Synopses & Reviews
A 2011 Newbery Honor Book
and#160; Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze,
come smell your way among the trees,
come touch rough bark and leathered leaves:
Welcome to the night.
Welcome to the night, where mice stir and furry moths flutter. Where snails spiral into shells as orb spiders circle in silk. Where the roots of oak trees recover and repair from their time in the light. Where the porcupette eats delicaciesand#8212;raspberry leaves!and#8212;and coos and sings.
Come out to the cool, night wood, and buzz and hoot and howland#8212;but do beware of the great horned owland#8212;for itand#8217;s wild and itand#8217;s windy way out in the woods!
This Newbery Honor-winning picture book combines beautifully written poetry with facts of the forest and elaborate illustrations to form a marvelously engaging collection.
Review
* andquot;Each poem brings a sense of humor, respect, or wonder to its subject.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred reviewand#160;
Review
"Allen's detailed yet moody prints encapsulate the mysteries and magic of the midnight hours. In Sidman's delicious poems, darkness is the norm, and there's nothing to fear but the rising sun."and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This is a fine collection for classroom use at any time, but it'll bring extra impact to those who can find a way to share it at dusk with the lights dimmed, watching through the windows as the nocturnal ballet begins outside."and#8212;The Bulletin, starred review
"This picture book combines lyrical poetry and compelling art with science concepts."and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"The dark lines of Allen's skillful lino cut prints make the perfect accompaniment to a book of night poems, with their subtle colors allowing the reader to seek out the creatures slowly, just as one's eye becomes accustomed to finding things in the dark."and#8212;The Horn Book, starred review
"The bookmaking is beautiful with the concept of night lending itself generously to poetry. "and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
and#147;In this strikingly illustrated collection, science facts combine with vivid poems about pond life through the seasons." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
"With its unique combination of fact and fancy, this book is bound to delight pint-sized scientists and environmentalists and#151;and language lovers, too." Publishers Weekly, Starred
"An organic union of poetry and science, this book encourages readers to ponder the minutiae and magnificent life of the natural world." School Library Journal, Starred
"Sidman and Prange go beyond accuracy and clarity; with a humor born of skillful observation and light and color worthy of the Impressionists, they capture the essence of this environment in all its fascinating particularity." Horn Book
Review
* andquot;Each poem brings a sense of humor, respect, or wonder to its subject.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
* andquot;Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist, starred review
* andquot;A work to be savored by young artists and scientists.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred review
* andquot;Winter Bees distinguishes itself with a focus on the science of animal survival, coupled with superlative illustrations. Readers young and old will enjoy this winter journey and marvel at the wonders of nature.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;A handsome, persuasive, and authentic ambassador for creatures in their natural state.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
andquot;A collection thatand#39;s as crisp as the first snowfall, Winter Bees is the pefect way to pass a chilly afternoon.andquot;
andmdash;Bookpage
andquot;This author-artist duo makes winter wonder-filled.andquot;
andmdash;Shelf Awareness
* andquot;Sidman is a master at retaining overall momentum while giving the individual poems their own form and style.andquot;
andmdash;Bulletin, starred review
Synopsis
Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold summons forth the charms and dictates of winter. Just as Joyce Sidman captured the drama of the pond in Song of the Water Boatman and the night woods in Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, here she captures the drama of the cold.
and#160;
Why donand#8217;t snakes freeze to death?
and#160;
How does the tiny honeybee survive frost?
Learnand#160;aboutand#160; the secret lives of animals happening under the snow and howand#160;itand#160;buds to spring!
Synopsis
In this outstanding picture book collection of poems by Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman (Song of the Water Boatman, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night), discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow. Paired with stunning linoleum print illustrations by Rick Allen, that celebrate nature's beauty and power.
Synopsis
Come to the bitter cold that blows through these poems! Feel the warmth of life that breathes into the beaver burrowing deep beneath the snow.
Discover the safe places where creatures survive, and how they stay alive in the wintertimeand#8212;untiland#160; roots poke from puddles of slush and broken ice to welcome the sun!
Then watch as spring melts the frost from this outstanding collection of poems paired with stunning linoleum prints that celebrate nature, along with her beauty and power.
Synopsis
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; In this outstanding picture book collection of poems by Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman (
Song of the Water Boatman,
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night)
, discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow. Paired with stunning linoleum print illustrations by Rick Allen, that celebrate natureand#39;s beauty and power.
and#160;
Synopsis
From springand#8217;s first thaw to autumnand#8217;s chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizensand#8212;from peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetlesand#8212;lead secret and fascinating lives. A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this Caldecottand#160;Honor-winningand#160;collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery.
Synopsis
In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.
Cynthia Rylant's lyrical language and Jill Kastner's rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month--the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.
About the Author
Cynthia Rylant is the acclaimed author of more than eighty books for young people, including the novel Missing May, which received the John Newbery Medal. She lives on an island in Puget Sound, Washington.
Jill Kastner is the illustrator of many books for children, including The Waterfall and her own Barnyard Big Top and Snake Hunt. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, she lives in Weehawken, New Jersey.