Scholastic Reader Level 2: Frogs by Nic Bishop (27-Jan-2015) Paperback

Scholastic Reader

by Nic Bishop

Join photographer and biologist Nic Bishop as he takes a closer look at frogs.Now even the youngest readers can join Sibert Medal-winning photographer and biologist Nic Bishop as he takes a closer look at the world's most amazing animals. In this book, adapted from his award-winning hardcover, Nic introduces fun facts about frogs and their bodies, habits, and life cycle. The simple, easy-to-read Level 2 text is perfect for beginners, and the eye-catching photographs will delight naturalists of all ages. This reader includes a brief author's note, glossary, and accessible visual index.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Science, Childrens, Nature, Juvenile

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book too! There was so much I didn't know, and there was nothing but interesting facts!!! Frogs that are good parents?! Frogs that have see-through bodies?! Frogs that have teeth?! All toads are frogs?! Frogs that have antifreeze in theri blood?! Gliding frogs?! I loved the centerfold too--what a great way to enjoy frogs! Once again, the author's process pages were some of my favorites. He actually had to train some frogs not to be scared of his equipment. Nonfiction has never been better!

[Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and informative for kids and grown ups

[Patrick Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended Grade Levels: K-3
Themes: Frogs, Poison, Frogs life cycle
Summary:
Frogs are amphibians who live on every continent in the world except Antarctica. Frogs are found near water because they need water to kept their skin moist in order to avoid suffocating. Certain frogs, like the tree frog, have feet which are used for climbing. They have suckers at the tips of their feet which help them grip the objects they are trying to climb. Frogs’ tongues are covered in sticky mucus which works as an effective tool to capture prey and swallow the prey whole. Frogs that are colorful are the most dangerous in the world. The dart poison frog has enough poison on its body to kill an entire elephant as well as ten humans! Each male frog has a special call which they use to lure a mate to them. Once eggs have been laid and fertilized, the hatching cycle takes about four days to take place. Tadpoles stay in the water until they fully develop into frogs, which could take months or up to two years in some cases.
Personal Response:
This topic of frogs is one that has always fascinated me, and not just because I dissected one in biology class. It is interesting to read about the many facts that surround frogs and their life cycle. There are so many facts about them that really allow us to appreciate them as animals. I always thought it was cool that they are amphibians and live in both water and land areas. I know that the life cycle of frogs can be fun to study and I enjoyed reading this book full of wonderful pictures and information. If I could make a book out of pictures and facts, I would probably do it on an animal I could easily observe in nature.

Note about illustrations:
Nic Bishop single handedly took all the pictures used in this book with his personal camera. All the angles, lighting, and coloring involved brought this entire book to life with enormous detail. Bishop’s doctorate in biological sciences makes him a better qualified individual to work on non-fiction texts such as this one. It is truly amazing how close Bishop’s pictures were to be able to focus on the frogs. It gives readers the sense that the frogs are sitting right in front of them.

Reader Response/Classroom Connections:
Frogs can be integrated into any science lesson and I would allow my students to explore the life cycle of frogs. I would use this book as well as show a video on how frogs go through metamorphosis when they are tadpoles. If possible, I would try to find some frogs and bring them into the class for students to observe. Perhaps if there are eggs involved, we might be able to view the hatching and growth of a tadpole. A venn diagram describing the characteristics of tadpoles and frogs can be utilized to help better understand the differences between the two.
Since certain frogs go through a lot of trouble to make sure their babies survive, I would ask my students to write ways they would protect their young ones. By encouraging creative ideas, I would allow my students to write a paragraph on how they would go about saving their children in the rainforest. Once they have written their ideas and illustrated them, I would allow for a sharing time to give students the chance to explain their techniques to save their offspring.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirkus Reviews
Gliding frogs, glass frogs, growling grass frogs-who knew there were so many frogs in the world? Stupendous photographs combine with a genuinely enthusiastic text to open readers' eyes to this lowly amphibian like nothing has before. Gorgeous full-bleed photos present ordinary garden toads and wood frogs with as much affection and admiration as their more exotic counterparts, golden eyes, glistening skin and all captured with incredible clarity. The text is a series of happy factlets that, when finished, provide a surprisingly thorough overview of frog physiology and behavior. In their detail, these tidbits go straight to kids' interests-one African bullfrog downed 17 young cobras! A gliding frog can soar for 50 feet! Tadpoles absorb their tails as food! The beautiful design picks up on the frogs' colors, a boldly indigo text box complementing a dart poison frog and a comfortable brown one, the spadefoot toad. A chatty author's note gives insight into both Bishop's enthusiasm and the painstaking techniques behind the spectacular images; a glossary and index complete the superlative whole. (Nonfiction. 4-8)

This was my absolute favorite of all the non-fiction books that I read for this week. The photographs by Nic Bishop are incredible and the text is excellent. I found myself asking a question at the end of a page, and it was then answered on the next page! This does not often happen so conveniently in most books. An aspect of the book that I loved was that the text on every page is of a decent length, however there is one sentence bolded and in another color (on every page) that gives the main idea of what that whole page describes. It is not a repeated sentence, it is the gist of the text. I was able to share this book with my students and they went back and were able to re-read most of the highlighted/bolded sentences on their own. My higher readers were able to read the whole thing, but they both came away from the story with the same basic ideas. Nic Bishop helped me to differentiate! :) I plan on using this book as a mentor text to talk about main ideas and finding the "gist" in a story. One aspect of the book that made me a little bit disappointed was when I read the back of the book. Nic Bishop fully disclosed how he went about taking these amazing pictures. I guess reading that seemed to take a little bit of magic out of the book for me. However, for any budding photographers, it will show them how incredibly hard you must work to get the perfect shot. A MUST read and look!

[Rfrancik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you've ever wanted to know about frogs is detailed in clear text and incredible photographs in this wonderful volume.

The beautiful photographs in this book compel one to read it several times over. The text is aimed at the 4th -7th grade market but the pictures will delight and amaze a much wider audience.

The facts are well laid out and organized in such a way as to help students who are writing reports. It is obvious the photographer loves his subject and his comments about his life and love of frogs are a wonderful edition at the end of the text. I intend to look up this author's other work and order it for our library.

While I found the saturated colors a large part of this book's appeal the colored font on colored paper may be more difficult for some students to read than others.
Reviews:

1) Booklist (January 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 9))says "Dominating the book are Bishop’s remarkably fine color photographs" and recommends this book for 2nd-4th grade. There's quite alot of text for a second grader but every page is a different color with specific subject text.

2) Horn Book (March/April, 2008) recommends Frogs for the Elementary crowd and says, "The text, however, is completely overshadowed by the photographs, which are stunningly crisp, colorful, and beautifully reproduced; it is difficult to stop gazing at them long enough to read more than that highlighted sentence (though those who do will find a fascinating depth of information)".

I find both of these reviews helpful especially Booklists closing comment, "Even libraries with dozens of frog books on the shelf should make room for this eye-catching volume." On the strength of that sentence alone I would probably order this book unseen.

[L11_Ryanne Szydlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Nic Bishop! I first learned about his books when I read spiders over and over and over again. My niece loved the photos that can captivate any child and the blurps of information that are so carefully written. With each photo, Bishop writes just enough information to satisfy a child while answering enough of a child's wonderment. After each of his books, Bishop gives a little background on how he gets such beautiful shots. He raises some of his own spiders and creatures and photographs them in his studio.

I recommend any of his books for children of all ages. Whether they can just look at the pictures or read the text, every child will walk away with some new understanding of the topic at hand.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If one were to buy this book for the photographs alone, disappointment would be impossible! The writing and astounding photographs mix for an intriguing and fascinating nonfiction ride. This was unanimously loved by my four-year-old, seven-year-old, ten-year-old and myself. Nic Bishop has created another amazing winner! (You'll love the slightly creepy/beautiful photo of the see-through glass frog!)

[Colby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nic Bishop can make a fourth grader think frogs are as cool as sharks. That is hard to do.

[Jaclyn Giordano · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nic Bishop Frogs," written and illustrated by Nic Bishop, is an award-winning, nonfiction picture book intended for readers in grades three through six. This book has won numerous awards, including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book for Nonfiction in 2008, which is an award to “recognize and reward excellence in literature for children and young adults” (www.hbook.com). This text was also honored as "School Library Journal’s" Best Books: 2008, which award tests for “having distinctive voices, singular vision, and/or innovative approaches” (www.schoollibraryjournal.com). "Nic Bishop Frogs" was also recognized as a 2008 Notable Children’s Book by the Association for Library Service to Children, which honors texts that are defined as “worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding…. commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity…and reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways” (www.ala.org). This text was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students in 2008, an award which is based on text accuracy, attractiveness, creativity, detailed graphics, and opportunity for continued exploration and journeys (www.nsta.org).

Nic Bishop is an award-winning author and an experienced nature writer and photographer who has been fascinated by nature photography since the age of nine. He has photographed animals, plants, and landscapes, making nature accessible to the eyes and minds of all ages. Bishop states, “the youngest of children can interpret sophisticated images of nature” (www2.scholastic.com). Bishop has a doctorate in biological science and his experience, research, and exploration of his texts truly make Bishop an expert in his field of nonfiction nature writing. In "Nic Bishop Frogs," Nic Bishop takes the reader on a journey into the world of frogs, from their remarkable body parts and characteristics to their growth process to unique facts about a wide variety of frogs.

"Nic Bishop Frogs" is a text with much authority. The authority within this text is undeniable, as the world-traveled Bishop holds a doctorate in biological sciences and is the son of two biologists. Bishop’s notes at the conclusion of the text, documenting his journey in photographing and researching frogs, from training frogs to jump for flies to exploring ponds and swamps to rearing baby frogs, demonstrate his dedication to the research process. Bishop also credits and thanks the Binder Park Zoo, demonstrating his consultation and research into the zoological scientific field. On his website, Bishop credits his research to three main sources: his biology background, first-hand observation, and academic books (www.nicbishop.com). For books published after 2008, Bishop clearly gives bibliographic references on his website. His authority and research is well-documented.

Along with authority, "Nic Bishop Frogs" also demonstrates accuracy. Clear photographs and captions radiate well-researched content and new facts. A "Kirkus" review states, “the text is a series of happy factlets that, when finished, provide a surprisingly thorough overview of frog physiology and behavior.” The reviewers of "Horn Book" agree, stating “the texts are informative, covering basic anatomical, behavioral, and reproductive facts about frogs” (http://bookwizard.scholastic.com). Clear and close-up photographs illuminate and extend the facts, giving the reader a true picture of the ideas and facts captured within that page’s text. Phrases like “it can survive months and perhaps even years” and “at first the tadpole may feed on small plants” help distinguish theory from fact and further the accuracy of "Nic Bishop Frogs."

This text is appropriate for its intended age range of third through sixth grade. It may even be accessible to younger readers if done as a read aloud. The large amount of text on the page, which is carefully mounted up against the enormous photographs, requires careful reading of the audience. However, the text is made more accessible to the audience with important facts and main ideas on each page highlighted by a larger font size and different color font. This helps readers understand and identify the main idea given by both text and photograph on each given page. However, the text is not organized in any logical fashion, which may make it more difficult to understand. While it starts with where frogs live and their characteristics, readers then read about different frog body parts and specific types of frogs. While hibernation and the life cycle are followed chronologically, there does not seem to be any overall logical order to this text. Readers can read section by section and still understand distinct meanings. "Nic Bishop Frogs" seems more of a fact by fact book that can be read in favorite pieces or interests. Readers may have to be made aware of this organizational structure before reading in order to best understand it.

The literary artistry of this text is large. The world of frogs comes alive as “all kinds of frogs jump, stare, and pose in luminous, close-up photographs that inspire wonder” (www.schoollibraryjournal.com). The National Science Teacher’s Association website exclaims, “unusual facts as well as information concerning life cycles, defense tactics, and body structures will fascinate readers” (www.nsta.org). While organization is not this text’s strongest point, the use of literary devices is, as similes and comparative text help readers connect to the world of frogs. For example, phrases like “see-through eyelids cover them like safety goggles” and “while adult humans have 206 bones, frogs have about 159” help readers of all ages connect and understand frogs using their own experiences and pre-existing knowledge and ideas. Nic Bishop also speaks to the reader in the second person, making the readers feel like he is speaking directly to them with an expert and engaging voice. This can help hook readers and demonstrates clear artistry also.

The attractiveness of this text has been well documented above. The innovative, clear, and captivating photographs alongside facts written in large type and contrasting colors helps spark interest and enthusiasm for learning about frogs. A fold-out page demonstrating the leap of a bullfrog, as well as unusual, unique, and sometimes gross facts and photographs (“a few frogs will even freeze partly solid” and “the usually eat their old skin”), help entice readers and give this text “kid appeal.”

"Nic Bishop Frogs" demands readers’ full attention and creativity as they embark on an adventurous and fact-filled exploration into the wet and wild world of frogs!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great approach to the subject of frogs. The easy to read text made the information on the frogs easy to comprehend and it was appropriate for the age it was meant for. Nic Bishop has amazing photographs and bold words that draw the readers attention and makes it an adventure to learn more about frogs. There are many literary elements and one of these is the simple yet informative text. The text in this book is simple but detailed. Nic Bishop brings up all sorts of frogs from the biggest to the smallest. The photographs add to the realness of the book. There are many informational books that aren't interesting or grab the readers attention. The visual elements of using photographs immediately draws the readers attention because it is REAL. There are very nice close up shots of different frogs and there is attention to detail with the smaller frogs. By using these real photographs and easy to grasp information, the reader has an easier time being focused on the book. The photographs make it engaging and the information is easy to digest for any young child. Due to the wide variation of frogs within the book, it has a wide audience, it will easily grab the attention of any boy or girl that is trying to learn more about frogs or simply has a small curiosity. Each frog is discussed in the book and there is a picture to go along with each fun fact that is presented. Not only is this book a great informational text but it can even be used for reluctant readers! The simplicity makes it easy to maintain entertainment and focus.

[Haley Helber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book because I personally love frogs and it did not disappoint. It is full of information all about frogs like the difference between toads and frogs, all the different sizes, and how they start as tadpoles! As you flip through the book, one page will have information and on the other side will be a beautiful picture of a frog. There are pictures of poisonous frogs, frogs with horns, frogs jumping and even pictures of tadpoles. Theres also a translucent frog that you can see their organs! This book is such a cool way to learn about frogs. The font and size will change depending on importance like how tree frogs have special feet for climbing.
This book would be best used in grades 1-4th, but even kindergarteners could flip through and look at the pictures or have the book read aloud to them. Students can use this book to learn about frogs and learn about the life cycle. Its also full of vocabulary, great photography, and accurate science content. In the classroom, I would want to use this book to teach students about the life cycle. It would also be a great resource for learning about how animals use camouflage and other defensive mechanisms to protect themselves. I think this book would be a great addition to a classroom library.

[ERICA]

I learned a lot about frogs from this book. Students can reach search and groups the different types of frogs in every continent. Each group can be assigned a continent except Antarctica. Students can present their research in a project and share with the class in a presentation. Students can have illustrations to share, frog names, frog facts, location of the frogs and habitat.

An extension to the students's research is creating a venn diagram to compare and contrast the different types of frogs.

Interesting Facts:
Frogs dont have rib bones.
Half of frog's bones are un their feet.
Frogs eat almost everything that moves.
Frog's survival tricks for Winter: As it gets colder, they stop moving. Their heartbeats and breathing slow down. Wood frogs will partially freeze their bodies.
Bullfrogs can lay as many as 29,000 eggs.

[Andrea Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an informational book about different frogs. I love the graphics on this book because they are not animated; they are live shots of these frogs. It gives a basic overview of where the frogs live, what they eat, and even who would eat them. I can see this book being passed around by all of the boys in a middle school classroom because it is really cool, and it has a LARGE variety of frogs.
I gave the book 4 stars because at first I was not interested in the book for the frogs, but after looking at the pictures, the author does breakaway from a normal informational book. There is not two, long paragraphs explaining all these things about the frogs which is important because I could have seen myself losing interest fast, but I didn't.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a nephew who was mightily into animal picture books; mostly sea creatures but frogs would probably have worked. This is the kind of thing he liked -- sharp, vibrant pictures of animals with a little bit of text that mostly kept the adults occupied while he absorbed the picture.

I always wondered just how they got the pictures; in the back matter Bishop reveals that some of the frogs were pets and many of the pictures staged -- he would slowly acclimate the froggy to his photography equipment so that it would jump for the food or whatever naturally. Apparently it takes a lot of work to look this unrehearsed!

[Katie Louwers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will tell any kid everything they need to know about frogs. The book has easy to read text great for young readers. The author uses stunning photographs and bold words that draw the readers attention. The photographs add to the realness of the book. Many types of frogs are discussed in the book. The books simplicity makes it easy to maintain a kids focus and teach kids a little biology on frogs.

[Amanda Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book for children to learn about frogs! The gorgeous, full bleed photos instantly captured my attention. The text is great and not too complex for young adults. For readers that may not understand some of the words, Bishop has provided a glossary in the back of the book with simple, broken down definitions.

[Julian E · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was ok and then it started to get a little bit better as i was reading it the father i got from reading it the more boring it got and it was not even that interesting because it was not that realistic and it was getting to be a more of a interesting book i do not know why but it was getting good and then getting bad

[Jamie Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all really enjoyed this book! It was included in our science curriculum. I personally ally found it very informative and had amazing pictures. I absolutely loved that it purely presented facts and did not try to explain anything by the authors opinions like some books do. Highly recommend and am interested in his other books!!

[Lewis Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was younger I used to read this all the time, I recently just read it to my little brothers and they loved it as well! The pictures are amazing, and the facts are really fun and exciting for are little child! I definitely recommend this book as a lover of amphibians and photography!👌

[Katya Lazukina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to have in my science classroom.
Even in an elementary classroom this collection of books is great!
NIC Bishop.

[Trevor Rau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great informational book with pictures and information about all types of frogs, and frog facts that the students will really enjoy

[The Book Box]

I got this from the school library and read it in one sitting.

[Gabriel Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never met a Bishop book I haven't liked. I am always impressed at his ability to distill so much information into a comprehensible text.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! This is a nonfiction picture book for children, but I think explores of all ages will marvel at the photos and captivating descriptions and facts about frogs.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible author with many science-related books. One of the best things about these books are the photographs! Great information and stunning photos. Kids love this one!

[Jen Traub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mic Bishop takes beautiful photographs. The text matches the photographs well. The text was well-organized and informative- but the pictures made in 5 stars in my book.

[Natalia Muniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing if you want to learn a about a variety of frogs. I learned some new things about frogs thanks to this book. It explains about how different frogs have different types of skins to camouflage and survive. It also has many facts about the frogs that are in the book. Did you know that some frogs give off mucus?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew frogs were so fascinating! But Nic Bishop's immense curiosity about their habits and nature gives me reason to want to know all what he shares and even more. I can see how this book dazzles young readers generating connections and building up special frog knowledge with ease; perhaps wanting to study frogs deeper. What a treasure for classrooms - Its tight focus holds me as reader showing me in everyday "layperson" terminology and cool facts of everything "frog". They do not drink. Really? I needed to know this and also how they bereathe...It's through their skin!


Much of the text is narrative and then at the bottom of each page Bishop gives an additional factual lesson - an expository blurb accessible - right there in differing font, something I as reader am relieved to comprehend with ease. He talks directly to me here - he explains: "You can see how it looks as an adult on page 40".

Bishop establishes authority by thanking the Binder Park Zoo, and accuracy in that he tells how he studies frogs and travels to the rainforest, or explores local ponds and swamps to complete his research first hand.He describes in his author's notes in detail how he got the frogs to "pose" describing how he built trust so he could photograph them eating just about anything he dangled in front of them. Bishop presents all information in an icredibly respectful way to the reader - he is amazing at this! Language is well suited for intended audience (early primary) using language my students can quickly understand such as referring to his skin as "see through", rather than some difficult word that might slow down comprehension. Here the reader can focus and conceptualize all this unusual and new content that makes one feel so much more the expert.

The attractive design of the cover invites reader in with a sharp close up of a frog holding some green dinner between his frog lips.
Some basic foundational facts Bishop bolds for the reader which I appreciate, and includes a well designed, clear glossary and index for further reference. These are the sort of "go to items" on frog habitat, eating preferences, and splashy pertinent ideas for frog expert (to be) like how a few frogs actually freeze partly solid!

Already I have way more curiosity about frogs than I did before I picked up this book. Literarry artistry and attractiveness define his work. His photos are amazingly clear and authentic. Imagine what this fantastic and exciting text could do for primary aged kids with voracious appetites for interesting knowledge, who while developing their foundational reading and writing skills can have another first best teacher - Nic Bishop.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frogs
5 out of 5 stars
Bishop, like with his Spiders book, did an excellent job of capturing frogs in motion in his vivid pictures. I found myself gawking at a few of the captivating pictures, like the one of the horned frog who had just swallowed a mouse whole. There really was no order to the book; it was told in a one after the other sort of way. Again, like Spiders, there was a four-page spread in the middle of the book that showed an action sequence of how a frog jumps. Each page was colored; there was no white space whatsoever. It seemed that the background color of the page corresponded with the coloring of the frog. The text was small but bold, and some sentences stood out in larger font and different colors. There was a glossary and an index in the back of the book, and there were two spots offering notes about the author. I liked how the end of the book offered the reader information about how Bishop created the book and captured some of the photographs. The text was concise yet informative.
I gave the book five out of five stars because of the in-your-face pictures and informative text. I enjoyed the source notes at the end as well. I would have liked to have seen a table of contents at the beginning of the book, but I guess the index serves that purpose. The recommended reading level for the book would be for second through fifth grades; the younger grades would have the book read to them. I think all students will be enthralled by the crystal-clear pictures of frogs. The older students, upon reading Bishop’s explanation about the book at the end, will relate to his process of photographing and could be eager to try their hand at nature photography. Two subject areas into which the book could be integrated could be science and math. For a math lesson for the younger grades, students could count the frogs shown in the book. They could make a chart showing the different frogs in the book, and which frogs appear most often. Students could make a compare/contrast chart showing what frogs are found locally versus the ones found in Bishop’s book.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

2009 Cybils Award
I know Nic Bishop from his photographs for Joy Cowley’s Red-Eyed Tree Frog and 2007’s Nic Bishop Spiders. From the back flap of Frogs, I learned that Nic Bishop has a doctorate in biological sciences and ‘a passionate interest in many of the smaller animals on our planet.’ That passion and also a sense of wonder, shines through in both his photographs and text in this amazing book. Who knew there exists a bright blue frog whose skin is poisonous to the touch or that the Goliath frog from Africa weighs as much as a newborn baby? The blue dart poison frog, mentioned above, is featured in a two-page spread but you can make a text-to-text connection to Steve Jenkins’ Actual Size to show kids an image of the 7 lb, 36 in. African Goliath.
The carefully thought-out design of the book helps organize the information. Colors of background, of text, and of topics all complement and highlight the colors of the frogs themselves. And the text is full of surprises: I knew some of the differences between frogs & toads, for example, but I didn’t know that a toad is actually a kind of frog. I knew that frogs need to stay in or near water, but I didn’t know that if a frog dries out, it will suffocate, or that it sheds its skin and then eats it, or that they’re so hard to catch because they don’t have ribs and can wriggle out of your grasp.
I think I would pair this book with my favorite curriculum-related poetry book, Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman. The poem Listen for Me would be perfect in anticipation of spring creepers, one of the earliest signs of spring: Listen for me on a spring night,/ on a wet night,/ on a rainy night./ Listen for me on a still night,/ for in the night, I sing. / That is when my heart thaws,/ my skin thaws,/ my hunger thaws./ That is when the world thaws,/ and the air begins to ring….