Scan barcode
cacia's review against another edition
4.0
Five stars for the illustrations, three stars for the poems, four stars for the interesting, little-known information the book presents in an appealing format, and four again for the artistry and technique exhibited in the poetry (as well as the glossary's brief descriptions of a few of the poetic forms employed). Overall, a beautiful book and one well worth reading.
In the past eighteen months, I have read a wide variety of picture books, several of which have been poetry collections. Of those, this is one of the few that I would actually read to a child, ranking it among [b:When We Were Very Young|821003|When We Were Very Young (Winnie-the-Pooh, #3)|A.A. Milne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348198334s/821003.jpg|3355608] and [b:A Child's Garden of Verses|20413|A Child's Garden of Verses|Robert Louis Stevenson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401644174s/20413.jpg|3077944]. Though Winter Bees's poems are not as wonderful as those in the aforementioned books, they are all enjoyable.
The information given regarding aspects of the animals or the works of nature explored in the poems gives structure to the book and gives the poems an element of interest they themselves could not carry on their own; by learning more about the subject of the poem, one can understand why it was seen as worth writing poetry about. The synthesis of the illustrations, the poems, and the facts is delightful, making the book a well-rounded whole.
In the past eighteen months, I have read a wide variety of picture books, several of which have been poetry collections. Of those, this is one of the few that I would actually read to a child, ranking it among [b:When We Were Very Young|821003|When We Were Very Young (Winnie-the-Pooh, #3)|A.A. Milne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348198334s/821003.jpg|3355608] and [b:A Child's Garden of Verses|20413|A Child's Garden of Verses|Robert Louis Stevenson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401644174s/20413.jpg|3077944]. Though Winter Bees's poems are not as wonderful as those in the aforementioned books, they are all enjoyable.
The information given regarding aspects of the animals or the works of nature explored in the poems gives structure to the book and gives the poems an element of interest they themselves could not carry on their own; by learning more about the subject of the poem, one can understand why it was seen as worth writing poetry about. The synthesis of the illustrations, the poems, and the facts is delightful, making the book a well-rounded whole.
snowelf's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous! Pair with [b:Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|7999433|Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|Joyce Sidman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423356800s/7999433.jpg|12514837] (same author/illustrator pair) for a similar and equally interesting look at other busy hidden creatures.
pumpkincore's review against another edition
4.0
I love Joyce Sidman's words and Rick Allen's images: I can't imagine a better power duo. I love that this isn't just rhyming; Sidman uses a variety of structures to create a well-rounded educational experience. I especially loved the informational blurbs that accompanied each poem.
I would not recommend these for very young readers though. Even with a parent's help, there's a lot of vocabulary that's difficult for a budding reader to chew through. Even with middle readers, there might be a few questions for parents before they can fully digest it, but I think that age group would get the most from this book.
I would not recommend these for very young readers though. Even with a parent's help, there's a lot of vocabulary that's difficult for a budding reader to chew through. Even with middle readers, there might be a few questions for parents before they can fully digest it, but I think that age group would get the most from this book.
kazalicious's review against another edition
4.0
The illustrations matched the poems beautifully. Most poems corresponds with an animal and has a fact box talking about how the animals winter. There are poems about snowflakes or plants and those also have corresponding fact boxes. The glossary at the end is a nice addition for young readers.
This would be a wonderful book to pull poems from for a changing seasons story time, a nightly bedtime poem to read, or even a quick facts about winter book for research papers.
This would be a wonderful book to pull poems from for a changing seasons story time, a nightly bedtime poem to read, or even a quick facts about winter book for research papers.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Love the variety of poems. This is one of those great books - the poetry is good, there is nonfiction information about each topic or animal and the illustrations are amazing. Love that they are hand-colored!
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
Read for librarian book group.
The left-hand page has the poems, the middle is the illustration, the right-hand page has the factual information about the topic. It appealed to both halves of my brain and I actually enjoyed the poems. Well done.
The left-hand page has the poems, the middle is the illustration, the right-hand page has the factual information about the topic. It appealed to both halves of my brain and I actually enjoyed the poems. Well done.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
Find the spread after the title page, and the spread just before the glossary, and then flip back and forth a few times. You're welcome. (In case you haven't seen the book, autumn turns to winter and then winter turns to spring on the same tree branch).
[b:Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|7999433|Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|Joyce Sidman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407370187s/7999433.jpg|12514837] is my favorite of the Joyce Sidman books I've read so far, in no small part due to Rick Allen's illustrations. Here, the illustrator's note says, he combined hand-colored linoleum block prints and digital composition and layering, "making everything even more complex and time-consuming." The overall design of the book is lovely, from the soft purple endpapers to the use of color on the contents page and glossary. The cover positively glows, and I love that the bee of the title is almost overshadowed by that glorious fox.
As with Dark Emperor, each spread is composed of the poem, the illustration, and a smaller-type sidebar with factual information relating to the poem. Certain elements repeat in the illustrations - the cover's fox, or his prints, appears on most pages (although I can't spot him on "Dream of the Tundra Swan" - anyone?) Sometimes the fox adds a fiery, contrasting spot of color (for "Snowflake Wakes") while other times it complements ("Winter Bees").
Sometimes the pictures extend the text, and they provide fabulous visuals to bring the poems to life. They have the same mood as the words - the cool, movement-filled illustration of swans matches the idea of migration, the "billow of white" as they begin their flight. The poems vary in structure and tone - the moose and the snakes, for example, with different rhythms as well as distinct choices in language. The snake will "seek the sink of sheltered stones / that safely cradle sleeping bones" while moose proclaims, "I tramp and I tromp / over forest and swamp, / 'cause there's nowhere a moose cannot go." You would never mistake the two.
And really, you've got to admire a book of poetry that ends with "Triolet for Skunk Cabbage."
[b:Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|7999433|Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night|Joyce Sidman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407370187s/7999433.jpg|12514837] is my favorite of the Joyce Sidman books I've read so far, in no small part due to Rick Allen's illustrations. Here, the illustrator's note says, he combined hand-colored linoleum block prints and digital composition and layering, "making everything even more complex and time-consuming." The overall design of the book is lovely, from the soft purple endpapers to the use of color on the contents page and glossary. The cover positively glows, and I love that the bee of the title is almost overshadowed by that glorious fox.
As with Dark Emperor, each spread is composed of the poem, the illustration, and a smaller-type sidebar with factual information relating to the poem. Certain elements repeat in the illustrations - the cover's fox, or his prints, appears on most pages (although I can't spot him on "Dream of the Tundra Swan" - anyone?) Sometimes the fox adds a fiery, contrasting spot of color (for "Snowflake Wakes") while other times it complements ("Winter Bees").
Sometimes the pictures extend the text, and they provide fabulous visuals to bring the poems to life. They have the same mood as the words - the cool, movement-filled illustration of swans matches the idea of migration, the "billow of white" as they begin their flight. The poems vary in structure and tone - the moose and the snakes, for example, with different rhythms as well as distinct choices in language. The snake will "seek the sink of sheltered stones / that safely cradle sleeping bones" while moose proclaims, "I tramp and I tromp / over forest and swamp, / 'cause there's nowhere a moose cannot go." You would never mistake the two.
And really, you've got to admire a book of poetry that ends with "Triolet for Skunk Cabbage."
azajacks's review against another edition
5.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
tessaborst's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25
"Winter Bees: & Other Poems of the Cold" was published in 2014 and illustrated by Rick Allen. Joyce Sidman, the author writes poems about animals and some insects. It is a awesome poetry book for students ages 1st-4th grade! This would be a great addition to a classroom due to not just its poems, but the informative information that is given about the animals on each page. This information goes along with the poems and is a great way for students to understand the poem better and learn a little bit as well. <Poetry> <Informative> <Learning>