WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen

Review by Christi De Leon

a.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold. Ill. by Rick Allen. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. ISBN 9780547906501

b.    SUMMARY & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This collection of winter poems consists of 12 selections on various topics. Snakes, bees, trees, and chickadees are among the included selections. In addition to each poem, additional information on the given topic is provided.

This poetry collection combines poetry and facts in an interesting way. Most poems are about animals and other sources of life that survive the wintertime, although one entry is all about snowflakes. Explanations accompany each poem explaining how each animal or life source lives in a winter climate. These facts are fascinating for nearly any age, even adults. There are many opportunities for connections to various science concepts, especially with these pieces of information included. The contents page directs readers to the page number of each selection. The glossary at the end is a user-friendly feature that includes definitions of the more difficult vocabulary from the book. All of these access features make this book especially great for discovery.

Each poem varies in form, length, and arrangement. Many rhyme while others are presented in free verse. However, all of the poems in this collection are written with quality and will likely capture the reader’s attention. The illustrations were uniquely done through a complex process, yet the results are stunning. The elements of each illustration were created from linoleum blocks. Then, the artwork was hand-colored. Through the illustrations and poems together, readers can sense the frosty landscape of wintertime. Readers may notice the fox or its tracks in each illustration as the animal roams throughout the book. This seems to be a subtle way of bringing all of the animals and plant life together into one wintry atmosphere despite their different ways of coping with the cold.

c.    POEM TO SPOTLIGHT & SHARE

“What do the trees know?”

What do the trees know?

            To bend when all the wind winds blow.

            Roots are deep and time is slow.

            All we grasp we must let go.

What do the trees know?

            Buds can weather ice and snow.

            Dark gives way to sunlight’s glow.

            Strength and stillness help us grow.

This poem answers the question “What do the trees know?” twice from the perspective of the trees using a triplet as the poetic form each time. This rhyme scheme engages readers in the topic of trees and how they survive the winter. Likewise, the other poems in the collection have various attention-grabbing elements of their own to convey this same idea of braving the cold.

Since this collection contains content that is science-rich, sharing this poem along with the information about deciduous and coniferous trees would be a great way to accompany a lesson on trees. Showing the illustrations in the book of each tree would give students another visual to reinforce the concept. To follow-up, reading a nonfiction book about trees would allow students to extend their knowledge further.