Following the path of motorcyclist poet Siebert and her husband, the poems take up from New Jersey, speed north through New York and New England, across the Midwest, down the west coast, across the southwest and back north up the east coast, coming to rest at the Washington monument in Washington, D.C. Opening with a poem comprised of clever, absurd and unique names of American towns, Tour America is a whirlwind tour of sights in half of the continental United States.

Tour America: A Journey Through Poems and Art. Johnson's impressively varied, sophisticated images of towns and landscapes may expand the book's audience to older art students.' - Booklist, 'A Colorful Portrait of the American Landscape That Could Awaken Anyone's Travel Bug.'New York Times, 'A colorful portrait of the American landscape that could awaken anyone's travel bug.Siebert, Diane illus. School Library Journal, starred review 'The accessible words, open design, and appealing geographic approach make the book ideal for classrooms. This distinguished offering blends poetry, geography, art, and history. An impressive 'List of Art and Mediums' appears at the end of the book. There are quiet watercolors ('American Town') and dynamic collages ('The El') as well as pastels, oils, acrylics, and photos. Johnson masterfully varies his medium and art style to reflect the mood of each locale. Siebert's striking word choices and images reflect the essence of each subject, from the electric excitement of 'The El'-(Chicago)'look! right up there!/up in the air!'-to the desolate landscape of the Badlands (South Dakota), 'cracked by frost and baked by sun/sliced and scarred where waters run.' The collection features many surprises: the Aurora Borealis (Alaska) that 'flames/and/drapes/when solar winds are blowing' and Bristlecone Pines (Nevada) where 'The slopes will still hold roots of trees/Whose gnarled limbs, bleached white as bones,/Attest to all the centuries/That shape the ancient bristlecones.' A double-page map at the beginning of the book alerts readers to the exciting destinations they will experience, and a smaller map and inset box of additional information for each sight increase the educational value. This stunning tour of America highlights 26 of the poet's favorite sights, which are as varied as the nation itself.

Tour America by Diane Siebert