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11th out of 82 books
—
165 voters
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
A Caldecott medalist and a Newbery Honor-winning poet celebrate the beauty and value of spirals.What makes the tiny snail shell so beautiful? Why does that shape occur in nature over and over againbut also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
October 4th 2011
by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
(first published October 3rd 2011)
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Swirl by Swirl presents a fascinating examination of one of the most beautiful and prevalent shapes in nature, the spiral. After contemplating the examples presented here - a nautilus shell, the arrangement of a flower's petals, and a spider's graceful web - readers will no doubt discover more spirals in their world - perhaps the whorls in their fingertips, to start. With her keen control of language, Joyce Sidman's captivating and poetic narration marries science and art, much like the spiral i...more
Jan 10, 2012
Lisa Vegan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
kids interested in nature & science; fans of gorgeous illustrations
Gorgeous and eye catching illustrations.
Fascinating scientific information about how spirals are so prevalent in nature. This goes for individual animals (and animal parts and postures), individual plants, ocean waves, clouds, and entire galaxies.
I love how this can be read on so many different levels to and by so many ages of kids. The simple text information and big pictures can appeal to the youngest child. the words used are soothing enough so that this could even work as a bedtime story! Th...more
Fascinating scientific information about how spirals are so prevalent in nature. This goes for individual animals (and animal parts and postures), individual plants, ocean waves, clouds, and entire galaxies.
I love how this can be read on so many different levels to and by so many ages of kids. The simple text information and big pictures can appeal to the youngest child. the words used are soothing enough so that this could even work as a bedtime story! Th...more
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My first thought after reading Swirl by Swirl:Spirals in Nature? I want more of this author/illustrator team! The book couldn't be more aptly named. It shows how spirals can be found in plants, animals and even waves. The simple text at first deceives. The reader needs to pay close attention to the pictures to truly understand the text. For example, "A spiral is a strong shape." The illustration of a hedgehog curled in a tight spiral while a red fox carefully sniffs, but does not harm, demonstra...more
Sep 13, 2012
Jess
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people, espcially 1-3rd
Recommended to Jess by:
good reviews
A spiral is a snuggling shape.
This is great! Lyric wordings (so reading this aloud next week*), movement-filled illustrations, and information on the prevalence and uses of spirals in nature. Added illustration perk -- the large, full page illustrations with detailed bits hidden inside spirals should work well for group readings and one-on-one examination.
At the close of the book, Sidman included more details for each one of her spiral statements. Sidman includes two pages of details further e...more
This is great! Lyric wordings (so reading this aloud next week*), movement-filled illustrations, and information on the prevalence and uses of spirals in nature. Added illustration perk -- the large, full page illustrations with detailed bits hidden inside spirals should work well for group readings and one-on-one examination.
At the close of the book, Sidman included more details for each one of her spiral statements. Sidman includes two pages of details further e...more
Type of book: Story Picturebook (poetry)
Intended audience: PreK and up
This seems to be one of those books that everyone loves but that didn't receive many honors. This is fine with me. The poet, who is both a Caldecott medalist and a Newberry honor winner, uses her lyrical voice to describe different spirals that can be found in nature. There is also a section in the back that gives more detail about each spiral. In this way, it can be used for an older audience.
Illustration:
I was so excited...more
Intended audience: PreK and up
This seems to be one of those books that everyone loves but that didn't receive many honors. This is fine with me. The poet, who is both a Caldecott medalist and a Newberry honor winner, uses her lyrical voice to describe different spirals that can be found in nature. There is also a section in the back that gives more detail about each spiral. In this way, it can be used for an older audience.
Illustration:
I was so excited...more
Jan 21, 2012
Dolly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
Shelves:
2012,
childrens,
math,
nonfiction,
ocean-seashore,
science,
gardens-flowers,
poetry-song-music
I anticipated reading this book for so long. When I put it on hold at our local library, I was something like 79th in the queue for it. So it must be something special, right?
When we read the book, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the narrative. Perhaps it was the long wait that had me expecting brilliance. It has a lyrical simplicity that is soothing and encourages looking at the pictures, but it didn't "wow" me.
But as for the illustrations, that's another story. The scratchboard pictures have...more
When we read the book, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the narrative. Perhaps it was the long wait that had me expecting brilliance. It has a lyrical simplicity that is soothing and encourages looking at the pictures, but it didn't "wow" me.
But as for the illustrations, that's another story. The scratchboard pictures have...more
I like Joyce Sidman's writing style. She's very good at putting nonfiction together with poetry and making both halves come off better for the collaboration, and I think that Swirl by Swirl is one of her best efforts in that regard. The real star of the book, though, has to be illustrator Beth Krommes. I'm not genuinely awed by the work of just any artist who supplies paintings for a picture book, but in Swirl by Swirl Beth Krommes has neatly leapt the boundaries of the genre, creating a series...more
This creative, unique book delves into the world of swirls and spirals, blending fiction and non-fiction in a unique twist. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman is a beautiful book that shows you how we can find this distinctive shape in nature.
Starting with the small curled up harvest mouse and expanding to the spirals of the galaxies, this book leaves no swirl unexplored. I found this book very interesting and adorable at the same time, urging anyone to read it. Joyce Sidman says...more
Starting with the small curled up harvest mouse and expanding to the spirals of the galaxies, this book leaves no swirl unexplored. I found this book very interesting and adorable at the same time, urging anyone to read it. Joyce Sidman says...more
My Review: This is a beautiful illustrated book that tells what makes things like snail shells, bull snake, eastern chipmunk, millipede, hibiscus, sunflower, funnel tornado, and many more spirals. Mathematic explains that a spiral is a curve in the plane or in the space, which runs around a centre in a special way.
This spirals in nature shows how the bull snakes, woodchuck, harvest mouse and more like to coil tight in small places to keep warm and safe. In some animals and plants spiral shape st...more
Swirl by Swirl is an awesome colorful informative tale about spiral shaped objects, places, and things. This book will motivate students to learn different shapes by using real-world experiences and reasoning’s. For example, there’s a big colorful picture of a snail on the front cover which provides children with the opportunity to read the title and surprisingly notice a remarkable “swirl by swirl” can “spiral by nature” (which is amazing to me). This story really encourages children to observe...more
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes reveals the many spirals in nature — from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies — but also celebrates the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.
Spirals are described as snuggling, growing, strong shapes that reach out, are clever, beautiful, and can move.
The spare text features a large font with the pertinent flora and fauna identified in a very small font. The poetry is c...more
Spirals are described as snuggling, growing, strong shapes that reach out, are clever, beautiful, and can move.
The spare text features a large font with the pertinent flora and fauna identified in a very small font. The poetry is c...more
On each bold scratchboard spread, Sidman describes a characteristic of spirals found in nature. The result is fascinating! From the snuggling spiral shapes of burrowing creatures like the bull snake and woodchuck to the bold spiral shapes of breaking ocean waves, readers will learn that the spiral is a growing, snuggling, and strong shape. The last two pages give detailed information about each of the characteristics described in the previous pages and offers great factoids to springboard discus...more
Stunning! "Swirl by Swirl" by Joyce Sidman (text) and Beth Krommes (artwork)is being bandied about as a consideration for this year's (2011) Caldecott Award. A unique "shape" book, it looks at the swirl as it is found in nature (from a ram's horn to an unfurling fern). In both wording and artwork the content literally swirls and flows across the page. Details abound about the shape as it is found in fauna and flora. This information is expanded upon in an excellent afterward that discusses all o...more
Swirl by Swirl is getting heaps of attention, but I didn't care to find the book. My co-worker passed it to me and said, "It's a great book and looks like your type of storytime book." Okay. I'll give it a chance.
It's wonderful! A beautiful piece that weaves non-fiction and fiction together. Swirls surround us every day if we look closely. They protect and comfort. They are powerful and beautiful. Swirl by Swirl can be a fantastic storytime book. The colors are dark and detailed (another reason...more
It's wonderful! A beautiful piece that weaves non-fiction and fiction together. Swirls surround us every day if we look closely. They protect and comfort. They are powerful and beautiful. Swirl by Swirl can be a fantastic storytime book. The colors are dark and detailed (another reason...more
I love everything about this book! First, it is absolutely gorgeous! The illustrations, by winner of the 2009 Caldecott "The House in the Night," are incredible. The colors are fascinating and the design is both playful and mysterious. One glance gives one impression, but looking closely will catch lots of little details. I also like the text. Spirals may not sound intriguing, but this short book shows how they are they are represented in many different kinds of objects, living and not living--a...more
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature is, as the title states, about spirals in nature, from snakes curled up in their hole, to nautilus shells, to fiddlehead ferns. It's a fun read-aloud, but the "story" is a little underwhelming compared to the illustrations. It takes something interesting and makes it a little... boring. The picture really does tell the story, in the case of this book, and the gorgeous cross-hatched illustrations are really great. This would be a good book for a 1st or 2nd grade...more
Wow, what is not to love? This book combines art and science, teaching us to find beauty and shapes in the natural world. It shows us the many special functions a spiral has for all different kinds of animals and plants, and it's . . . so . . . beautiful.
I loved Joyce Sidman's past books--a poetry book called Red Sings From the Treetops, illustrated (phenomenally) by Pamela Zagarenski; and Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors, illustrated by Beckie Prange, all about how long various life f...more
I loved Joyce Sidman's past books--a poetry book called Red Sings From the Treetops, illustrated (phenomenally) by Pamela Zagarenski; and Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors, illustrated by Beckie Prange, all about how long various life f...more
Audience: Because of the large text, short sentences and simple vocabulary this book is best for 1st – 2nd graders.
Appeal: I think the colorful illustrations make this book appealing to 1st-2nd graders. The illustrations would give students the opportunity to use their imaginations to tell a story in addition to that of the text.
Application: I would use this book with the activity of a modified word wall. Since the book has such imaginative illustrations, the word wall would be implemented as a...more
Appeal: I think the colorful illustrations make this book appealing to 1st-2nd graders. The illustrations would give students the opportunity to use their imaginations to tell a story in addition to that of the text.
Application: I would use this book with the activity of a modified word wall. Since the book has such imaginative illustrations, the word wall would be implemented as a...more
I found the information at the end of the book interesting. I liked that things of a spiral nature were "celebrated" in this book. When done right, my hair curls in a spiral. And I love that seahorses were included. So, yes, I do enjoy spirals all around us and I like that a book is focused on that. However, I'm not much of a poetry connoisseur, so I didn't quite get it. The illustrations are nice and do well in portraying the spirals, but I'm not wholly in love with the style.
A Beehive nominee....more
A Beehive nominee....more
A picture/non-fiction book that combines wonderfully child-friendly text with gorgeous illustrations. If you are a fan of the the Caldecott Award winning "The House In The Night" you will recognize the illustrations in this book.
Children are invited to locate the swirls located in the pictures, each of which occurs naturally in nature. This book is mostly found in the picture book section of libraries, but it is categorized as poetry by the Library of Congress. It could also be put in non-fictio...more
Children are invited to locate the swirls located in the pictures, each of which occurs naturally in nature. This book is mostly found in the picture book section of libraries, but it is categorized as poetry by the Library of Congress. It could also be put in non-fictio...more
This is a stunningly beautiful book with scratchboard illustrations washed with colors that celebrate the wonder of the spiral shapes found in nature. Thus, readers will see the spirals in a ram's horn, the spirals in funnel clouds, the spiral shape in which a chipmunk curls as it falls asleep, the spiral in a snail shell. The text is sparing yet carefully chosen, and together, the text and illustrations inspire curiosity in readers and possibly encourage them to look more carefully at the world...more
Total strike-out. I thought the snail shell on the cover would get Charlotte's attention, but she is just not into this book at all. I love it though. The illustrations are gorgeous scratch-art looking things, with watercolors over. The images are of swirls and spirals in nature, with simple text about some characteristics of spirals. No idea why this isn't resonating with Charlotte since it contains several of her favorite animals - hedgehogs, snails, octopus, nautilus, fox & sea horses. Hu...more
Loved this! Gorgeous illustrations, visually beautiful and full of rich detail. The storytelling is fairly simple but is also evocative of all the different types of swirls being described. I loved the variety, from swirls on snail shells and animals curling up in their burrows, to the swirls in ocean waves and in storm clouds and in the galaxy. Just breathtaking. I think the book could be appreciated by young children, while the back matter makes it more educational for the older picture book c...more
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I loved how this book’s scratchboard illustrations take over the entire story. With only a few text words on each page, the reader is drawn to all the wonderfully illustrated animals and plants. Very repetitive with “A spiral is a …” and then the rest of the text takes you on a journey. Overall, a well-written and illustrated book about the spiral shape and how it is always around you. Each page is overflowing with different representations of the spiral shape that will have you finding them for...more
A wonderful concept and beautifully produced, this picture book finds spirals in our natural world and highlights them so that the child can marvel and learn. The text is super concise, using just the right words for each image. I guess I'm jealous I didn't write this book!
Wonderful for a toddler who is learning about shapes and the world around her.
Also super for a preschool or kindergarten teacher to pull out during a nature unit.
And for the older child, there's a back spread that has additio...more
Wonderful for a toddler who is learning about shapes and the world around her.
Also super for a preschool or kindergarten teacher to pull out during a nature unit.
And for the older child, there's a back spread that has additio...more
This book was about learning the different types of spirals that you might encounter in the wild. I thought it was very educational, cute, and the illustrations definitely caught my eye. The audience for this book would probably be grade levels K-3. I thought it would be a good fit for this age because you learn about all sorts of shapes, but you don't really ever talk about swirls and how they occur in nature. I liked how it related spirals to specific animals and then on the last page it went...more
Love this book. Ordering my own copy. Sidman and Krommes bring to life how we are surrounded by spirals in nature and how those spirals serve many different purposes. Simple text and detailed illustrations require young reader or listener to think carefully about what is being said. At the end of the book, there is a clear definition of a spiral (a shape that curls around a center point) with an explanation of the spirals in the illustrations in the book. These last two pages should be read alou...more
1 like
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This is a nearly perfect nonfiction picture book that teaches more than it seems possible in just a few simple words. I love the way Sidman teaches the various functions of spirals in nature - many of which I never really connected together until I read this. The illustrations by Beth Krommes are gorgeous and pair perfectly with the text to teach about spirals in nature. And of course, don't forget the additional information given at the end of the book. This is well worth reading for children a...more
This extraordinary book succeeds both with its poetry and its incredible art. I love books that open the eyes, and this one with its swirling patterns and earthy shades and multiple perspectives is a delight. The large font is refreshing, and the simple poetry makes this book a nice introduction to the power of language. I love the description of a tornado: "It twists through air with clouds on its tail." Brilliant AND a perfect early introduction to a bit of natural science. 1st grade and up.
Sometimes my ESL lens gets in the way. This was one of those times. Did I love the book? Yes! Was it fun and interesting? Yes! Would kids love it? Yes! Is it unique? Yes!
My overly critical ESL brain only griped a little about how the pictures are illustrations and not real photographs, which would have given the ESL kids a true-to-life picture of the fabulous swirls found in nature. I'm going to let that little thought go though, because the book really was pretty darn fabulous.
My overly critical ESL brain only griped a little about how the pictures are illustrations and not real photographs, which would have given the ESL kids a true-to-life picture of the fabulous swirls found in nature. I'm going to let that little thought go though, because the book really was pretty darn fabulous.
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