1. BibliographyGeorge, Kristine O’Connell. 2005. Fold Me a Poem. Ill. by Lauren Stringer. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152025014
2. Plot Summary
The 32 poem collection details the events of a boy’s day creating origami animals. He begins the day with a “square sheet of paper - / folded, suddenly wakes up. / Good morning, Rooster.” The boy creates a collection of animals from buffalo and dogs to peacocks and penguins. A variety of exciting events occur including a race between a cheetah and a lion, needing to separate the foxes from the rabbits, and “Ostrich’s Injury” where the boy says, “I’m so sorry / my cat / attacked. / Glue? / Staple? / Tape? / Band Aid?” The boy later finds “slinky pieces of foil” and asks, “Who wants wings?” When the stars come out at night, the boy adds his own star to the sky. As he falls asleep, he hears “soft papery whisper-thumps” causing him to wonder “Is someone dancing?”
3. Critical Analysis
George’s short free-verse poems create the playful imagery of a boy’s imaginary world of a range of origami animals. She allows for a wealth of options in the poem entitled “Possibilities” - “Forty bright sheets / of colored paper, / a world of animals. / Who will be next?” George shows a humorous side when a moth asks, “Why didn’t you / save any butterfly colors / for me?” and a more serious side when the ostrich is attacked by his cat. The smooth rhythm of the poetry is natural and appropriate and allows the reader to move easily through the collection of poems.
Stringer’s colorful acrylic paintings supply additional details to George’s verses. She captures the details of the folds used to create the origami animals as well as the vibrant paper they are crafted from. In A Note from the Illustrator, Stringer explains how she learned origami and provides eight titles to look for if the reader is interested in learning “how to make your own paper animals.”
Fold Me a Poem is appropriate for all elementary ages. Younger students would enjoy the story told through the poems and illustrations while it would be enjoyed by older students because of the topic and humor as well. The book does not include reference aids that might be helpful to older students nor does it include origami instructions.
4. Review Excerpts
Starred review in Kirkus Reviews: “This engrossing collaboration is more a motivator than a teaching resource.”
Review in Horn Book
Review in School Library Journal: “Some of the selections exhibit a creative spark, while others tend to take their meaning from the illustrations, which are the real strength of the presentation.”
Review in Booklist: “Unusual, handsome, and good for reading aloud.”
Review in Publishers Weekly: “This unusual poetry volume is a dazzling celebration of imagination.”
Review in Library Media Connection
5. Connections
· Use in an art class to introduce a unit on origami.
· Discuss story elements including cause and effect and problem and solution.
· Use as a basis for creating a class book of a students’ day utilizing poetry.
· Origami How-To Books:
Berry, Thiranut Deborah. Origami for Fun! ISBN 9780756516895
Boursin, Didier. Easy Origami. ISBN 9781552979280
Boursin, Didier. Origami Paper Animals. ISBN 9781552096222
LaFosse, Michael G. Making Origami Animals Step by Step. ISBN 9780823958771
LaFosse, Michael G. Origami Activities: Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids. ISBN 9780804834971
