WINTER BEES AND OTHER POEMS, by Joyce Sidman and Illustrated by Rick Allen

Sidman, Joyce.  Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold.  Ill. by Rick Allen.  New York: HMH. 2014. ISBN  978-0547906508.

SUMMARY AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Winter Bees is a collection of twelve poems that transport the reader outdoors into the cold, snowy scenes of winter.  Sidman has used beautiful language to give creatures a voice to tell their own winter stories.  The poet has crafted poems that are pleasing to the ear.  The use of both rhyme and free verse create a beautiful lyrical and rhythmic cadence with each turn of the page.

The first person approach allows each winter creature to share an individual point of view of winter life.  Descriptive language abounds on every page.  Consider “Vole in Winter” and the snowy tunnels where vole hides out of sight.  Sidman describes the snow as “crumbly white cake/studded with delectables.” The figurative language in “Snowflake Wakes” give the snowflakes human-like characteristics with “arms outstretched and lace sprouting from fingertips.”  A snowflake “hugs earth, sighs and settles” when it lands on the ground.  The title poem, “Winter Bees” makes it is easy to imagine a mass of bees hidden within a tree with Sidman’s rich descriptions, “we boil, we teem, we hum.”

Repetition and alliteration in “Under Ice” create a strong rhythm and beat.  Assonance is used in “ripped chips and thrashing twigs” and the phrase is repeated for emphasis.  Consonance with “brown bullet” and the repetition of other phrases like “groom, snack, kiss” create a pleasing effect for listeners. 

Interesting factual information is included with each poem.  Consider it a mini science lesson on each page.  Readers will have the opportunity to learn about the habits and habitats of each featured creature.  Rick Allen’s prints are stunning and provide a colorful, textured backdrop for each poem.  They add beauty and depth to the rich poetic experiences on each page.  The book is over sized and each scene spans two pages.  Readers will naturally want to linger on the scenes, taking in the rich detail, color and texture.

Allen used linoleum cuts, wood engravings and other techniques to create the beautiful scenes.  The cut-away of the tree trunk in “Winter Bees” lets the reader peak into a bright orange nest of bees with translucent wings.  The fox looks ready to pounce in “Vole in the Winter.”  His thick orange fur is a vibrant contrast to small brown vole, running for safety under the snow.  A solitary tree branch stretches across both pages of “Chickadees Song.”  The scene has birds resting, flying, swooping, pecking in the snow and hanging upside down.  In “Triolet for Skunk Cabbage,” the rich textures of the leaves stand out against the mottled snow, and the fox’s reflection in a pond adds interest.  The fox is in nearly every scene as a silent observer, sometimes mostly hidden from view.  Readers will enjoy looking for the fox.

Each poem will be easy to locate with the use of the table of contents.  A glossary is provided at the back for unfamiliar words. The book cover is inviting with a large furry fox ready to pounce and a little bee resting on the title.  This collection of poems is a must-have for the classroom.  Sidman, a celebrated and award winning poet, has created another treasure with “Winter Bees.”

SPOTLIGHT ON A POEM 

The descriptive language and rhythmic pattern of "Big Brown Moose" will be fun for students to read aloud and to pantomime the actions of the moose.  Introduce the students to several of the beautiful photos of moose that can be found by searching "National Geographic images of moose" on the Internet.  Read aloud the poem twice, taking time to read with expression.  Invite students to listen for  action words and descriptive words.  A list of especially interesting action words and descriptive words could be listed on a chart and students could provide appropriate actions for each.  Provide students with a copy of the poem and allow them time to read it on their own.  Divide students into five groups.  Assign each group a stanza of the poem to present to the class.  Allow them time to practice reading the poem chorally and choosing actions for the presentation.  The class will listen to each presentation. Culminate the experience with a dynamic reading of the poem again by the teacher and student may follow along with their printed text.

"Big Brown Moose"
"I'm a big brown moose,
I'm a rascally moose,
I'm a moose with a tough, shaggy hide;
and I kick and I prance
in a long-legged dance
with my moose-mama close by my side.

I shrug off the cold
and I sneeze at the wind
and I swivel my ears in the snow;
and I tramp and I tromp
over forest and swamp,
'cause there's nowhere a moose cannot go.

I'm a big brown moose
I'm a ravenous moose
as I hunt for the willow and yew;
with a snort and a crunch,
I rip off each bunch,
and I chew and I chew and I chew.

When together we slump
in a comfortable clump—
my mountainous mama and I—
I give her a nuzzle
of velvety muzzle.
Our frosty breath drifts to the sky.

I'm a big brown moose
I'm a slumberous moose,
I'm a moose with a warm snuggle hide;
and I bask in the moon
as the coyotes croon,
with my moose-mama close by my side.

EXTENSIONS

Joyce Sidman's website it a great place for students to get to know the poet.  She has a tab for writers that includes writing tips. Students can learn from her advice and work on their own writing.  Find her at http://www.joycesidman.com/writers/.