Discover the hidden world of the meadow in this unique combination of poetry riddles and science wisdom. Beginning with the rising sun and ending w...
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Mar 13, 2011
Q_Ayana
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“Discover the hidden world of the meadow in this unique combination of poetry riddles and science wisdom” [From the inside of front book jacket]. In this collection of meadow poems, Joyce Sidman, shares the beauty of nature and shares scientific insight into the life surrounding this grassland environment. The poems are in varied poetic structures: free verse, rhyme, and concrete/shape poems. Each one is a “Who am I?” type poem, which allows the reader to anticipate the upcoming pages that revea
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Mar 06, 2010
Laura
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PLOT SUMMARY
Joyce Sidman writes an assortment of poetic riddles about the life and beauty found in the meadow. Topics include the morning dew, the vascular system plants, and a variety of wildlife, including grasshoppers, deer, fox, and owls to just name a few. Each poem is accompanied by a scientific explanation of the role of these organisms in the ecosystem. Throughout the book are scratchboard illustrations created by Beth Krommes. The artwork helps the reader solve the sixteen r More...
Joyce Sidman writes an assortment of poetic riddles about the life and beauty found in the meadow. Topics include the morning dew, the vascular system plants, and a variety of wildlife, including grasshoppers, deer, fox, and owls to just name a few. Each poem is accompanied by a scientific explanation of the role of these organisms in the ecosystem. Throughout the book are scratchboard illustrations created by Beth Krommes. The artwork helps the reader solve the sixteen r More...
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Jan 15, 2011
Wendy
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One of Sidman's earlier collections, Butterfly Eyes is arranged as nature riddles and answers. The detailed, woodcut-like illustrations are beautiful. Song of the Water Boatman received a Caldecott Honor, but I think these are better! The poems are good, too. :)
I especially liked "Letter to the Sun," "Letter to the Rain," and "The Gray Ones" (Eyes of glass / Hooves of stone). My kids were caught (no pun intended) by "Apology to my Prey" (I am so More...
I especially liked "Letter to the Sun," "Letter to the Rain," and "The Gray Ones" (Eyes of glass / Hooves of stone). My kids were caught (no pun intended) by "Apology to my Prey" (I am so More...
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Apr 18, 2010
Brigid
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I absolutely love this book. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and colored. Very intricate and artistic, yet built on real life. Each double page has a poem/riddle each side telling two different parts of a story. The following pages tell the answer in plain science/nature writing. Wonderful for enhancing the study of the ecology and biology of the meadow. For ages 4+
Jun 05, 2010
Judi
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Not only is this book just beautiful, it combines poetry with information about plants and creatures of the meadow. On each page, a resident of the meadow presents a riddle-poem describing itself. On the next page, the riddle is answered, giving lots of information about each creature or plant. Kids love the "guessing game" quality of this book.
Oct 06, 2010
Bridget R.
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Have you ever observed a meadow or an open field? What did you see there? In this collection of poems, Joyce Sidman explores what you would see in a meadow, both flora and fauna.
What I thought: What a beautiful collection. All the poems have the quiet murmur that meadows do. I loved the scratchboard illustrations. They reminds me of old-fashioned woodcuts. Sidman's wonderful language slips off the tongue in the most lilting manner. The collection reminds me of Disney's Bambi which wa More...
What I thought: What a beautiful collection. All the poems have the quiet murmur that meadows do. I loved the scratchboard illustrations. They reminds me of old-fashioned woodcuts. Sidman's wonderful language slips off the tongue in the most lilting manner. The collection reminds me of Disney's Bambi which wa More...
Aug 30, 2011
June
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Breathtaking illustrations, truly. Another of Sidman's books that seamlessly combine artful words describing our real world. GO to this meadow and feast your eyes and ears. This book is one of my all-time favorite picture books.
Dec 09, 2011
Kendra
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Science, nature, poetry, and beautiful engraved artwork....what's not to love? That said, some of these poems are a little long for preK, but I would certainly use one or two of them if I were teaching science.
Sep 01, 2010
Chandra
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My rating is purely a personal preference thing and not an indication of the quality of this book. The set up is that the each page is essentially a riddle and the poem and illustrations are the clues. Poetry already tests my patience sometimes, but I've never really been a fan of riddles. The scratchboard illustrations by Beth Krommes (The House in the Night) are as lovely as they can be. The poems are clever - probably a bit too clever for me actually. So, while I appreciate it, I just did
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May 09, 2008
Erica
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This collection of poems focuses on plant, animal and insect life of the meadow. Each poem is a riddle. After every two riddles, Sidman gives the answer and a brief introduction to whatever the plant or animal is. For example, the first two answers are dew and grasshoppers. One the pages following theirs poems, there is a paragraph on what dew is and where it comes from.
Krommes illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Done with exuberantly colorful scratchboard, they capture the More...
Sep 24, 2009
Debrarian
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Gorgeous illustrations (etchings?) accompany first-person riddle poems with answers describing denizens of the meadow.
Jun 11, 2010
Bryan
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Good source for poetry for a nature lesson or for a lesson on butterflies. I also enjoyed the illustrations.
Jul 02, 2008
Renee
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A gorgeous book of science, poetry and art. We love exploring meadows and we loved this book! If we were a book-buying family (we're library lenders) I'd buy this in a heartbeat.
It's everything a good's childrens book should be. Beautiful and engaging to look at, full of lovely language and you learn a lot too. I don't think that last point is pre-requisite for a good childrens book but it's a triple bonus when all three come together.
It's everything a good's childrens book should be. Beautiful and engaging to look at, full of lovely language and you learn a lot too. I don't think that last point is pre-requisite for a good childrens book but it's a triple bonus when all three come together.
Oct 06, 2007
Deana
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The combination of beautiful illustration and playful mysteries in a variety of poetic formats make this a multi-use book for teachers and parents.
Jul 13, 2008
Tracie
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Always loved these types of illustrations. Nature-loving kids will enjoy guessing the creatures described in each poem.
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