Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2010. Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems. Ill. by David Diaz. New York: Simon &Shuster Children's Publishing Division. ISBN 978-1-4169-0210.
Review
Lee Bennett Hopkins has compiled an assortment of poems focusing around the seasons. Bennett has chosen a total of forty eight poems, twelve poems for each of the four seasons. All the poems selected really are a true reflection of the season that the poem is about. The poems allow children to experience the sensory moments that each season brings; from the hot August days, the smells of beginning Spring, and the cold of the first fallen snow in Winter. Bennett has selected a wide mix of poets for children including William Shakespeare, Karla Kuskin, and April Halprin Wayland. These poems are fresh, new and uplifting and readers will fall in love with this collection.
The art in this book is absolutely mesmerizing. Every page is full of bright colorful artwork that makes the poem truly complete. The illustrations have an airbrushed effect that blends the entire picture together perfectly. The color reflects the seasons and the content of each poem perfectly. The Spring poems are lighter pastel colors, Summer is bright vibrant colors, while the Fall poems are bursting with bright reds, oranges, and browns, and Winter is has the cold blues, whites and purples.
Students will enjoy reading these collected poems written by poets that they recognize and some that they will be introduced to. They will love the art work that Diaz has done throughout the book and the feeling that it will give them. I had so many favorites after reading this book that it was hard to select one poem to share but I have to say that "Moon, Have You Met My Mother"? was one of my absolute favorite.
I am softer
and colder
and whiter than you.
And I can do something
that you cannot do.
I can make anything
beautiful:
warehouses
train tracks
an old fence
cement.
I can make anything
everything
beautiful.
What I touch,
where I blow,
even the dump filled with garbage
looks lovely
after I've fallen there.
I am the snow.
Not only is this poem beautiful and flows wonderfully I feel as though it is the true depiction of snow and winter.
Classroom/Library Connection
Recommended audience: 2nd grade and up
Karla Kuskin's poem "Moon, Have You Met My Mother" is a great way to introduce the season, winter. I would read this poem to them on the first day of Winter to introduce the season.
Before reading: talk to the children and ask them what season is starting and what their favorite part of winter is.
During reading: Read the poem slowly so that they can really think about what the poem is about. The first time reading it though leave off the last line I am the snow and allow the children to guess what the poem is about. Tell them what the poem is about if no one guesses correctly.
Reread the poem: The second time around read the poem and have children try to visualize all the items in the poem covered in snow.
After reading: Give the students construction paper and markers and have them draw something that they think would look more beautiful covered in snow. Once their picture is complete give them cotton balls to place on their drawing so it looks as though it is covered in snow.
This is a great fun way to introduce the new season and something that they will remember. Tell them to look outside after it snows and to think about how things look when they are covered in snow and ask them if the things are really more beautiful because of the snow.
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