Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. 2014. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold. Ill. by Rick Allen. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0547906508.

PLOT SUMMARY

With these twelve poems, Sidman gives the reader a glimpse into the life of various wildlife as they endure winter. She writes the poems from the point of view of the creatures she features in each poem.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Sidman uses both rhyme and free verse throughout this anthology. She masterfully creates vivid imagery while describing the snowy landscapes. In Vole in Winter, she describes the snow as “crumbly white cake/studded with delectables.” Under Ice uses an interesting mixture of alliteration and repetition. Each stanza includes a line from the previous stanza. Sidman uses alliteration to describe the beavers as “brown bullets.” The duality of the text is very creative. The left page features the poem, while the right includes an expository summary. Sidman carefully uses the font to focus the reader’s attention. The size of the font for the poems is larger than the non-fiction text because it is the focus. A table of contents in the beginning of the book and the glossary at the end, help the reader easily locate information and understand unfamiliar vocabulary.

The images are vivid and beautifully detailed. Allen uses striking color contrasts for his illustrations. One page shows black ravens against a backdrop of white, snowy scenery. Each poem focuses on a different animal and shows realistic, detailed illustrations of what they would be doing during the winter. The artwork is featured on each page, with the text in light font. Allen used linoleum cutes and wood engravings to create his beautiful artwork. You can see the texture in his illustrations, which gives them life.

This collection would be better suited for older readers due to the text level and small font.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

A starred review in School Library Journal: “The 12 selections in this collection offer a winter wonderland of deftly crafted poetry, fascinating science facts, an amazingly rich vocabulary, and stunning illustrations.” – Carole Phillips

A starred review in Horn Book Guide: “Sidman exemplifies winter survival strategies of a well-chosen sample of species.”

CONNECTIONS

*Invite students to read other books that incorporate dual text. Discuss the differences between the genres.

*Other books that include two genres within the text:

Markle, Sandra. What If You Had Animal Teeth? ISBN 978-0545567275

Markle, Sandra. What If You Had Animal Ears? ISBN 978-0545859264