{"id":25940,"date":"2015-01-05T01:06:08","date_gmt":"2015-01-05T05:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25940"},"modified":"2015-01-05T01:06:08","modified_gmt":"2015-01-05T05:06:08","slug":"review-of-winter-bees-and-other-poems-of-the-cold-by-joyce-sidman-rick-allen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25940","title":{"rendered":"Review of Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold, by Joyce Sidman & Rick Allen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"winter_bees_large\"<\/a>Winter Bees
\n& Other Poems of the Cold<\/em><\/p>\n

by Joyce Sidman & Rick Allen<\/p>\n

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2014. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2014 Sonderbooks Stand-out: #3 Children’s Nonfiction<\/p>\n

Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold<\/em> is a magnificent collection of poetry, science, and art \u2013 all about creatures of winter.<\/p>\n

The poems are lovely and evocative, the artwork is stunning, and the facts presented after each poem are surprising and interesting.<\/p>\n

Usually, the poem gives the voice of the animal being featured, then a paragraph on the facing page gives more details. The creatures highlighted include tundra swans, garter snakes, moose, honeybees (in winter), beavers, wolves, ravens, voles, chickadees, snow fleas, and skunk cabbages.<\/p>\n

As one example, here\u2019s \u201cSnake\u2019s Lullaby,\u201d featuring an illustration of a tangle of garter snakes, which we are told brumate together in a tangled mass underground.<\/p>\n

Brother, sister, flick your tongue
\nand taste the flakes of autumn sun.<\/p>\n

Use these last few hours of gold
\nto travel, travel toward the cold.<\/p>\n

Before your coils grow stiff and dull,
\nyour heartbeat slows to winter\u2019s lull,<\/p>\n

seek the sink of sheltered stones
\nthat safely cradle sleeping bones.<\/p>\n

Brother, sister, find the ways
\nback to the deep and tranquil bays,<\/p>\n

and \u2018round each other twist and fold
\nto weave a heavy cloak of cold.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is a beautiful book which will draw the reader back again and again.<\/p>\n

Do you have a child who likes facts about animals? This book is full of choice bits. You\u2019ll learn about subnivean creatures. You\u2019ll learn about springtails \u2013 tiny arthropods whose tails flip them up into the air. You\u2019ll learn how honeybees keep the hive warm during the winter, and so many other interesting facts. And while your child is learning, the chances are good that they will be pulled into enjoyment of the accompanying poetry and artwork.<\/p>\n

joycesidman.com<\/a>
\nkenspeckleletterpress.com<\/a>
\nhmhco.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/winter_bees.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a>