Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen (Module 5; Book 3)

Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold Review by Elaine Alexander

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce, and Rick Allen. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2014. ISBN:9780547906508.

SUMMARY
A single author collection of poems, this delightful book takes readers through a winter wonderland of nature as it highlights how different animals and wildlife -- from deciduous or evergreen trees to fox and moose -- survive in the northern winter months.


ANALYSIS
This book is a treat for children who love animals. Not only does it feature beautifully written poems, but each two page spread has stunning artwork, and is supported by a lengthy paragraph of fascinating facts. Beginning with a two page wordless spread showing a tree branch shedding its last fall leaves, as it reaches out into a snowy sky, the reader is immediately given the sense of the shift from fall to winter. Each poem moves through the timeline, pushing closer to spring and finally ending with the same branch extending out from the snow, with spring buds growing on the ends.

The poems make use of alliteration, evoking a sense of wonder about the mysteries of snowflakes or power of bees to work in a unified fashion to survive by cramming into a "sizzling ball" (Sidman 14) in their snug hive. As the reader moves through the poems and factual text -- as if they were walking alongside the playful fox out hunting -- they are treated to a sneak peak at busy beavers, the crafty escape of the vole, and the coordinated coexistence of ravens and wolves. The language sings the praises of nature, gives a nod to the way creatures adapt to weather the cold, and reminds us all that "winter doesn't last forever" (Sidman 25).

The layout echoes this push from the beginning frost to budding spring, alternating between animals or nature that evoke images of the sky, to beings found tucked beneath the earth or on its surface. The artwork reflects scenes that range from orange-browns associated with fall, to the snow whites and grays of winter, yet each page is visited by the splash of color of the orange fox that moves through the book, urging readers along their winter journey. Children will want to revisit the marvels of nature in this fascinating ode to the hardy animals that survive in harsh, northern climates.

Use & Highlight Poem
The highlight poem is Winter Bees which reflect the hive's reliance on teamwork to survive the harsh conditions of winter, as well as the protective measures they take to keep their queen safe. It would be fun to pair this poem with the construction of a mason bee hive. A simple and inexpensive hive could be constructed using an old coffee can and paper straws, or you could choose to swap paper straws for bamboo, for sturdier construction. If the house is constructed and placed out in late winter or early spring, near an early flowering bush, plant or tree, there would be ample time for a classroom to monitor the success of whether or not the readily made home was helpful in attracting pollinators.


Winter Bees

We are an ancient tribe,
a hardy scrum.
Born with eyelash legs
and tinsel wings,
we are nothing on our own.
Together, we are One.

We scaled a million blooms
to reap the summer's glow.
Now, in the merciless cold,
we share each morsel of heat,
each honeyed crumb.
We cram to a sizzling ball
to warm our queen, our heart, our home.

Alone, we would falter and drop,
a dot on the canvas of snow.
Together, we boil, we teem, we hum.

Deep in the winter hive,
we burn like a golden sun.