Module 3 Book Review #4: Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold

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*This book review was written for a MLS course at SHSU.*


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. (2014). WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD. Ill. by Rick Allen. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 9780547906508

PLOT SUMMARY
The season is now winter, meaning it is time for animals and plants up north to go into survival mode in order to protect themselves. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold is a collection of poems that highlights how nature adapts to environmental changes and explains their various roles until spring time rolls around again.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joyce Sidman incorporates various poetic elements within her poem collection, such as free verse, repetition, and rhyme. For example, in “Big Brown Moose”, the word “moose” is constantly repeated when describing its actions. This was probably done because moose are large and remain calm during season changes, for they most likely already know what to do. In addition to this, alliteration was used a couple of times (i.e. “fearful” and “flighty” in “Brother Raven, Sister Wolf”). There is a chance that this type of figurative language was used in order to help stress the connection between a raven and a wolf when it comes to survival.

In addition to the poetic elements, Sidman added a small scientific description for each poem on the opposite page. This is an excellent tool for readers because each of them give background knowledge of the portrayed animal or plant. The background knowledge can also clear up any questions the reader may have after reading the poem the first time; therefore, they will be able to recognize the present imagery if they go back for a second read. Also, the poet added a glossary in the back of the book, which definitely helps with discussing and writing in academic and content-based language.

As for Rick Allen’s illustrations, they truly portray the poems’ message about how amazing nature is when it comes to adaptation. In the front part of the book, it is stated that Allen’s images were “cut, inked, and printed from linoleum blocks (nearly two hundred of them), and then hand-colored. Those prints were then digitally scanned, composed, and layered to create the illustrations for the poems”. This long process does not go unnoticed, for the pictures are beautiful and detailed to the fullest. This allows readers to appreciate nature’s beauty and the aspects of the cold winter climate.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
*School Library Journal Starred Review: “Winter Bees distinguishes itself with a focus on the science of animal survival, coupled with superlative illustrations. Readers young and old will enjoy this winter journey and marvel at the wonders of nature.”
*Booklist Starred Review: "Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire."
*Horn Book Magazine Review: "Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire."

CONNECTIONS
*Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow is another collection of nature poems by Joyce Sidman. It would be an excellent read when discussing meadow environments and its inhabitants.
*Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman is a collection about the night time setting and the nature within it.
*Science teachers can team up with ELAR teachers and use this book as a read aloud for different nature units. They can even come up with a cross-curriculum project.

PICTURE SOURCE
https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Other-Junior-Library-Selection/dp/0547906501/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538580637&sr=1-1&keywords=Winter+Bees+%26+Other+Poems+of+the+Cold

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