Handsprings by Douglas Florian

Handsprings, Douglas Florian's collection of springtime-themed poetry, was right up my alley. Spring is full of things we dogs love, like mud, sunshine, and children playing, and Florian's collection showcased all of these joys. Booklist raves, “this collection of 48 short, rhyming poems celebrates a child's experience of spring in a winning combination of exuberance, delicacy, and messy fun” (Rochman 2006, 48). A lighthearted theme coupled with simple, bright illustrations makes this 2007 Cybils Award finalist a perfect fit for reading on those days when the world is beginning to wake from winter.

The poetry itself is buoyant and bouncy, at times literally bouncing across the page as Florian manipulates the shape of the poem to enhance his poetry. For example, one poem entitled “Rain Reign” has each line cascading vertically down the page, like sheets of rain falling. However, only a handful of the poems use this poetic element; most of the poems are in more traditional stanzas. Florian is a master at writing very short lines – many of his poems consist of two or three-word lines, and his use of vivid verbs and regular rhyme schemes gives his poetry a strong rhythm that lends itself to reading out loud.

Handsprings is just as much about the poetry as it is about the illustrations. Plenty of white space keeps the illustrations from detracting from the text, and the muted earth-tones used in his art help evoke the greens and browns so prevalent in springtime. This choice of color palette was a surprise to me, as I anticipated lots of neon hues mimicking the flowers of spring, but the softness of this muted palette works very well. School Library Journal describes Florian's art as “plenty of white space framing muddy, childlike illustrations and simple, clear print. These sprightly odes shout out the poet's affection for the season” (Cutler 2006).

Handsprings is particularly well-suited for reading aloud and for introducing children to the joys of poetry. It is the last in a four-part series of poetry collections about the seasons, each written and illustrated by Florian. Considering the four titles together (Handsprings, Summersaults, Autumnblings, and Winter Eyes) lends itself to science lessons about the seasons and the changes in nature that accompany each season. The concrete imagery in this work also works well for having children create their own illustrations to accompany the poems in this collection. Other spring-themed poetry collections for young budding poets include Busy in the Garden by George Shannon, which is also a book of poetry about springtime, and I Heard it From Alice Zucchini: Poems From the Garden by Christine Davenier (School Librarian's Workshop, 2006).

This poetry collection was a warm reminder of how lovely springtime can be, and I know you'll enjoy sharing it with your pups as well. Two paws up!

Wags and Woofs,

Charlie Brown

 

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References

Cutler, Kirsten. 2006. “Handsprings.” School Library Journal 52, no. 4: 124.

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings. N.p.: Harper Collins. ISBN: 9780060092818

Rochman, Hazel. 2006. “Handsprings.” Booklist 102, no. 14: 48.

School Librarian's Workshop. 2007. “It's Spring!” School Librarian's Workshop 27, no. 5: 19-20.