Sidman Poetry:


BIBLIOGRAPHY: Sidman, J., & Zagarenski, P. (2010). Red sings from treetops:A year in colors. New York: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-986-6273-30-8
SUMMARY: Joyce Sidman's poetry brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell, and taste. illustrator Pam Zagarenski's interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color, but feel it.
ANALYSIS: Poet Joyce Sidman takes on the challenge to create poems about seasons using colors. This book was written with astounding creativity, as it portrays the changing of the seasons by bringing color to life. We experience each season through a series of poems. The colors, actually written as words, are elaborated in a way that heightens the senses. The placement of short lines creates a natural rhythm. Rhyme is used occasionally as if each rhyme effortlessly fell into place without straying from the overall flow. For example, “In summer, white clinks in drinks.” Figurative language is used in abundance. Among these choices is the simile appearing at both the beginning and the end that reads, “…each note dropping like a cherry into my ear.” Everywhere in between, a new emotion is captured as the colors have feelings of their own. The red bird seems to bring the poem together from start to finish, flying through all of the different surroundings.

Paintings of mixed media on wood and computer illustrations were applied to complement the poems in an appealing way. The use of color is especially important since the poems are focused on the colors of the seasons. The illustrator did an exceptional job of representing every detail throughout the book. A noticeable detail is a crown. A crown is worn by some of the characters, the red bird included. As a reader, I wonder if there is a purpose to the crown or if it is simply an added detail.
USE: A poem to support my analysis is in Spring. (2) Sidman brings this poem to life using a few figurative languages. I noticed simile in “each note dropping like a cherry.” She continues to add to the poem that red squirms on the road. Again figurative language is used here. As the reader is engaged through reading, there is imagery to bring those words from the page to the mind of the reader to see clear visuals of the seasons.
In Spring
Red sings
From treetops:
Cheer-cheer-cheer.
Each note dropping like a cherry
Into my ear.

Integrate into a lesson about the four seasons. Have each student pick a color from the book and create a corresponding list poem using technology.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Biographical Poetry: Carver: Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson

Image
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Nelson, Marilyn. 2001. Carver: A Life in Poems. Asheville, N.C. Front Street. ISBN 1-886910-53-7 SUMMARY: This 59 poem novel depicts George Washington Carver’s life from different point of views. In this novel, Carver’s life begins from an infant and continues all through his death. His challenges of being born into a slave family, coupled with his intense desire to learn, guide the book as Carver manages to use his intelligence, determination, and ingenuity to follow his dreams. Even while facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Carver managed to inspire others and lived a life of learning and aiding others. These poems vividly portray Carver through some of his accomplishments and take the reader through a journey of his life. ANALYSIS: This novel is replete with imagery that helps the reader visualize what is happening. In “Watkins Laundry and Apothecary: Mariah Watkins, Neosho, Missouri,” the speaker states, “He was sweet with the neighbor children. / Taught the
Read more

FREE CHOICE POETRY: Long Way Down

Image
BIBLIOGRAPHY : Reynolds, J. (2019). Long way down . New York, NY: Antheneum. ISBN:9781481438261 SUMMARY: Long Way Down is a mystical realist novel for young adults by American author Jason Reynolds. Focused on the subject of gun violence, particularly the survivor’s journey from grief and trauma to catharsis and spiritual recuperation, it is told by teenager Will Holloman, who takes a surreal elevator descent through his apartment building on his way to avenge his brother’s death in a gang shooting. ANALYSIS : The book Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a unique free verse poetry book. Long Way Down has one main setting in this story, an elevator. In this elevator, Will, the main character, is greeted by ghosts who knew his older brother Shawn. As Will ventures out to obtain justice for Shawn’s death, the spirits try to subliminally stop him from taking a life, just for revenge. Reynolds utilizes the format and details in the story to have different perspectives in one particula
Read more

Hopkins Award Poetry:One Last Word by Nikki Grimes

Image
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grimes, N (2018).One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN:978:1619635548 SUMMARY: In this collection of poetry, Nikki Grimes looks afresh at the poets of the Harlem Renaissance—including voices like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more writers of importance and resonance from this era—by combining their work with her own original poetry. Using "The Golden Shovel" poetic method, Grimes has written a collection of poetry that is as gorgeous as it is thought-provoking. Analysis: Between the covers of this compact volume lies artistic, literary, sociocultural, and curricular gold.   Taking her inspiration from the poets of the Harlem Renaissance and her poetic form from a method first developed to honor Gwendolyn Brooks, Grimes offers an introduction and a homage to these strong African-American voices. After providing brief author’s notes on the Harlem Renaissance and its role in inspiring her own work, she
Read more