Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors

1. Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-547-01494-4

2. Summary

This book of poetry travels through the seasons, describing them using colors along with descriptive words. The changing weather and seasonal activities are depicted throughout the poetry. The season of spring begins the book with the color red singing in the tree tops in the form of birds saying “cheer-cheer-cheer”. The final poetry about winter also with the color red in the form of birds singing “cheer-cheer-cheer”.

3. Critical Analysis

Sidman uses colors to take the reader through the seasons. The color red is the only color seen throughout all four seasons and it is followed by repetition of sounds such as “cheep-cheep-cheep” and “crunch”. The sounds give life to the poems and allow for expression when being read orally. The descriptive words used for each season allows the reader (or listener) to feel as if they are actually in that season. All of the senses are utilized through vivid imagery as Sidman describes the different seasons: touch in spring with “mossy-soft at my feet”; in summer with “smells like butter, tastes like salt”; in fall with sight “orange flickers, all smoke and candles”; and in winter with sound “white whispers, floats”. The poems have a definite rhythm that flows well when read aloud.

Zagarenski uses colorful illustrations in mixed-media that flow well. The colors are blended, composed of bits of newspaper print in places, and created on wood and through computer generation. The book has a light and European folksy feel in that the people and some animals in the book are adorned with crowns. Wheels are another frequent feature in the main character of the illustrations balancing on top. The most prominent feature is the frequent use of text in the illustrations. The illustrations are clearly the illustrator’s interpretation of the poem. For example, the poem reads, “Red darts, jags, hovers; a blur of wings, a sequined throat.” And the picture includes humming birds.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts

- AWARDS -

Claudia Lewis Award, 2010 Winner United States
Cybil Award, 2009 Winner Poetry United States
Minnesota Book Awards, 2010 Winner Children’s Literature United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2010 Honor Book United States

- REVIEW EXCERPTS -

BOOKLIST review: “All of these evocative images are matched in the imaginative illustrations.” “And as the title implies, the colors that surprise on every page do sing.”

KIRKUS review: “The seasons flow into each other, bringing readers full circle. Fresh descriptions and inventive artistry are a charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions.”

5. Connections

Choose (or have the students choose) a poems and illustrate it in an individual manner based on what you imagine when you hear it.

Write your own poem about a season.

Read other poems about seasons and compare them.

Look at the illustrations and find letters or words within the print that is used to compose the pictures.