Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors

 

Bibliographic Data: 

 

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors. Ill. Zagarenski, Pamela. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

ISBN 9780547014944

Plot Summary:

Sidman explores each season by assigning appropriate colors to each, beginning with the spring season which is represented by red, green and yellow to describe the bright, newness the season offers. The colors that surround summer include green for the leaves on trees, blues to represent cool ocean waters, and purple to represent the summer sunsets. Next, fall is explored using brown, yellow and orange just to name a few. Winter begins with pink, blue and white as other vibrant colors like orange and yellow fade from sight leaving gray and brown behind. Red rounds out this collection of verse and is mentioned once again as it was in the beginning by accenting the seasonal landscape.

Critical Analysis:

The colors not only show through Zagarenski’s vibrant illustrations, but also are evident in Sidman’s vivid, descriptive language. As the reader goes over each verse, they are given fantastic descriptions of objects and landscapes associated with the four seasons. In most instances the objects and seasonal attributes are not even mentioned. For example, in the fall, red is said to “splash” over everything from the trees to the leaves. Red is described as “crisp” and “juicy”, naturally allowing the reader to imagine a bright, red apple. The word ‘apple’ is not written; rather it is meant to be distinguished through descriptive wording. While the bright, animated illustrations allow the reader to visually interpret each season, each section of the poem is able to describe season characteristics verbally by evoking feelings and images associated with color.   

The book has a cyclical design. The reader is taken through a series of seasonal characteristics that begin with the color red and end with red, only in a different season. The poem begins with the color red highlighting various points of spring as it “sings from the treetops” and “squirms on the road after rain”.  The poem closes with red highlighting winter as it “glows in the strengthening sun” and “hops to tree tops/ fluffs its feathers”. Many colors are mentioned in more than one season and tend to conjure somewhat different emotions and images. The illustrations enhance the reading and include a combination of illustration media including paint, as well as collage.

Awards:

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2010

Cybil Award, 2009

Claudia Lewis Award, 2010

 

Review Excerpt(s):

Booklist starred review, 2009:
“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.”

 

Kirkus starred review, 2009: 

“Fresh descriptions and inventive artistry are a charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions. Details in the artwork will invite repeated readings and challenge kids to muse about other color icons.”

 

Connections:

* Children will list (individually or in groups) colors they associate with each season before the class reading. After, they will compare which colors from their list were in the book and why they originally chose those colors. Were they the same as those described in the book?

*A great site full of book activities: http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/images/9780982296493/StudyguideStudent/Red%20Sings%20Treetops_JLGGuide.pdf

*Joyce Sidman’s website with activities and reading guides: http://www.joycesidman.com/

*Other poetry books by Joyce Sidman:

Sidman, Joyce; Ill. Krommes, Beth. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow ISBN 9780618563135

Sidman, Joyce; Ill. Zagarenski, Pamela. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness ISBN 9780618616800