The Selected Picture Book - Poetry

Author:  Joyce Sidman

Illustrator:  Pamela Zagarenski

Summary: 

This sweet story is a winning-award by Caldecott Honor Book. And, the four celebrating seasons fill with of joyous and delightfulness. Every changing, repeating color passes through every season with five senses to remind. From the wintertime to autumn, the colorful colors appear alive with a lot of good spirits. Warm coloring of red brings into some cool air. Green brings in the peeking springtime while the yellow coloring brings so warm. From white to blue colorings, they changes from the time of day in the sky. All colors represent of four seasons its twelve months. The detailed story fills of happiness and appreciation at the priceless cost in readers' sights to enjoy in every thoughtful page to turn.

Genre Analysis:  Children's Picture Book, Poetry, and fiction

Literary Elements: 

The writing is very simple and entertained to read easily. Sidman's poetic writing is very creative to have a great sight, scent, taste, touch, and sound with all delightful images. She uses a great poetry format by including simile, metaphor, consonants, onomatopoeia, assonance, and rhyme. Also, the poetry format in personification is excellent to play with words. Her writing really draws readers to live in childlike-feelings.

In speaking of impressive images, an illustrator, Zagarenski's artwork is so simple and beautiful by using the combination of media paintings on wood and computer illustration. Her illustrated work is so realistic and colorful to be softened. Her picture book just flows with Zagerenski's poetry-telling story very nice. They bring those visible colors to see how beautiful seasons that come in every year. Their pieces of work are so priceless for children to entertain, in especially for adult readers.

Sidman sends the message by appreciating the celebration of everyday life. Once a new, green leaf dies, another brand new, green leaf always comes through embracing of memories. Many memories never died because we hold them to our hearts dearly and keep them alive.

Critical Literary: Purple plum tends to grow in the springtime instead of growing in the fall.

Classroom Application:

I would ask my students to pick one favorite season and to write a poem in their appreciation. Then, they would have to pick any flower, leaf, or any nature of earth. And they can make a homemade bookmark with their poem and signature for the children's month. They would give a small presentation to the class, which my students will participate to give some questions. This class activity helps them to learn how to appreciate at the priceless cost and to understand the meaning of appreciation.

Evaluation:

I like the book because I love the celebrating of life, in especially remembering of my childhood life. The book is so easy to read and understand at the same time. It gives me a sense of calamity and relaxation. It is a great escape from a busy day. I enjoyed in reading and identifying the format of poetry. It is fun to read too. The illustration is beautiful even though I am not very favoritism of seeing wheels under the person's feet and the dog's paws. In spite how it looks a bit strange, the coloring picture book is so delightful in every turning page.