the poems have the potential to extend students’ knowledge. The vivid details and fun choice of words also make this collection ideal for reading aloud. The softness and simplicity captured in Forest Has a Song gives readers a pleasant reading experience overall.

C. POEM TO SPOTLIGHT & SHARE

“Home” by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

A rotten log is

home to bug

home to beetle

home to slug

home to chipmunk

home to bee

a lively living

hidden home

inside

a fallen tree.

“Home” is a simple poem that exemplifies several common aspects of this collection as a whole. There is evidence of repetition through the mentioning of each forest creature, making the poem an easy read. A bit of alliteration is also included, such as “lively living” and “hidden home.” It also shows how connections to science topics can be made. For instance, this specific poem could be tied to the study of the forest habitat.

This poem, among others, could be introduced aloud prior to taking the class on an anticipated nature hike. “Home” provides students with an example of how observations in nature can result in a great poem. To follow, presenting a pine cone and reading the poem “Invitation” would be the perfect way to kick off the adventure. To extend upon this, students could jot down notes using clipboards with paper and pencils as they explore nature on the hike. Afterwards, they can write their own poems from what they saw.