Changes: A Child's First Poetry Collection

by Charlotte Zolotow, Tiphanie Beeke (Illustrator), Crescent Dragonwagon (Introduction)

First comes spring with birds building nests...
Summer with its abundance of roses...
Fall with crisp falling leaves...
and winter with bright brushes of snow.

As the seasons change, there is new beauty waiting to be discovered. Charlotte Zolotow's classic poems paired with Tiphanie Beeke's lovely illustrations make for a perfect poetry collection for every child.

Changes: A Child's First Collection of Poetry is published on the occasion of Charlotte Zolotow's 100th birthday. These poems were originally published in 1967 and 1970.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Charlotte Zolotow was a distinguished American writer, editor, and publisher who made a lasting mark on children's literature. Over her career, she authored around 70 picture book texts and edited works by prominent writers including Paul Zindel, Robert Lipsyte, and Francesca Lia Block. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she studied writing at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later joined Harper & Bros in New York, where she worked her way up from secretary to publisher. Her own books were published by over 20 houses, and she became known for her poetic and emotionally insightful texts. Zolotow’s most celebrated works include When the Wind Stops, William’s Doll, and River Winding. Her story "Enemies" was featured in The Big Book for Peace alongside other notable authors. She lived for many years in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Her legacy endures not only through her own writing but also through the Charlotte Zolotow Award, established in 1998 to honor outstanding picture book texts. Her contributions helped shape modern children's literature with sensitivity, elegance, and enduring relevance.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving these poems when I was much younger back when they were originally published in 1967 and 1970. I enjoyed them just as much now, many decades later, as they are accompanied in this edition by luscious artwork. Twenty-seven poems pay tribute to nature and the seasons in this book that is published on what would have been the author's 100th birthday. Many of them show the poet's keen sense of observation, and all of them have something that makes readers want to share them with others. One of my favorites is "The Fly," which describes how its namesake finds a resting place as "Quivering and alive, / rubbing one leg against the other, / he sat on a word"// (p. 26). I also love "Blue" as it describes "Blue / as bachelor buttons / and larkspur / and a baby's new eyes" // (p. 23). What a treasure to dust off and share with a new generation of word lovers!

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad there is a new reprinting of this wonderful poetry book. Fantastic illustrations as well. Charlotte Zolotow was an original and a tour de force in children's lit. She will be missed.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instantaneously, the whimsical, bright illustrations captured my attention!
Charlotte Zolotow's daughter, Crescent Dragonwagon, provides the introduction for this book. Charlotte died in 2013 at the age of ninety-eight, after writing more than ninety books. This book is a compilation of twenty-eight poems written by Charlotte. These poems take us through the "Changes" and intricacies of the seasons.

This book can serve as an enlightening introduction to poetry for literature or changing of the seasons for science. I would highly recommend this book for young readers in kindergarten through second grade, though I think any age would enjoy this brilliantly illustrated journey through the seasons.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book!! Beautful illustrations!! Great for elementary age kids and for poetry month!! Loved it!!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations not as good as the poems.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrate the changing of the seasons with this collection of poetry from master children’s poet, Charlotte Zolotow. The 28 poems move from the joy of the change from one season to the next and then start with a focus on spring. The poems speak of the joy of spring breezes, snow melting, rainfall, violets, and green grass. Summer poems shine with sun, seaside sand, lights at night, and the buzz of insects. Autumn comes next with the joy of fallen leaves, classrooms, firelight, and Halloween. The book finishes with winter and its snow and ice that dazzle in their own way.

The poems here create a whole, a deep look not only at the seasons but also in the power of connecting with nature throughout the year. Zolotow’s mastery shows in each one, her ability to look closely at a small thing, find the immense beauty in it, speak to that and then create a universal experience in words on the page. Everyone will respond to these poems, as they capture those moments in time where we can all connect with nature and with one another.

The illustrations frame each poem, and capture the natural hues of each season. Spring is filled with the brightness of the flowers and grass. Summer is yellow and bright with the sun. Autumn turns golden and orange while winter is blues and whites. There are just enough details to invite readers into the poems and allow the words to really be the focus of the book.

A gorgeous addition to children’s poetry collections, this is one to get into teacher’s hands so they can start using it immediately. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poetry from the author of books such as William's Doll and Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present takes readers on a journey through the seasons. The illustrations by Tiphanie Beeke are a wonderful accompaniment to each poem, bringing an added dimension to words that paint a picture all on their own. Whether she is describing the spring wind "brushing the world with feathery wings," or how "the light long summer is grown old," Zolotow captures the feel of each season. Her words capture the glittery look of the lights on a bridge at night, or daydreams sparked by the view out a classroom window. The sibilant sound of falling snow comes through in the words of "The First Snow." Other poems are bursting with all the colors she includes. Each one is like a slice of the year, preserved and served up to us.

Whether you are looking for a book to accompany a study of the changing seasons, an introduction to poetry, or a model text for descriptive writing - this book is it. Even more important is how enjoyable it would be to read together, one on one, or in a group. Readers will feel the cold of winter, smell the violets of spring, soak in the blue summer sky, or jump at the feel of a dog's wet nose against their palm. It is a delight to all the senses.

I read an advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Matthew Winner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book is Changes: A Child's First Poetry Collection Poems. The poems are by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and this comes to us from Sourcebooks. Here is a beautiful, beautiful collection of poems from Charlotte Zolotow through all of the seasons and each one, I feel, is more perfect than the one before it. just perfectly capturing the way that poetry is supposed to capture a moment, invoke feeling in us, make us reflect, challenge us to think about something. These are just lovely. And I'd like to just read you one [poem]. This is called "You".

I like shadows.
I like sun.
I like you
more than anyone.

I like summer.
I like the cold.
I'll even like you
when you're old.

I like work.
I like play.
I like you
every which way.

Now if that doesn't start off this segment right, I don't know what does. One poem after the other, I feel, is just something so special that I want to share with all of my readers in my school. And I can't wait to see these poems in pockets for Poem in your Pocket in April. Excellent collection of poems by Charlotte Zolotow.

This review appears on an episode of the “Best Book Ever [this week]” segment of the Let’s Get Busy podcast. Check out the original post here: http://lgbpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/0...

[Annika Skigen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changes is an anthology book. The book starts out with a poem about how all the seasons come and go, but they seasons are always the same. It ends talking about how the person going through the seasons and they do change. After this poem, the book is divided into 4 sections, one for each season. In each season section there are poem that relate to that season. For example in Spring, it talks about flowers, rain, and warmer weather.

This book is full of illustrations that match the seasons and the poem they are about. One poem, titled "Blue" the page is filled with different illustrations that are mentioned in the poem (blue birds and blueberries). The whole background of the page is also blue and covered in different shades. By illustrating the backgrounds based on the season, when reading the poems you really feel like you are a part of the poem. Many poems are free verse and do not follow a strict pattern.

[Caley Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poem book gives lots of insight into the different changes that happen throughout the seasons. In the book, the author gave many different poems to show how each season is unique from one another. Each season awaits a new surprise as to what is going to come next in that season. The surprise is the different beauty that awaits in the changing of seasons.
Overall, this poem was a great introduction to getting young students into poverty. The book was a pretty easy read and clearly demonstrated each of the seasons. As each page turned, there was new colors that caught the readers eye in a different way. While I was reading the book, it had many different features that made the reader feel like they were actually in the seasons. This book was a great read and I highly recommend reading it to young readers.

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the fondest memories of reading Charlotte Zolotow books as a child, although I never knew she wrote poetry also. I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book through a promotion from the publisher. Although the illustrations were not to my taste, I can see their bright colors being appealing to children. What I liked most about the poems was that they were simple enough to make them fun for children to read and understand, but they were in no way trite or patronizing. Many of them seemed to be based on memories of Zolotow's childhood. I think this will be a great addition/recommendation for National Poetry Month.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changes is about the seasons and what can be discovered. Changes is a collection of poetry by the author and beautiful illustrations by Tiphanie Beeke. The illustrations are beautiful and bright -- perfect for the poems. I have not read this poetry as a child. I wish I had as I might had been more interested in poetry! This is a great start for children and even adults. Poetry has no age limit.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always try to be up front and honest - poetry is not my thing. I have a small handful of VERY favourite poems, and everything else I just kind of slog through.

So I'm very bad at objectively judging poetry and how good it is. These poems seem sweet, and they cover several different "kinds" (different layouts, rhyme schemes, length, etc.) of form. The subject matter is laid out by season, and it gives the whole book a nice arc.

For people who like poetry, I'm sure this would be a lovely book. It brought back memories of trying to find things to memorize in primary school, and I think this book would be great for those sorts of assignments - the poems are very relateable.

[Megan Frager]

This was a very fun and educational book to read about the different seasons. The book has numerous poems about each season and some of the characteristics seen during that time. The pictures go together and are colorful. The pictures do an amazing job showing the seasons and what they look like in real life. The author also included different holidays and the pictures had showed the holiday norms and vocabulary. The poems are short and don’t always rhyme, but sometimes the poems share the last sentence in each stanza. It will teach children the different seasons and holiday in an easy, simple, and cute way.

[Jim Erekson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some enjoyable surprises in here! I don't favor illustrations in books of poetry, so I didn't look closely at the pictures. But the tone and the pallette in my peripheral vision were consistent with the poems. And usually I want to explore a wide anthology (favorable for browsing) rather than one poet's collected works (you have to already know).

Zolotow's images an ironies are fun to run across.

Here's one:

Little crocus
like a cup,
holding all that sunlight up.

[Dannica Lyon]

This book shows an insightful look into the seasons we experience. My favorite poem within it was the poem about all of the seasons in one. It was a super fun read as well as a good way to educate kids on the different seasons they are experiencing. There were some poems about one specific season and there are also poems about all of them together and how they transition. Overall, this was a very fun way to experience poetry and a great experience for the reader overall!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listed in CCBC Choices 2016 under Poetry. Crescent Dragonwagon introduces poems from her mother, Charlotte Zolotow, on the 100th anniversary of her birth. Spanning the seasons with poems that blooms beautiful mind-images, these poems would be a great addition to library story times or classroom studies about the seasons. Sweet Spot: Grades K-3

[Shannon Hughes]

Changes is a book that consists of many different poems. All of these poems are about the seasons and how although they come and go the seasons themselves remain constant. The book uses illustrations to go along with each poem. This book teaches children to about change in a unique way. Most of the poems are written in a free style type of way and don't follow many patterns.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely poetry collection that takes young readers through the four seasons. I love how Beeke's illustrations show diverse children enjoying nature. I plan to start working these poems into my story times.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poetry, organized around the seasons.
The illustrations are perfect for young readers, the bright colors and child-like pictures are sure to draw in young eyes!
Highly recommended K-3.

[Darlene Ivy]

a collection of Zolotow's poetry arranged by seasons. Easily relateable themes. Vibrant illustrations, often with soft edges.

Poems can be short.
Crocus
Little crocus
like a cup,
holding all that sunlight up.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book of poems for children. The illustrations are pretty.

It may be a bit long to read to kids in one setting, so you may want to break it up over several readings.

Can be used to discuss seasons and poetry.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://savvyverseandwit.com/2015/06/c...

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of 27 poems about the seasons. Simple, sweet, a great introduction to poetry for a small child.

This was an ARC from the publisher.

[Jennifer]

I love cute little themed poetry books. Another one that has to do with the seasons that I love is Here's a Little Poem.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are so vibrant! The poetry is perfect for reading with tiny humans. What a lovely book.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these poems, and I enjoyed reading them to my boys. I was pleasantly surprised they also really enjoyed the poems. So proud of them.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems for all four seasons, in honor of what would have been Charlotte Zolotow's 100th birthday.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!!!