WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD

a. Bibliographic data: Sidman, Joyce. WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD. Ill. By Rick Allen. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2014. ISBN 9780547906508.

b. Plot summary: In this exceptional poetry book consisting of twelve poems, author Joyce Sidman leads the readers into an enlightening experience regarding the life of nature and how its inhabitants transition from fall to winter, back into springtime. From honeybees, chickadees, tundra swans, and more, Joyce Sidman pairs with the illustrator, Rick Allen, to elegantly portray how the inhabitants in the poems find creative ways to stay alive and survive the sometimes brutal and treacherous winters.

c. Critical Analysis: 
      WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD, by Joyce Sidman, is brilliantly made into a book consisting of twelve poems, which reveal necessary adaptations that animals and nature must make in order to transition from season to season, especially during the winter. Not only does the author of this book include animals in the poems, but there are also poems about inanimate objects such as snowflakes, trees, and skunk cabbage.

      Following each poem, the author also includes a non-fictional section of information and details about each phenomenon, which encompasses a wide range of vocabulary-rich text that students can gain factual knowledge from. The rhythm of each poem can facilitate the flow of poetic wording, which does not always end in a rhyme. The author utilizes a variety of alliteration techniques on several of the pages, offering a pleasing sound and flow. The images do, in fact, help the reader visualize the words of the poem, but in a sense that does not distract from the author’s intended messages.

      Emotional responses can vary from humor to wonder to complete fascination, depending on the subject of the poem. Although this book has the capability to captivate an eager audience, it can be overwhelming for the primary grades due to the intense vocabulary and overflow of information.

        

d. Reviews:

"Each poem brings a sense of humor, respect, or wonder to its subject."

—Publishers Weekly

"Concluded with a glossary of big but fascinating words, this is equally suited to curricular units and cozy reads in front of a fire."

—Booklist

"A work to be savored by young artists and scientists."

—Kirkus

"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."

—School Library Journal

"A handsome, persuasive, and authentic ambassador for creatures in their natural state."

—Horn Book Magazine

"A collection that's as crisp as the first snowfall, Winter Bees is the pefect way to pass a chilly afternoon."

—Bookpage

"This author-artist duo makes winter wonder-filled."

—Shelf Awareness

"Sidman is a master at retaining overall momentum while giving the individual poems their own form and style."

—Bulletin

Awards/Honors:

2015 Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

ALSC Notable Children’s Book

ILA Teachers’ Choice Award

Midwest Bookseller’s Choice Award

School Library Journal Best Book of 2014

Kirkus Best Book of 2014

The Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2014

New York Public Library's 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing

2014 Nerdy Poetry Award

e. Connections:

I read this book aloud to my first grade bilingual class and the reading did not go over too smoothly. The students were very lost in the wording and poetic language; however, they definitely enjoyed the pictures and talking about seasons. Winter is their favorite season and, therefore, some great connections were made as a result of the discussion. 

WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD can be used to discuss the changing of seasons with students. This could be used to show the different ways that animals and plants hibernate/survive in harsh conditions. For younger students, this could be an excellent addition to the study of seasons and what type of clothes we would wear for the appropriate weather.

Students could choose one of the animals or plants in the book to research. They could use this expository-style project side by side with the poem section in the book and make comparisons in a presentation.