Red Sings From Treetops: A Year In Colors (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
The writing from Joyce Sidman and the illustrations from Pamela Zagarenski perfectly connect colors to the four seasons. The descriptions draw you into the poems and the illustrations do a wonderful job of supporting them. This book begins with the red colors of spring with the “sprouts in rhubarb spears” and goes to the summer colors including purple in the sunsets. The next stop is fall when “orange ripens in full, heavy moons, thick with pulp and see”, and ends with winter where “white turns night inside out.” I love the poems and illustrations in this book. Everything flowed so effortlessly which made this book a great read for someone who is new to poetry. This book could start many conversations between children and an adult with the colors, metaphors, and illustrations.Teachers could have a poetry lesson for each season. For the fall have them write a poem on pumpkins, apples or Halloween. For winter the children could write a poem on snow, Valentine’s Day or even hibernating animals like bears. This book would be great for the younger children who learning their colors. The writings connect the book to everyday things the children can relate to. While I enjoyed this as did my children, it wasn't as awe inspiring as some of Sidman's other science books such as Ubiquitous. However, the illustrations were beautiful and the poems were still good. We really enjoyed noticing which colors reappeared each season and which colors didn't appear in a particular season. My children were very surprised that pink was the first color featured in winter, but then we agreed that it fit:In the WINTER dawn, Pink bloomsPowder-soft Over pastel hills.Pink prickles: Warm fingers Against cold cheeks. While blue is my favorite color, I think summer's poem for black is my favorite:Black holds secrets in summer:Night-sky black,Underneath-stones black.Black that flits and swoops.Deep, wild black That stares from the eyesOf a surprised raccoon.Black in my own eyes, Staring back.
What do You think about Red Sings From Treetops: A Year In Colors (2009)?
Amazingly beautiful illustrations, and a lyrical text. Lovely.
—andymichaelb
Beautiful language makes this a special read.
—VivaLaIDoWhatIWant
