Webster Bible Church and Webster Christian School Library Blog

“A collection of poems that celebrate the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night and describes the many things that hide in the dark.” (Follett Titlewave)

On each successive two-page spread, a poem on the left-hand page is paired with a related informational sidebar and lavish illustration on the right-hand page.  The nocturnal topics include raccoons, snails, moths, great horned owls, trees, spiders, a baby porcupine, crickets, mushrooms, Red efts, tree bats, and the moon.

A detailed note on the title page verso explains the relief-print process Rick Allen used to create the fabulous illustrations in the dusky colors of nature.

I like to talk with the students about the variety of processes illustrators use to create their pictures.  I plan to add this book to a lesson plan about illustrator methods.  In addition, I will definitely read the blurb on the verso to the children prior to reading out loud from the book.

Two more of Joyce Sidman’s poetry books–Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems and Red Sings from Treetops–are Caldecott Honor books.

As a school librarian, I try to devote at least one lesson to poetry for students in grades pre-K through 5th grade.   That is just enough time to whet their appetite for poetry and point out the location of the poetry collection.  However, I also push poetry books into the classrooms whenever I can pair them up with a unit of study.

Each year the 4th-grade classroom teacher and I collaborate on a Great Horned Owl unit.  The students choose, research, and write about one question relating to the Great Horned Owl.    The unit culminates with a visit from a wildlife rehabilitator and a real-live Great Horned Owl!

I’m excited to add Joyce Sidman’s poem about a Great Horned Owl, “Dark Emperor,” to that lesson plan.  I plan to read the poem in library class then send Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night to the classroom for the students to enjoy during free reading time.

Interest level:  grades 3-6;  Reading level:  6.0 (Follett Titlewave)

Highly recommended.

Awards/Lists:  Booklist Books for Middle Readers 2010; Bulletin Blue Ribbons 2010–Nonfiction; Newbery Honor Books 2010; Notable Children’s Books 2010–All ages

Eleven-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion (a.k.a. Lo Co Motion) tells his story in a series of school poetry journal entries.   Lonnie remembers happy times spent with his family before his parents die in a housefire as well as the cruel memories of that tragic night.  He also expresses his feelings, thoughts, and hopes about his life now in a foster home, separated from his younger sister.

This is a very tender story which, although obviously sad at times, includes  enough love and friendship to make it hopeful, too.  It’s a nice alternative to the standard foster child story that portrays direlect natural parents and a succession of miserable foster homes.

Lonnie lives with an older woman who has raised two boys of her own .  She provides a humble home, but she takes Lonnie to church, prays, and provides a safe, predictable place for Lonnie to adjust and heal.  When one of her sons returns home from living elsewhere, he spends time with Lonnie , calling Lonnie “Little Brother.”

Lonnie’s younger sister, Lili, has been placed in a separate home, but the siblings are allowed to visit each other occasionally.  During one of those visits,  Lili  asks, “ You found God yet, Lonnie?”  Then she gives Lonnie a Bible and says, “God is everywhere . . . . He comes in your heart if you let Him . . . .  You find God, Lonnnie . . . then maybe me and you can be together again.”  In one of his poetry journal entries, Lonnie writes a prayer to God and talks to Him about starting to read the Bible in Genesis and reading “a little bit every night.”

Lonnie enjoys close friendships at school including the attentions of a special girl, too.  Lonnie’s school teacher recognizes Lonnie’s talent for writing poetry and encourages him.  This book would be excellent to use for a poetry unit, perhaps coupled with Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog and Hate That Cat, Karen Hesse’s Out of the Dust, and Nikki Grimes’ Dark Sons.

Highly recommended for Grades 5 to 8.

Awards/Lists:  Coretta Scott King Honor Book;