Book Review: RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS by Joyce Sidman

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. ISBN: 0547014944

Plot Summary

Told in seasonal poems, RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS brings color to life in words and illustrations. In spring, red sings from the treetops, while “green peeks from buds” and “white sounds like storms.” In summer, red runs along a little finger with ladybug feet, while “yellow melts everything it touches.” In fall, “green is tired” so brown takes over, and red hangs from trees in the shape of juicy apples. In winter, the white of snow, “whispers, floats, clumps” while black emerges in the bare branches of the trees. Even in winter, red sings from the treetops with the throat of a cardinal.

Critical Analysis

In RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS, color dances throughout the seasons and pages with delightful verse and illustrations. Each word and arrangement of the verses seems carefully chosen to express the joy of the seasons through color. The words and mixed media illustrations make color come to life as the character of a girl and her little dog walk through each page and season. The colorful and playful illustrations of Pamela Zagarenski add meaning for the reader and enhance the poem. The rhythm of Joyce Sidman’s poem flit gaily across the pages and the mouth like a bird flying from tree to tree. 

Sidman uses brilliant action words to describe color, like “green drips,” and “yellow shouts” in spring, or “purple pours” and “white clinks” in summer. In fall, “brown rustles” and “orange ripens,” while “blue breathes” and “pink prickles” in winter. Even without the aid of the illustrations, Sidman’s words create vivid mental pictures for the reader. The emotion portrayed is natural, not forced. While reading, I felt carefree like the words were fluttering in my heart while they danced off my tongue. The illustrations add to this light and childlike feeling. This would a great book to share with young children when discussing seasons and colors.

Review Excerpt(s)

2010 Caldecott Honor Book

From Horn Book

"Sustaining the playfulness of the text and its sense of awe, mystery, and beauty, the illustrations contribute gracefully to the celebration."

From Kirkus

"A charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions"

Book Connections

Read other books by Joyce Sidman:

WINTER BEES & OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD, ISBN 0547906501.

BUTTERFLY EYES AND SECRETS OF THE MEADOW, ISBN 0618563135.

DARK EMPEROR AND OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT, ISBN 0547152280.

Other poetry books that are Caldecott Medal Winners:

Myers, Walter Dean. HARLEM, ISBN 0590543407.

Thayer, Ernest. CASEY AT BAT: A BALLAD OF THE REPUBLIC SUNG IN THE YEAR 1888, ISBN 1929766009.

Willard, Nancy. A VISIT TO WILLIAM BLAKE’S INN: POEMS FOR INNOCENTS AND EXPERIENCED TRAVELERS, ISBN 0812404661.

Activities for RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS:

• As a group, write a class poem about the colors found in the school and classroom. Assign individuals pages to illustrate. Publish the poem book and place in school library or classroom library.
• Study other books of poems by Joyce Sidman and use graphic organizers to compare and contrast the elements of poetry used by the poet in each book.
• Read RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS before showing the pictures. Page by page, have students visualize and guess what is being described. Then using a document camera, show the illustrations and reread the poem. Discuss the illustrations and how they compare with the poem.