What do you think?
Rate this book
Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems
Combining a diverse selection of classic quotations and forty-eight poems, twelve for each of the four seasons, with the energetic and colorful paintings of a Caldecott Medal winning illustratror, this is the definitive collection of poems about the seasons for children and adults. Spring births a polliwog that becomes a "full frog"; in summer, wildflowers choreograph an extravaganza; autumn's apples are found in generations of people's pockets; and winter's snowfall makes inanimate objects more beautiful than we could ever imagine. In addition to master poets Carl Sandburg, Richard Brautigan, Joseph Bruhac, and Karla Kuskin, twnety-nine of the poems have been especially commissioned by a host of contemporary poets such as Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Joan Bransfield Graham, J. Patrick Lewis, and Marilyn Singer.
The exciting, bold palette of Caldecott Medallist David Diaz brings the seasons to life and asks us to look at the seasons all over again, for the first time.
The exciting, bold palette of Caldecott Medallist David Diaz brings the seasons to life and asks us to look at the seasons all over again, for the first time.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Lee Bennett Hopkins
206 books52 followersLee Bennett Hopkins was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a Guinness Book of Records citation for compiling the most anthologies for children. He has also received the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, and the National Council of Teachers of English Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. He lives in Florida.
For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...
For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 25, 2010
Yesterday I was frustrated. Very very frustrated. I'm a children's librarian. Patrons tell me what they desire and I find just the right book for the right occasion. Yesterday a fellow walked into my children's room with a simple request. He was going to read to a group of preschoolers and he wanted easy books on the seasons. This is one of those seemingly simple requests that can make your mind go blank faster than anything. After gaping like a fish for approximately a minute my brain started churning up a couple potential goodies from the depths. One such book was Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems. I figured that even if the kids were too young to hear all the poems, at least they'd like to hear some of them, and maybe get a little knocked out by the images. Alas, our copy was missing (grumble grumble grump) but at least I was able to conjure up a copy of Old Bear by Kevin Henkes instead. Just the same, I'll be replacing our missing copy of Seasons and pronto. Here we have some of the finest minds working in children's poetry today, selected for this magnificent collection of seasonal verse. It's just the thing to welcome in a new time of year and say goodbye to the old. And the pretty pictures don't hurt much either.
Four seasons. Twelve poems apiece. In this way, poet Lee Bennett Hopkins has culled a wide selection of poets and their poems, weaving their verses into a single book. Quotes from famous sources begin each season, as when we read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's lusty "Spring in the world! And all things are made new!" With great care and timing, a passel of poets tap into those elements in each season that speaks both to child and adult readers. "Suddenly Green" by James Hayford says that "Our trees have grown skin / And birds have moved in." Meanwhile Rebecca Kai Dotlich admits that she is "Bewitched by Autumn", conjuring up Halloween with its "bits of legend in a broth". By the end, every season has had its say, the last by Sanderson Vanderbilt tying it all together, speaking of the boy who shovels the dirty snow, "helping spring come." Backmatter includes Acknowledgments, an Index of Titles, and Index of Authors, and an Index of First Lines,
I think I got my copy of this book after a different reviewer. I say this because inside my copy was a note with individual poems listed, one by one. Poems like "August Heat" by Anonymous and "Summer Sun" by Elizabeth Upton. I'm not entirely certain what these poems have in common except that each one presents a pitch perfect tone to the season in question. But then, all the poems do that. In some kids will recognize the truth of what the poem says as when Rebecca Kai Dotlich writes that a wild rainstorm is "proud as a prank". Other times they'll stop and just stare at a line that captures the feel of a season. Karla Kuskin's poem about winter does that, referencing all the industrial uglies that are beautified beneath a snowfall. Best of all, that introspective dreamy quality a poem sometimes has ("Flashing white wings in the May sun." - Carl Sandburg) are matched here by the equally dreamy and just as introspective pictures by David Diaz.
The illustrations are very much on display here and have been the source of quite a bit of conversation amongst the children's literature fans as of late. Artist David Diaz has recently been rendering most of his children's illustrations in the form of computer graphics. Indeed, the images you see in this book have had the hand of a computer at work. Some folks distain this method, and say that the technique ends up making all his books look the same (Diego: Bigger Than Life, Ocean's Child, etc.). In contrast is another illustrated book coming out at the same time and also by Diaz. Me Frida by Amy Novesky marks the first time Diaz has painted on canvass. The pictures in that book are acrylic, charcoal, and varnish on primed linen and they are utterly magnificent. Arguably Diaz's best work. In contrast, there are the images in "Sharing the Seasons". It is important at this point to take Diaz's choices into context. For a book about Frida Kahlo, Diaz knew that computers just weren't gonna cut it. There had to be actual paint involved. Seasons, however, requires a lighter touch. Literally. Diaz plays here with the quality of light. A sunbeam striking an orange leafed tree has a different feel from that of a cold and hazy spring morn. Everything glows in Sharing the Seasons because that is what the book requires. Diaz's methods, therefore, suit his pieces. And even if you eschew computerized graphics, you have to appreciate Diaz's command over the form.
As with any collection, I become interested in the editor's choices. In this book, Mr. Hopkins needed to select and perhaps commission the poems found here. That would have required knowing what kinds of poets to make use of. Then he would have decided what order they would appear, within each season. There must have been a great deal of fun that went into placing "Don't You Dare" by Beverly McLoughland (containing the lines "When you feel a poem coming - Think: Frog") alongside Candace Pearson's "Polliwog". Once the order was selected, it was up to Diaz to create his own narratives. For example, the poem "Summer Sun" appears on the left-hand page across from the poem "The Fourth of July Parade". The art, a blaze of hot oranges and yellows yields the jumbles and meandering silhouettes of figures that eventually resolve themselves into a definite parade of sorts.
Will kids like it? Well, let me put it this way. I grew up with a season book of my own as a child. It was Tasha Tudor's A Time to Keep and it was chock full of poetry and some very adult quotes. Heck, the title page sported the sentence, "Time is the image of eternity" by Plato. And kids, I loved that doggone book. I loved it so much that I have it sitting on my lap again right now. Same copy and everything. Part of the allure was the food, I'll admit that. Tasha Tudor made cupcakes look particularly toothsome. But the other allure was that here were the seasons coming, month by month, in a format that made sense to me. I loved seeing the changes, much in the same way that kids will enjoy the changes wrought in this new book of poems. Seasons are eternal and they tap into something deep inside our children.
One shouldn't approach children's literature with potential assignments in mind. That said, there are some ways of looking at this book that might be fun to do with students. For example, you could ask a kid to look at all the poems and then pick their favorite, one per season. Which one do they like the most? I think they'll like quite a few, actually. Coming out in the same year as Bob Raczka's Guyku, seasonal poetry clearly never goes out of style. There's nothing wrong with tapping into the evocative with a child. They take in everything on some level. Best to give them enchanting books like this one, and woo them early with the power of poems.
For ages 8-12.
Four seasons. Twelve poems apiece. In this way, poet Lee Bennett Hopkins has culled a wide selection of poets and their poems, weaving their verses into a single book. Quotes from famous sources begin each season, as when we read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's lusty "Spring in the world! And all things are made new!" With great care and timing, a passel of poets tap into those elements in each season that speaks both to child and adult readers. "Suddenly Green" by James Hayford says that "Our trees have grown skin / And birds have moved in." Meanwhile Rebecca Kai Dotlich admits that she is "Bewitched by Autumn", conjuring up Halloween with its "bits of legend in a broth". By the end, every season has had its say, the last by Sanderson Vanderbilt tying it all together, speaking of the boy who shovels the dirty snow, "helping spring come." Backmatter includes Acknowledgments, an Index of Titles, and Index of Authors, and an Index of First Lines,
I think I got my copy of this book after a different reviewer. I say this because inside my copy was a note with individual poems listed, one by one. Poems like "August Heat" by Anonymous and "Summer Sun" by Elizabeth Upton. I'm not entirely certain what these poems have in common except that each one presents a pitch perfect tone to the season in question. But then, all the poems do that. In some kids will recognize the truth of what the poem says as when Rebecca Kai Dotlich writes that a wild rainstorm is "proud as a prank". Other times they'll stop and just stare at a line that captures the feel of a season. Karla Kuskin's poem about winter does that, referencing all the industrial uglies that are beautified beneath a snowfall. Best of all, that introspective dreamy quality a poem sometimes has ("Flashing white wings in the May sun." - Carl Sandburg) are matched here by the equally dreamy and just as introspective pictures by David Diaz.
The illustrations are very much on display here and have been the source of quite a bit of conversation amongst the children's literature fans as of late. Artist David Diaz has recently been rendering most of his children's illustrations in the form of computer graphics. Indeed, the images you see in this book have had the hand of a computer at work. Some folks distain this method, and say that the technique ends up making all his books look the same (Diego: Bigger Than Life, Ocean's Child, etc.). In contrast is another illustrated book coming out at the same time and also by Diaz. Me Frida by Amy Novesky marks the first time Diaz has painted on canvass. The pictures in that book are acrylic, charcoal, and varnish on primed linen and they are utterly magnificent. Arguably Diaz's best work. In contrast, there are the images in "Sharing the Seasons". It is important at this point to take Diaz's choices into context. For a book about Frida Kahlo, Diaz knew that computers just weren't gonna cut it. There had to be actual paint involved. Seasons, however, requires a lighter touch. Literally. Diaz plays here with the quality of light. A sunbeam striking an orange leafed tree has a different feel from that of a cold and hazy spring morn. Everything glows in Sharing the Seasons because that is what the book requires. Diaz's methods, therefore, suit his pieces. And even if you eschew computerized graphics, you have to appreciate Diaz's command over the form.
As with any collection, I become interested in the editor's choices. In this book, Mr. Hopkins needed to select and perhaps commission the poems found here. That would have required knowing what kinds of poets to make use of. Then he would have decided what order they would appear, within each season. There must have been a great deal of fun that went into placing "Don't You Dare" by Beverly McLoughland (containing the lines "When you feel a poem coming - Think: Frog") alongside Candace Pearson's "Polliwog". Once the order was selected, it was up to Diaz to create his own narratives. For example, the poem "Summer Sun" appears on the left-hand page across from the poem "The Fourth of July Parade". The art, a blaze of hot oranges and yellows yields the jumbles and meandering silhouettes of figures that eventually resolve themselves into a definite parade of sorts.
Will kids like it? Well, let me put it this way. I grew up with a season book of my own as a child. It was Tasha Tudor's A Time to Keep and it was chock full of poetry and some very adult quotes. Heck, the title page sported the sentence, "Time is the image of eternity" by Plato. And kids, I loved that doggone book. I loved it so much that I have it sitting on my lap again right now. Same copy and everything. Part of the allure was the food, I'll admit that. Tasha Tudor made cupcakes look particularly toothsome. But the other allure was that here were the seasons coming, month by month, in a format that made sense to me. I loved seeing the changes, much in the same way that kids will enjoy the changes wrought in this new book of poems. Seasons are eternal and they tap into something deep inside our children.
One shouldn't approach children's literature with potential assignments in mind. That said, there are some ways of looking at this book that might be fun to do with students. For example, you could ask a kid to look at all the poems and then pick their favorite, one per season. Which one do they like the most? I think they'll like quite a few, actually. Coming out in the same year as Bob Raczka's Guyku, seasonal poetry clearly never goes out of style. There's nothing wrong with tapping into the evocative with a child. They take in everything on some level. Best to give them enchanting books like this one, and woo them early with the power of poems.
For ages 8-12.
November 29, 2014
"Sharing the Seasons" is a colorful book that walks through the four seasons sharing experiences that all children can relate to that occur during each of the seasons. The book begins with spring, then follows on to summer, fall, and winter. Each season has 12 poems, beginning with one titled for that season. These poems contain creative word choice, which could be pointed out during a writer's workshop mini lesson. I would highly recommend this book to be used in a classroom. I think that even focusing on the 12 poems regarding each season during that season would be a great way to incorporate this book in the classroom. You could also use these poems while studying compare and contrast.
I have to admit, poetry is definitely an area of literature where my classroom is lacking. I can see myself using this creative, colorful book to gain the interest of my students to explore poetry more in my second grade classroom.
I have to admit, poetry is definitely an area of literature where my classroom is lacking. I can see myself using this creative, colorful book to gain the interest of my students to explore poetry more in my second grade classroom.
November 17, 2018
The book, Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins, is a book of poetry that is from the recommended list and is intended for readers ages 7-10. Sharing the Seasons, is a collection of poems about the earthly seasons such as spring, summer, fall, and winter. I gave this book a 4 star rating because personally I enjoy poems and I also enjoy each season. I feel that the author did a great job portraying the mood of each season. For example, Summer is presented to be fun and hot which I believe everyone can agree is mostly accurate. The illustrations and the colors in them match up well with each season (red and orange for summer because of the heat... blue and white for winter because of the cold and snow). The use of language contains rhyme schemes, like the one "fields are bare, winter whispers everywhere". Sharing the Seasons also contains repetition in its poems which are used for emphasis. I think children would enjoy the book because of the colorful illustrations and the fact that these poems are based on seasons.
April 20, 2017
In my opinion, this is just too much. Too big, too many poems, illustrations too bright. Only one of the poems read, to me, like a keeper, and that's a poke at the book, really.
*Don't You Dare*
Beverly McLoughland
Stop! cried Robin,
Don't you dare begin it!
Another tweety rhyme
With a redbreast in it.
Another cheery verse
With a cherry tree,
Don't you dare
Write another spring poem about me!
Take your pad and pencil
To the reedy bog.
When you feel a poem coming--
Think: Frog!
*Don't You Dare*
Beverly McLoughland
Stop! cried Robin,
Don't you dare begin it!
Another tweety rhyme
With a redbreast in it.
Another cheery verse
With a cherry tree,
Don't you dare
Write another spring poem about me!
Take your pad and pencil
To the reedy bog.
When you feel a poem coming--
Think: Frog!
August 19, 2017
Sharing the Seasons A Book of Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins is a collection of poems. This collection is great for children age 8 to 12. A beautiful book about the seasons. This was great selection of different types of poems about the seasons. Many had used the senses and the imagination to create a beautiful scene. I enjoyed a lot of the story type poems but the haikus were too short for this type of book. Children would love this type of book to relax and read outside. I would most certainly use this book to start my morning circle.
April 12, 2018
Copyright:2010
Number of pages:unknown
format:hardcover
reading level:Grades 3-7
genre: poetry
lit requirement: anthology
Summary:
A book with poems about the seasons. The book is divided up into four parts with spring poems first then it goes through the season cycle. Each of the beginning parts have a quote about that season. The poems are all different.
Response:
I loved this book. I loved the different poems about the seasons. I also loved the quotes at the beginning of each section. The pictures are well drawn and goes well for each of the poems. I recommend this book.
Number of pages:unknown
format:hardcover
reading level:Grades 3-7
genre: poetry
lit requirement: anthology
Summary:
A book with poems about the seasons. The book is divided up into four parts with spring poems first then it goes through the season cycle. Each of the beginning parts have a quote about that season. The poems are all different.
Response:
I loved this book. I loved the different poems about the seasons. I also loved the quotes at the beginning of each section. The pictures are well drawn and goes well for each of the poems. I recommend this book.
September 18, 2025
This book is a poetry book filled with different poems about each season. It starts with spring and cycles through all the seasons through winter. The book is filled with illustrations and color that helps draw readers in. This could be used in the classroom as an independent read, or as a whole group unit. Pulling out individual poems could be useful for teaching poetry lessons.
March 3, 2019
5 Stars on all levels! What a wonderful, colorful, fun book of poetry. For children who aren't fond of poetry, this is the book for them. I really love the beautiful artwork on every page. I would like to copy, enlarge and frame them for my Grandson's bedroom!
November 8, 2021
We've only read the fall section of this book but both my child and I have enjoyed it so we plan to check it out again in a couple months to read on. If she wasn't 10 years old already I might buy it.
The illustrations are vibrant and fun. The poems are varied.
The illustrations are vibrant and fun. The poems are varied.
October 4, 2023
The illustrations didn’t resonate with me as much as the poems, but the poems are beautiful. I like that the layouts of each page are simple not busy and the length of the poems are good for young children.
December 3, 2023
The book was not written by Mr. Hopkins, rather selected by him. The artwork is by David Diaz.
It was the artwork that captivated me and made me pick this up from a “free books” shelf at a Library on my way out one night.
So completely glad I did. What a joy!
It was the artwork that captivated me and made me pick this up from a “free books” shelf at a Library on my way out one night.
So completely glad I did. What a joy!
January 25, 2018
The illustrations are phenomenal. I mostly just read this for the one poem by April Halprin Wayland that I loved. The others were so so at best imo.
April 19, 2018
This book is a collections about poems about the seasons and activities which are popular during each season.
3 topic ideas:
Poetry
Seasons
Weather
Plants
Animals
3 topic ideas:
Poetry
Seasons
Weather
Plants
Animals
August 31, 2024
My very young sons enjoy listening to the poems and looking at the pictures while we eat dinner together.
July 11, 2018
Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins includes many poems all about each of the four seasons. The genre of this book is poetry. Children ages seven to twelve may read the poems in this collection. Each poem is written by a different author making it an anthology. The poems vary in their formats making each poem unique. There are many images created in the reader's mind after reading this whole entire book. Many of these poems use sensory description. I think that sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch can be imagined while reading the poems about the seasons. The illustrations really add to the poems. It engages the reader and makes these poems more kid-friendly. Although a reader may think that poems about the seasons may become redundant, I did not feel this way when reading poems in this book. Finally, the colors are vibrant and fit in with the particular season. Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems is very appealing to young children. This book would be used to have a daily poetry reading in a classroom. The particular season that it would be could be read by a student in the class. This may also be a book that could be used in a classroom library.
March 21, 2015
SHARING THE SEASONS is a collection of 48 poems chosen by Lee Bennett Hopkins. This is an upbeat collection which will teach the seasons to younger readers, while enriching the older ones. The poems are organized around each season with twelve poems per section, each bringing forth the mood and rhythm of its season. The book begins with Spring and then cycles through Summer, Fall and Winter. Lee Bennett Hopkins anchors each section by contributing the first poem. His second stanza is repetitive across all the sections with the pattern always / always introducing a vivid seasonal action, like always / always / cloud-bursting showers for Spring. The remaining authors vary, although some poets appear more than once. Readers might recognize contributors, like Marilyn Singer and April Wayland, from other poetry books. A poignant piece is the first page of each section, where Lee Bennett Hopkins gives a nod of respect to classic writers by including a snippet of their poetry with the seasonal word, such as Autumn, the year’s last, / loveliest smile written by William Cullen Bryant.
Each poem is accompanied by a rich dousing of color from illustrator David Diaz. Diaz plays with shadow and light in his illustrations, bringing forth a strong sense of lines and motion. His use of mixed media is reminiscent of Mexican paper lantern craftwork and give the poems a sense of fluidity from one season to the next.
There are many access points which help the reader to navigate the collection. A Table of Contents is provided and organized by season. The titles of the poem are in bold font with the author’s name following it, and then the page number to find the poem. Additionally, in the endpapers, there is an acknowledgments page which can serve as suggested further readings. This is followed by an Index of Titles. The poem titles are alphabetized for easy finding. There is also an Index of Authors. Here, the reader can pull out all of the poems of a specific author to reread. Finally, there is an Index of First Lines as the final access feature. Each first line of the poems is listed alphabetically. Perfect for the reader who remembers how it starts!
The poems themselves are a mixture of poetic style. Some of the poems are rhyming, some play with shape and others are free verse, but they share strong imagery which brings the seasons to life, as in Lily waves his stamens / Rosie swings her skirt / Daisy wonders who she loves / Daisy is a flirt from the poem Wildflowers by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater on page 34. Just like nature itself, the poems grow organically, nearly shouting out their love of the season they represent. These poems will leave the reader smiling and, for the older reader, nostalgic.
SPOTLIGHT POEM AND LESSON
This lesson idea is designed for Kinder-Second grade:
Read the poem Sand Castle by Constance Andrea Keremes on page 26. Here are the first four lines:
Sandra built a castle out of sand.
Eddie, Juan and Winnie lent a hand.
Winnie scooped out sand to make a moat.
In it Eddie placed a seashell boat.
After reading the poem, assign each line to a pair, or triad, of students to illustrate the scene on large construction paper. Once the illustrations are complete have them practice reciting their line. Rehearse reciting the line while holding up the illustration and then perform the poem for a buddy class.
Each poem is accompanied by a rich dousing of color from illustrator David Diaz. Diaz plays with shadow and light in his illustrations, bringing forth a strong sense of lines and motion. His use of mixed media is reminiscent of Mexican paper lantern craftwork and give the poems a sense of fluidity from one season to the next.
There are many access points which help the reader to navigate the collection. A Table of Contents is provided and organized by season. The titles of the poem are in bold font with the author’s name following it, and then the page number to find the poem. Additionally, in the endpapers, there is an acknowledgments page which can serve as suggested further readings. This is followed by an Index of Titles. The poem titles are alphabetized for easy finding. There is also an Index of Authors. Here, the reader can pull out all of the poems of a specific author to reread. Finally, there is an Index of First Lines as the final access feature. Each first line of the poems is listed alphabetically. Perfect for the reader who remembers how it starts!
The poems themselves are a mixture of poetic style. Some of the poems are rhyming, some play with shape and others are free verse, but they share strong imagery which brings the seasons to life, as in Lily waves his stamens / Rosie swings her skirt / Daisy wonders who she loves / Daisy is a flirt from the poem Wildflowers by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater on page 34. Just like nature itself, the poems grow organically, nearly shouting out their love of the season they represent. These poems will leave the reader smiling and, for the older reader, nostalgic.
SPOTLIGHT POEM AND LESSON
This lesson idea is designed for Kinder-Second grade:
Read the poem Sand Castle by Constance Andrea Keremes on page 26. Here are the first four lines:
Sandra built a castle out of sand.
Eddie, Juan and Winnie lent a hand.
Winnie scooped out sand to make a moat.
In it Eddie placed a seashell boat.
After reading the poem, assign each line to a pair, or triad, of students to illustrate the scene on large construction paper. Once the illustrations are complete have them practice reciting their line. Rehearse reciting the line while holding up the illustration and then perform the poem for a buddy class.
December 8, 2012
Genre: Poetry
Summary: A collection of poems and quotations from a variety of writers about each of the four seasons.
A. Area for comment: Subject matter
B. The collection of poems all regarding the came subject matter, (the seasons), enables readers to understand the text to a greater degree because the focus of it is narrowed to this particular theme. This specificity keeps the reader more engaged and allows deeper thinking to transpire. The subject matter also allows readers to use background knowledge to make deep meaningful connections to the text, thus making it more relevant to them.
C.The poem “Summer Sun” on page 22, really exemplifies how text can create a visual image through the use of background knowledge and descriptive words to mold an illustration of the sun. This description of the sun: “I linger in the evening so they can skip, hop, race play ball eat Popsicles and stay up late because it is too light to sleep,” uses the background knowledge of the reader to paint this visual image of the sun. Another notable aspect of the text is its ability to transform the idea of the changing season into the perspective of others. The poem “Closing Sale,” allows the reader to see the change from autumn to winter from the perspective of the flowers and insects in the air: “Autumns going out of business due to threat of snow-goldenrod and aster Chrysanthemum must go.” By implying the phrase “going out of business,” students are able to think of the coming of winter from an alternative viewpoint and further understand the severity of the changes that accompany it.
Curriculum connection: This would be a great book to incorporate across the curriculum, not only does it fit into the poetry category, it can also be used in subjects such as science due to poems like “Polliwog” and “Birthday” which describe the changing life cycle of frogs and snakes. I feel that this a book that could be used with all grade levels and both younger and older students would benefit from this text.
Summary: A collection of poems and quotations from a variety of writers about each of the four seasons.
A. Area for comment: Subject matter
B. The collection of poems all regarding the came subject matter, (the seasons), enables readers to understand the text to a greater degree because the focus of it is narrowed to this particular theme. This specificity keeps the reader more engaged and allows deeper thinking to transpire. The subject matter also allows readers to use background knowledge to make deep meaningful connections to the text, thus making it more relevant to them.
C.The poem “Summer Sun” on page 22, really exemplifies how text can create a visual image through the use of background knowledge and descriptive words to mold an illustration of the sun. This description of the sun: “I linger in the evening so they can skip, hop, race play ball eat Popsicles and stay up late because it is too light to sleep,” uses the background knowledge of the reader to paint this visual image of the sun. Another notable aspect of the text is its ability to transform the idea of the changing season into the perspective of others. The poem “Closing Sale,” allows the reader to see the change from autumn to winter from the perspective of the flowers and insects in the air: “Autumns going out of business due to threat of snow-goldenrod and aster Chrysanthemum must go.” By implying the phrase “going out of business,” students are able to think of the coming of winter from an alternative viewpoint and further understand the severity of the changes that accompany it.
Curriculum connection: This would be a great book to incorporate across the curriculum, not only does it fit into the poetry category, it can also be used in subjects such as science due to poems like “Polliwog” and “Birthday” which describe the changing life cycle of frogs and snakes. I feel that this a book that could be used with all grade levels and both younger and older students would benefit from this text.
October 16, 2012
Sharing the Seasons, a Book of Poems, by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Simon and Schuster, 2010. P.83
Junior book: poetry
Summary: This book is as the title suggests a compilation of poems about the seasons. They are arranged by season beginning with spring.
There are poems by many people including some whom most adults would know. It would be an introduction to poems by these famous writers and poems for most students who read it.
a) literary devices.
b) there are so many literary devices used in these poems that it would be great to use to teach literary devices used in poems. Such as; rhyme, opposites, irony, alliteration, metaphor, simile, onomonopea, symbols, etc…
c) pg.6 …like new robins (simile), p.10…green scene (rhyme), p.12…squeak squawk (onomonopea), alliteration was in the winter section near the back. Most of these poems are simple and not complicated. They are easy enough for grades 3 and up with some coaching. I would definitely have the student use the five finger method to see if they can read it on their own.
Curriculum connection: Literature unit on poems, and literary devices. Also I though this could be used for math. Everyone in the classroom reads one section at a time and chooses their favorite for the section. All four sections would be done one at a time, and then a classroom graph could be made and used to teach, average, mean, median, mode, range, percentages, ratio’s counting subtraction etc…
Junior book: poetry
Summary: This book is as the title suggests a compilation of poems about the seasons. They are arranged by season beginning with spring.
There are poems by many people including some whom most adults would know. It would be an introduction to poems by these famous writers and poems for most students who read it.
a) literary devices.
b) there are so many literary devices used in these poems that it would be great to use to teach literary devices used in poems. Such as; rhyme, opposites, irony, alliteration, metaphor, simile, onomonopea, symbols, etc…
c) pg.6 …like new robins (simile), p.10…green scene (rhyme), p.12…squeak squawk (onomonopea), alliteration was in the winter section near the back. Most of these poems are simple and not complicated. They are easy enough for grades 3 and up with some coaching. I would definitely have the student use the five finger method to see if they can read it on their own.
Curriculum connection: Literature unit on poems, and literary devices. Also I though this could be used for math. Everyone in the classroom reads one section at a time and chooses their favorite for the section. All four sections would be done one at a time, and then a classroom graph could be made and used to teach, average, mean, median, mode, range, percentages, ratio’s counting subtraction etc…
December 10, 2012
1. Genre: Poetry
2. This poetry book consists of 48 poems, 12 poems for each season. Illustrated with incredible images, this book describes the landscapes, weather and holidays that take place in each season.
3. a) Area for Comment: Illustrations
b) The illustrations in this poetry book are unique in the fact that they bring a sense of the technological world into the beautiful words. Each image represents or illustrates the adjacent poem, however when one looks closely one can see the computer enhancement. This adds to the complexity of the book and the poems.
c) The image accompanying the poem Apple Pockets, portrays a child catching apples under an apple tree. The colors are bright and vibrant and one can clearly see that the leaves are enhanced to portray translucence.
The image paired with Don't You Dare and Polliwog accurately portray a pond teaming with life. The computer enhancements highlight the diversity.
4. I would use this book with younger students to really show them the various aspects of all of the different seasons. I would even have them make up their own poetry and then illustrate it, perhaps using a computer program to enhance and expand upon their illustrations.
2. This poetry book consists of 48 poems, 12 poems for each season. Illustrated with incredible images, this book describes the landscapes, weather and holidays that take place in each season.
3. a) Area for Comment: Illustrations
b) The illustrations in this poetry book are unique in the fact that they bring a sense of the technological world into the beautiful words. Each image represents or illustrates the adjacent poem, however when one looks closely one can see the computer enhancement. This adds to the complexity of the book and the poems.
c) The image accompanying the poem Apple Pockets, portrays a child catching apples under an apple tree. The colors are bright and vibrant and one can clearly see that the leaves are enhanced to portray translucence.
The image paired with Don't You Dare and Polliwog accurately portray a pond teaming with life. The computer enhancements highlight the diversity.
4. I would use this book with younger students to really show them the various aspects of all of the different seasons. I would even have them make up their own poetry and then illustrate it, perhaps using a computer program to enhance and expand upon their illustrations.
April 2, 2014
Poem "Summer afternoon-
summer afternoon-
the two most beautiful words
in the English language." By Henry James.
This book of poems is broken up into four sections and those sections are of the seasons. This particular poems is obviously from the summer section. They graphics in the book are very colorful but I do not care for them. Some of the poems are good and some I do not like. For example the one above is so short and simple but that is not what I dislike about it. I dislike the content which is not much. I think poems in the book could be pulled from for the different seasons and posted in the classroom to introduce a season. The book is a collection of different authors.
summer afternoon-
the two most beautiful words
in the English language." By Henry James.
This book of poems is broken up into four sections and those sections are of the seasons. This particular poems is obviously from the summer section. They graphics in the book are very colorful but I do not care for them. Some of the poems are good and some I do not like. For example the one above is so short and simple but that is not what I dislike about it. I dislike the content which is not much. I think poems in the book could be pulled from for the different seasons and posted in the classroom to introduce a season. The book is a collection of different authors.
May 10, 2014
This book is quite thick but very colorful illustrations of a collection of 48 poems chosen by Lee Bennett Hopkins. This book will teach the seasons to young readers while benefit to all adults as well. The poems in each section are organized around each season with twelve poems per section, each bringing forth the mood and rhythm of its seasons. The beginning of the book begins with spring and then cycles each section by contributing the first poem. I like how each poem is accompanied by a rich colorful illustration.
I could have students practice remember reciting their poetry line. Students can recite the line while holding up the illustration and then perform the poem for a buddy class. I think the reading would be appropriate to readers from grade third and above.
April 20, 2010
Another reliable work from Hopkins backed by Diaz' brilliant, bold but always evocatively beautiful artistry. Simple poems organized by each of the four seasons, Diaz' illustrations infuse the poems with effervescence and joy, pulling the reader into a sense of reminiscence and daydream making the book a wonderful read for all ages. Personally, I am drawn to the Summer collection, being an August baby, as well as the color palette chosen by Diaz for this season is vibrant. However, of particular note are the poems "Alone in Winter" by J. Patrick Lewis capturing the still beauty of winter and "Summer Sun" by Elizabeth Upton.
November 6, 2012
The bold drawings and bright colors are so eye-catching! There are twelve poems for each of the four seasons and they are all very different. Some of the poems are about the changes and weather and playing outside in the different landscapes. Some of the poems are about the holidays associated with each season like Christmas. I found the pictures really pretty, but I think they may be a bit much for children. Children like bright and simple, this may be a bit too abstract. I thought that these were well written poems but they were not the type of writing that I usually like to read. I would not read these poems to children because I feel there are better stories out there.
April 2, 2014
This book is amazing. I enjoy poetry. This book is fantastic to use in a classroom year around. The poems in this book are very descriptive and the illustrations are rich in color. The vocabulary is just right for children to understand and also be introduced to new words. I chose the poem, "Winter" by Lee Bennett Hopkins. The poem describes winter in very few words. The words are the correct details about this season.
"Winter"
Snowballs
snow people
icicles
frost
always-
always-
a mitten or two lost
scarves
boots
earmuffs
sleighs
and
books
to curl up with
on
long
wintery
days.
"Winter"
Snowballs
snow people
icicles
frost
always-
always-
a mitten or two lost
scarves
boots
earmuffs
sleighs
and
books
to curl up with
on
long
wintery
days.
April 2, 2014
When I first chose this book I wasn't sure that I would like it because it didn't seem like your avgerage poem book. After going through it and reading some of the poems I actually enjoyed it. I liked the vivid colors and how they blended so well with the season they were talking about. I would love to add this book to my classroom.
Summer Moon
Above the beach,
The summer moon
Follows, like
A huge balloon.
Round and full,
It drifts ahead
As if to say
"Don't go to bed...
Not yet.
Let's play a game
of tug-of-war
Or maybe tag
Along the shore.
My face is full,
Feel fress to leap.
The air is warm,
Don't go to sleep...
Just yet."
Summer Moon
Above the beach,
The summer moon
Follows, like
A huge balloon.
Round and full,
It drifts ahead
As if to say
"Don't go to bed...
Not yet.
Let's play a game
of tug-of-war
Or maybe tag
Along the shore.
My face is full,
Feel fress to leap.
The air is warm,
Don't go to sleep...
Just yet."
April 20, 2012
Author: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Grade Level K-5
Content: Seasons
From the start the illustrations are very colorful and inviting. Book is divided up based on the 4 seasons. Also includes a table of contents. Within the Seasons, poems are used to describe what is happening during each particular season.
This book would be ideal for upper grades, such as 4-5. Maybe could use at the beginning of each season, to set the tone for what will be happening within nature. Also could integrate this book to have students write their own poems on their particular favorite season.
Grade Level K-5
Content: Seasons
From the start the illustrations are very colorful and inviting. Book is divided up based on the 4 seasons. Also includes a table of contents. Within the Seasons, poems are used to describe what is happening during each particular season.
This book would be ideal for upper grades, such as 4-5. Maybe could use at the beginning of each season, to set the tone for what will be happening within nature. Also could integrate this book to have students write their own poems on their particular favorite season.
December 7, 2015
This book was an excellent read. The author chosen many classical poems and interweaved them to display the different seasons. The first thing I loved about this book was the imagery on each page. Not only the imagery in the pictures but through the authors words. When the author explains each season you can see, feel, smell, and hear all of the descriptions. For example, a fall poem states, "This morning I have apples in my pockets. I feel them round and ready and remember." I can feel the apples, smooth, and round. I can smell the dew in the morning. This book is fabulous!
September 27, 2010
This is a fun and whimsical book of poetry about the seasons. Some poems rhyme, some do not, but they are short and entertaining and convey the different atmosphere and feeling of each season of the year. This is good for us, since we just moved to the East Coast from Hawaii, where there's really only a rainy season and a dry season. With twelve easy to read poems per season, this is an easy poetry book to read together with children, whether you read one poem or one season at a time.
April 19, 2012
Sharing the Seasons by Lee Bennett Hopkins is such a marvelous book filled with vivid poetry about each of the different seaosons. The book has many poems on each season such as spring, fall, summer, and winter. It also gives the students factual information about the seasons in the poems. I would use this book in the Engage portion of a science lesson on seasons. This book would be great for students in K-3rd grade.
June 21, 2010
Wonderful book of poetry on the seasons. Lovely compilation. Fun, pastoral, folksy art.
One poem that I especially loved that I wanted to use in a little camp booklet is called Wildflowers. I wrote the author asking for permission to use it and lo and behold she wrote back granting me permission and pointing me to her blog!
What great fun! For all poetry lovers out there.
One poem that I especially loved that I wanted to use in a little camp booklet is called Wildflowers. I wrote the author asking for permission to use it and lo and behold she wrote back granting me permission and pointing me to her blog!
What great fun! For all poetry lovers out there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews