Calendar

by Myra Cohn Livingston, Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

From January through December, the months of the year are celebrated through pleasing verse and lively artwork. 10,000 first printing.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Storytime, Summer, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2007

About the author

Myra Cohn Livingston was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her family moved to California when she was 12 years old. She studied the French horn from age 12 to age 20, becoming so good that the Los Angeles Philharmonic invited her to join them when she was 16 years old. She had other plans. She knew she wanted to write.

Reviews

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ezra Jack Keats!" I spouted when I opened to January's page. While the rest of Hillenbrand's collage illustrations didn't really look like Keats', the little girl's winter wear on that first page immediately reminded me of his work. So... it's good.

This a very simple book for introducing the months of the year to primary grades. Each page features only one sentence or phrase, accompanied by margin-to-margin illustrations. Listen to some of these verbal visuals:
"January shivers" (Yes. Yes it does.)
"March blows off the winter ice" (mm-hmm)
"November is the fireplace" (exactly)

Great images! This one belongs in every Pre-K and Kindergarten classroom.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to share this wonderful and brief poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston before January ends. We have begun the year and this is a lovely picture book that celebrates all the months. Will Hillenbrand fills the pages with one highlight of the month, like a box kite in March, picnics in July.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining poem that highlights each month of the year in succession. The rhyming narrative is short, and printed in a very large font. And the illustrations are colorful and cartoonish.

Our oldest was put off by this poem because she said that the fact that the author mentions August as her birth month made it difficult for her to relate to the poem. I think she was just a bit grumpy.

And both of our girls thought that the highlight for each month was too subjective and they didn't agree with the choices. For example, the author shows sledding and snow as a highlight for December, but we often do not (and did not this year) get any snow until later in winter.

Still, I thought it was a fun poem to read aloud and it certainly acted as a discussion starter. Overall, we enjoyed reading it together.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an illustrated poem by Myra Cohn Livingston the Poe’s celebrating the months of the year which was written in 1959.
Hillenbrand’s double page spread illustrations in a large format depict a activity that is associated with the month. This title could,are children become more active and move away from the screen. The only illustration children may not recognize is for the month ofMay and features hopscotch, do children even know that word.

[Kalynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kindergarteners had fun with this story and its colorful illustrations and great interactive words. I had them act out each of the prompts for each month. The only part I didn't love was that it ended with Santa, which, granted is probably a strong connection to all in the class, but isn't culturally widespread.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a children's poetry book intended for toddlers through kindergarteners from an Author who won the 1980 National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. With that, I may have raised my expectations too high because I was a bit disappointed. With every turn of the page, there is a two-page spread of illustration depicting each month of the year.The illustrations were it's saving grace. These are full-page illustrations, with the text inserted in them, Full of color that has a bit of an abstract feel to them. The words are simple and clearly visible with each line of the poem read on a different page which is great for beginning readers. It's not lengthy at all. The pictures and words work together to give the reader the authors depiction of the sights, sounds, and feelings of January through December. So why the two-star rating? First I would have liked to put a 2.5 but 1/2 star ratings are not available. Second is that, although this book is great for beginning readers and appealing for those who are trying to learn the months of the year, the book is very subjective and not inclusive. December is the best because of Santa Claus or depictions of trick or treating in October or the fact that August is mentioned only due to the characters birthday leave children whose birthdays aren't that month or who don't celebrate holidays out. It's cute but it's also the same character throughout without any variation. Since I believe this book to be so subjective I believe that only a percentage of children may find it relatable and appealing while others will not and for this very reason I would not personally use it for curriculum. It could be used in the classroom to help learn the months of the year but it's debatable to do so.

[Annika Pardee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Myra Livingston uses verse and illustrations to bring each month of the year to life. Through the use of child-friendly literary devices, she highlights the moods, associations, and characteristics of every month. For example, she uses personification when she writes, “January shivers” and metaphors such as “June is deep blue fishing.” Rhyme adds rhythm to months like March and April, while imagery appeals to the senses of touch, sound, and sight. The book’s rhythm makes it accessible and interesting for young readers.

I enjoyed this book because, while it is simple to read, its use of personification, metaphor, rhyme, and imagery makes it more meaningful and thought-provoking. It encourages readers to reflect on how months and seasons may be experienced differently around the world, allowing for both personal and cultural connections. Each page invites readers to step into every month of the year in a fun and predictable way.

If I were to use this book in the classroom, I would introduce it to younger students, such as Kindergarteners, as a way to explore the seasons. An extension activity might involve students creating their own illustrated “season books,” drawing what each season looks like or means to them, and then comparing their ideas to the text. With older students, the book could serve as a station activity where they identify and classify the literary devices Livingston uses. From there, they could use a digital book creator to design their own season-themed books, reflecting on how they experience the year and sharing their creations with peers. Overall, I love this book because of its possibility of use across grade levels. I am excited to use it with my future students!

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple book describing features of each month of the year. Each page/page set and thereby monthbonly has a couple or a few words with it. The illustrations are simple. Possibly a good book for introducing months of the year, but not one I would automatically recommend.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice poem about the months of the year accompanied by beautiful illustrations.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the illustrations. Wish it didn't end with Santa.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple times a year we reach the max on our library renewals for this book.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations, but wish it didn't end with Santa. So many other parts of winter this book could have had at the end.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple book about the weather and other things that occur in each month of the year. toddler and up

[Angela Galvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calendar is a large picture book with a different month on each page. The book begins with January. Each page has a 2 page illustration that corresponds with the month. For example, for the month of April, the picture is a 2 fold picture of a girl in a raincoat and rain hat walking through puddles. The background is filled with gloomy dark purplish houses. Each page has words that are bold, large and bright. The book is for emergent to early readers. For example the words say "June is deep blue swimming." Calendar is an informational picture book with colorful illustrations and words that appeal to children. The book could also be used as dialogue reading in the classroom.

[Mercedes Biggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a good calendar book describing the months and what goes on during those months. for example december it is cold so pictures of wind may be on there. it was very detailed out for the kids and a very good way to describe the days of the year.


Learning experiences

1. having them make there own calendars and the special things that may happen in each of those months

2. birthday time!! i would have them build thier own birthday cake and decorate as they will want too.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

With vibrant artwork that is very reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats, we follow a year line by line. Starting with January shivers, each month includes a fun and season-appropriate activity. The book ends with "December is the best because/ of sleds/ and snow/ and Santa Claus."

Recommended for preschool and Kindergarten, this book is perfect for Calendar Math time.

The text was first published in 1959 and republished with new illustrations in 2007.

[James Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose "Calendar" as my informational picture book in that it shows through the colorful illustrations how each month and season affects a tree. I found this to be great for young children that are learning about their months of the year and seasons in that they can see what each season is. I thought this would be a good book for a first week in teaching either kindergarten or 1st grade as a way to introduce a daily calendar for the classroom to help students understand each month of the year.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 2 and up. This book has full page artwork and very simple large text that make it easy for children to see the words being spoken. This book also encourages talking, conversation, and dialogue reading. Each page gives children the opportunity to practice their narrative skills as they share what they do and know about each month. This story can go as quickly or as slowly as needed.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for reviewing the months of the year, seasons, picture walks and toddlers, this simple one sentence per page book gives a poetic image of each month and is beautifully illustrated to evoke many more memories of the month and season.

[Sandee Mariner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the theme was carried throughout this book.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a great poetry book with great pictures. I think it'd be fun to have students do their own calendar book.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations in this book. I don't have much to say about this poem other than I liked it.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute poem highlighting the joys of each month. Will Hillenbrand's art is compliments Livingston's verse.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely lovely illustrations by Hillenbrand. The verse is ok.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book didn't live up to it's cover for me. I really liked the cover, but the poem itself wasn't what I was expecting.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, I just wish there was a little more text. My kids liked describing the pictures to me or asking what the kids were doing in each one.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple picture book that goes through the months of the year with seasonal pictures and words. Good for maybe preschool and younger.

[Alexandria Hiam · Rating 3 out of 5]

simple picture book that goes through the months of the year with seasonal pictures and words. Good for maybe preschool and younger.

[Sandy Brehl]

Myra Cohn Livingston's spare rhyming text is spot-on, as are the illustrations.