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Cave
I am the cave,
So cool and dark,
Where time, unending,
Leaves its mark.
The mazes of the cave reach back, from bright to darkest dark. Step through the sunny entrance and what treasures you'll find--colonies of bats sheltering in the dim light, deep chambers decorated with majestic columns of crystallizes rock, and secret worlds where pale, blind creatures live by hearing, touch, and smell. All these and more await the reader of this stunning collaboration, in which Diane Siebert's rich, evocative text and Wayne McLoughlin's luminous paintings capture the magical, mysterious underground world of caves.
So cool and dark,
Where time, unending,
Leaves its mark.
The mazes of the cave reach back, from bright to darkest dark. Step through the sunny entrance and what treasures you'll find--colonies of bats sheltering in the dim light, deep chambers decorated with majestic columns of crystallizes rock, and secret worlds where pale, blind creatures live by hearing, touch, and smell. All these and more await the reader of this stunning collaboration, in which Diane Siebert's rich, evocative text and Wayne McLoughlin's luminous paintings capture the magical, mysterious underground world of caves.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published July 1, 2000
7 people want to read
About the author
Diane Siebert
14 books7 followersDiane Siebert is the author of Mojave, a 1988 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1988 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1989 Teachers Choice, and Heartland , a 1989 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice, a 1989 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Social Studies, and a 1990 Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts. Ms. Siebert lives at Crooked River Ranch, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 27, 2018
Teaching young readers about cave habitats via the POV of a cave itself. Told in a kind of poetry form, the cave explains all the different animals and rock formations that call it's various chambers home. The writing itself, others seem impressed with but I don't know... yes, the words are kind of fun to say, but I don't know how well this one is going to hold the interest of the average kid, especially the younger ones, once words like "trogloxenes" come up. Also, some of the prose is kind of a downer: "limestone born of death"... k... LOL Wayne McLoughlin's illustrations are lovely, though.
May 9, 2017
I love caves. In fact, I just visited Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. But I wanted more from this book. It was a bit too pedantic and not creative enough, for me. There was nothing new, even for a child. I wanted to see cave crickets and cave scorpions and American-like cave systems, not the same ol' stalactite and stalagmite pictures. It wasn't a very deep of a book.
August 13, 2017
Great for vocabulary and historical account of the creation of caves. I was quite impressed with the text in general, and the illustrations complemented the text nicely.
January 9, 2025
Beautiful pictures. I feel I know caves on a different level after reading it.
June 17, 2015
In Cave by Diane Siebert, an ancient cave describes the history of its existence – its beginnings at the bottom of the sea and its formation as continents shift and natural forces hollow it out. The cave also describes some of the natural formations that exist within it, such as stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites. Creatures that live near the entrance are described, as are trogloxenes “…who feed outside/But venture in to rest, to hide…” Most mysterious of all are the troglophiles, with colorless skin and eyes, who have never seen the light. The poem ends as it begins, with the repeated verse:
“I am the cave,
So cool and dark,
Where time, unending, leaves its mark
As natural forces build and hone
A crystal world from weeping stone.”
In a note following the poem, the author describes how many caves are endangered by human activity and makes a respectful plea for their continued existence, noting their beauty and majesty. These sentiments are mirrored within the poem itself, as Siebert describes the nature of humans:
“Their skills have brought them great success,
Yet all the talents they possess
Cannot a crushed stalactite heal,
Effects of warmth and light conceal,
A shattered rimstone clam replace,
A trail of carelessness erase.”
The personification of the cave helps readers to sympathize with this environmentalist plea, as well as build an appreciation for the depth of time and natural forces required for caves to exist. By telling the reader her life story, the cave relates the mystery and marvel of her own existence.
Both instructive and entertaining, this lyrical poem will help children to learn about caves and their major features. A discussion of formations such as stalactites and flowstone will tie in nicely with science lessons relating to caves and natural processes. A discovery of the native fauna also awaits the curious child, in a discussion of bats, spiders, millipedes, and crayfish. New vocabulary terms such as “trogloxenes” are presented within context, and children should have little difficulty in discovering their meaning. In addition, a pronunciation guide is provided at the end of the book.
The poetry itself is beautifully written, presented with an engaging and lively rhyme scheme that both energizes the reader and helps him appreciate the wonders of nature. As Publisher’s Weekly notes, “Siebert conveys a sense of astonishment at the cave’s many wonders, her verse as informative as it is lyrical” (Amazon.com 2004).
Paintings by Wayne McLoughlin accompany the poetry, dark and cozily intimate panels of color that pulse with an aura of mystery. Dark blues, purples, grays, and blacks dust the pages, representing the cave’s shadowy corners and hidden chambers. Rich browns evoke the cave’s relationship with the earth, while the crystalline blue of the day sky stands in stark contrast to the cave’s dusky interiors. The creatures are presented with an appreciation for their exotic nature, with bold, sometimes surprising colors. The albino “troglophiles” are appropriately creepy and bewildering.
The paintings are presented with an acute realism, and details are portrayed with careful attention. A burly looking skunk’s bushy tail shows the finite texture of each bristly hair, while a bright blue bird looks at the reader with gentle, exotic eyes.
Appropriate for a wide range of readers, Cave is a winner that can be used in a poetry discussion, science class, or just for fun.
“I am the cave,
So cool and dark,
Where time, unending, leaves its mark
As natural forces build and hone
A crystal world from weeping stone.”
In a note following the poem, the author describes how many caves are endangered by human activity and makes a respectful plea for their continued existence, noting their beauty and majesty. These sentiments are mirrored within the poem itself, as Siebert describes the nature of humans:
“Their skills have brought them great success,
Yet all the talents they possess
Cannot a crushed stalactite heal,
Effects of warmth and light conceal,
A shattered rimstone clam replace,
A trail of carelessness erase.”
The personification of the cave helps readers to sympathize with this environmentalist plea, as well as build an appreciation for the depth of time and natural forces required for caves to exist. By telling the reader her life story, the cave relates the mystery and marvel of her own existence.
Both instructive and entertaining, this lyrical poem will help children to learn about caves and their major features. A discussion of formations such as stalactites and flowstone will tie in nicely with science lessons relating to caves and natural processes. A discovery of the native fauna also awaits the curious child, in a discussion of bats, spiders, millipedes, and crayfish. New vocabulary terms such as “trogloxenes” are presented within context, and children should have little difficulty in discovering their meaning. In addition, a pronunciation guide is provided at the end of the book.
The poetry itself is beautifully written, presented with an engaging and lively rhyme scheme that both energizes the reader and helps him appreciate the wonders of nature. As Publisher’s Weekly notes, “Siebert conveys a sense of astonishment at the cave’s many wonders, her verse as informative as it is lyrical” (Amazon.com 2004).
Paintings by Wayne McLoughlin accompany the poetry, dark and cozily intimate panels of color that pulse with an aura of mystery. Dark blues, purples, grays, and blacks dust the pages, representing the cave’s shadowy corners and hidden chambers. Rich browns evoke the cave’s relationship with the earth, while the crystalline blue of the day sky stands in stark contrast to the cave’s dusky interiors. The creatures are presented with an appreciation for their exotic nature, with bold, sometimes surprising colors. The albino “troglophiles” are appropriately creepy and bewildering.
The paintings are presented with an acute realism, and details are portrayed with careful attention. A burly looking skunk’s bushy tail shows the finite texture of each bristly hair, while a bright blue bird looks at the reader with gentle, exotic eyes.
Appropriate for a wide range of readers, Cave is a winner that can be used in a poetry discussion, science class, or just for fun.
January 7, 2009
A great book with rhyming text for kids up to about 4th grade. I enjoyed it as an adult. The rhymes are original and convey an emotional connection to nature. Other similar books by the same author: Mojave, Heartland, Mississippi, Train Song, Sierra, Rhyolite. I strongly recommend all of them.
October 13, 2011
This was an informational book in form of poetry. It gave great information regarding the formation of caves, and what they have become throughout their history. The poem made the information entertaining in a way, and the book would be beneficial for this area because of the caves in Kentucky. Gives good detail of the animal life that live and visit caves. Overall, it was a pretty good book.
June 18, 2010
Cool book about caves.
October 23, 2012
I didn't like trying to learn about science with awkward poetry. Tough words and tough sentence structure.
October 21, 2013
A rhyming book with informational text. Discusses caves and how they formed,
What they're made of and what creatures love in them. Excellent for a lesson on caves.
What they're made of and what creatures love in them. Excellent for a lesson on caves.
March 20, 2016
Poetry describing a cave.
Want to read
June 28, 2015Chronological
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews