Red Sings from Treetops a Year in Colors

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS A YEAR IN COLORS. New York; Houghton. ISBN 9780547014944

PLOT SUMMARY

Colors are seen throughout the four seasons and each has a different job in each.  In the spring, many colors come alive from red to yellow and purple who hold hands as the flowers bloom. In the sky, white comes alive in storms and blue with its need of the yellow sun.  In the summer, as opposed to spring, green is the color that overtakes the season. Blue stands out in many different shades. And black at night holds many summer secrets. In the fall, green allows brown to take over as fatigue overtakes him.  Brown, yellow, purple, orange, black and white are seen all over fall. In winter, only a few colors are visible as many have gone as they await their season where they glow. No matter the season, red is always seen.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There are some rhyming words throughout the book that have been used appropriately without making rhyming the focus.  The use of onomatopoeia such as cheer-cheer-cheer, boom, snap, crunch and thump-thump-thump allow the reader to hear the sounds that are encountered in the seasons.  The element of personification such as “yellow and purple hold hands” and “green is tired” provide an excellent opportunity to have open-ended discussions with students to see how they interpret the author’s use of personification.  Within the text, each color word mentioned is displayed in its color which make them stand out reminding the reader what color is being described.

The colors and tones used in the illustrations reflect each of the seasons appropriately from spring with bright and lively colors to fall with the use of darker shades of colors.  The illustrations let the reader easily visualize the changes of the seasons as they are presented.  They also provided great support for younger readers and ELLs who might struggle with understanding the author’s meaning in different verses. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Honor Book 2010

KIRKUS review: “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

Gather other Joyce Sidman books to read such as:

Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry: ISBN 978-0618448944

Just Us Two: Poems About Animal Dads: ISBN 978-0761315636

Students can choose a color and draw how it changes throughout the seasons.

Students can draw a season using a variety of mix media.