Red Sings from the Treetops

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. By Pamela Zagarenski. NewYork: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 0547014945

PLOT SUMMARY
RED SINGS FROM THE TREETOPS is a wonderful free verse poetry book for students learning about the seasons. Most books about seasons discuss how the weather changes, but this book takes a new approach and describes the colors associated with each season.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book has the best illustrations of any of the books I have read so far. The abstract paintings will keep students on a page much longer than it takes to read the words. There are so many details in the paintings that students can find such as how the color is used in the clothing and the changing hats worn by the animals. It is also interesting how Zagarenski uses words on some of the clothing that represent the season as well.

The sensory language in this book helps the reader see how the colors are associated with each season. When describing the sun Sidman writes: “Yellow melts everything it touches…” In fall, “Green sighs with relief: I’ve ruled for so long. Time for Brown to take over” describing the leaves changing colors in the fall. This paints a vivid picture for children as to what is happening in each season. When reading this poem aloud, the short stanzas give it a quicker pace than other poems.

The words for the color are always shown in that color. For example, red is written in red font. I think this will help children learn to spell these words when they see them directly associated with the color.

I feel that there are so many details in the pictures that the children lose sight of beautiful words in the poem. The children I showed the book to were more interested in looking at the pictures than reading the words.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Children will find many small stories waiting to be told within the detailed paintings and enjoy looking at them over and over. This poetic tribute to the seasons will brighten dull days.”
BOOKLIST Starred review: “The changing seasons have been the subject of many a picture book, but this one has a particularly unique take on the topic. Each season is explored in terms of how it encompasses colors.”

CONNECTIONS
*Other books about seasons:
Rose, Deborah Lee. ALL THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR. ISBN 0810983958
*Use in art class to show the meanings of different colors
*Have students use colors to describe their favorite season
*Have students identify the items in the book that are being described