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Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems
From spring’s first thaw to autumn’s chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizens—from peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetles—lead secret and fascinating lives. A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this Caldecott Honor-winning collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2005
About the author
Joyce Sidman
35 books119 followersThe Newbery Honor winner Joyce Sidman is today's foremost nature poet for children. Accolades for her books include two Caldecott Honors, a Lee Bennet Hopkins Award, winner of the Claudia Lews Award, and many stars and best of lists. For her award-winning body of work, she won the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. She lives in Wayzata, Minnesota. Visit www.joycesidman.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
October 19, 2014
Illustrations: very nice, can see why this got a Caldecott. Even make gross bugs look pretty, while being accurate.
Poems: snore. The little dry factual descriptions at the sides were more interesting than this feeble verse.
Poems: snore. The little dry factual descriptions at the sides were more interesting than this feeble verse.
May 7, 2017
Reread for Children's Books' Caldecott discussion. Excellent science, evocative & eloquent poetry in a diversity of formats, bright & lovely illustrations, a glossary... a perfect book. A perfect gift for a classroom teacher or homeschool family, too.
November 15, 2016
A book of simple poems and facts about creatures that live in and around ponds in N, America. The poems have repeated words and phrases, which would probably make them fun for young children. And, the paintings that accompany each set of poems and facts are gorgeous! They look like woodcuts, with their bold lines, coloured with watercolours. Lovely!
August 5, 2019
Here is a collection of poems about life in a pond. They are plenty informative. Have you ever heard of a Wood Duck? Me either. They almost went extinct and they are very shy. Each page or so has a poem and then a few facts about the animals being elucidated. The water bear is quite a strange micro-organism I am learning about. Duckweed is an unusual plant that floats on the water. Animals like to eat it. I thought the poetry was good and it brings focus on the small world of the pond. I loved learning about the caddis fly. It makes a shell out of anything on the bottom of the pond and it looks ready for a fashion show. I want to see one in a pond now.
The artwork did a great job of bringing these tiny creatures to life.
The nephew loves bugs and odd things, so he liked the animals in this. He got a little squirmy, but he seemed to like learning about these odd bugs. He liked the caddis fly too. Both kids thought the water bear was pretty gross and I agree. The niece loves fact books and she appreciated the poems in the story about this tiny habitat. She thought this was a great book of facts and she enjoyed the use of poetry to get across the personality of the bug. The nephew gave this 3 stars and the niece gave this 4 stars.
The artwork did a great job of bringing these tiny creatures to life.
The nephew loves bugs and odd things, so he liked the animals in this. He got a little squirmy, but he seemed to like learning about these odd bugs. He liked the caddis fly too. Both kids thought the water bear was pretty gross and I agree. The niece loves fact books and she appreciated the poems in the story about this tiny habitat. She thought this was a great book of facts and she enjoyed the use of poetry to get across the personality of the bug. The nephew gave this 3 stars and the niece gave this 4 stars.
March 12, 2013
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Poems by Joyce Sidman is a compilation of poems focused around pond life. Majority of the poems focus on living creatures found in a pond, but the poems also cover the food chain and hibernation. The informational text and poetry is combined in a seamless and easy to understand fashion. When I picked up the book I expected to read poetry, when in reality I read poetry, while learning fascinating facts. Originally I would have advised this book for early elementary aged readers, but even my sixth graders were excited by the book’s content. The book broke preconceived notions left and right! The artwork does not look young or babyish helping to grab the attention of the upper elementary, middle school readers. The pictures are painted in an up-close fashion, which makes the reader feel like the living creature the poem is describing.
The science intertwined with the poetry would make this book perfect for a poetry or a science unit; a perfect example of cross-curricular. Many students hold the preconceived notion that poetry is comprised of flowing words and deep thoughts, but this book brings to life the educational side of poetry. This text was a Caldecott Honor book and a BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Award winner.
The science intertwined with the poetry would make this book perfect for a poetry or a science unit; a perfect example of cross-curricular. Many students hold the preconceived notion that poetry is comprised of flowing words and deep thoughts, but this book brings to life the educational side of poetry. This text was a Caldecott Honor book and a BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Award winner.
October 18, 2010
Song of the Water Boatmen and Other Pond Poems
Written By Joyce Sidman
Illustrated By: Beckie Prange
Published By: Houghton Mifflin Company, NY, NY 2005
Approx. Interest Level: Grade 3-5
This book is a great intermingling of poetry and nonfiction prose. There are poems that go with various animals.
These poems take advantage of the illustrations and include varied formats that take advantage of rhythm, format of the words, and tone. Most pages consist of one, non-fiction prose passage, one poem, and one illustration depicting the animal that each page explores.
The vivid illustrations enhance the look and feel of each poem as it describes certain traits of each animal. The clever titles of the poems grab the attention of the reader. There are varied formats and presentations that are used ranging from haiku poems to free verse poems. Some poems and illustrations "bleed" into multiples pages, which creates a "long" feeling, such as when the author explores the depth of a pond . In addition to the varied format for illustrations, the poems are varied in length, format, and appearance to suit each setting and subject. There are also two-page illustrations that convey the setting at the beginning and end of the book. Additionally, there is a short glossary at the end of the book that defines some of the science terms included in the poetry.
This book could be used to connect science and nature to language arts as well as students who enjoy nonfiction to a different genre of literature. The poems are fun and light-hearted, which allows the reader to share in the detail and description of the subject. Through these varied formats, bright pictures, and interesting facts about pond life, readers will become engrossed and enthralled with each subject included.
Overall, this book is a great use of poetry and non-fiction prose with illustrations that enhance each poem. The differences in style and varied illustrations truly make this an interesting and new format for poetry and non-fiction.
November 12, 2009
This book scores on all levels. The poems are wonderful, the illustrations are beautiful AND each poem is accompanied by informational text with facts about the featured creature. The poems manage to include some of these factual bits as well as conveying interesting images of the insect or animal. The combination of words and images takes us through the world of a pond. The serenity of the still water, the diving duck, the darting dragonfly. In "Spring Splashdown" the text leads our eyes to fall right down the page with the wood ducklings as they tumble from the nest for their first swim. The ominous, carnivorous diving beetle --"If it moves, it is mine"--stares menacingly at us and breaks out of the illustration's frame. "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" is part shape poem, with the text drifting lower and lower across the page, against the lush backdrop of the submerged commuity. Closing with the passage of the seasons and a turtle digging into the mud for the winter, the book holds an entire season of life within its covers. For ages 8-10, although selected poems would work well as a read aloud for younger ages.
March 19, 2011
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was its format. Looking at the front cover and reading the title did not captivate my interest right away. I actually probably would not have picked this book if it was not for my librarian. She recommended it, so I gave it a go. Once I opened up the pages in this book I was completely involved in the poetry.
The poems are written all about the topic of animals and plants that live in a pond. The language is beautiful and the illustrations are bold and inviting to look at. What caught my attention the most was the bits of factual information connected to each poem. On the page opposite the poem, the pages are laid out in a two page spread, there is one to two paragraphs about the animal/plant in the poem. I found myself reading the poem first, reading the factual info, and then rereading the poem. My goal then was to see if the author put any factual info into the poems itself.
This book is very engaging and I could see a reluctant poetry reader enjoying it!
The poems are written all about the topic of animals and plants that live in a pond. The language is beautiful and the illustrations are bold and inviting to look at. What caught my attention the most was the bits of factual information connected to each poem. On the page opposite the poem, the pages are laid out in a two page spread, there is one to two paragraphs about the animal/plant in the poem. I found myself reading the poem first, reading the factual info, and then rereading the poem. My goal then was to see if the author put any factual info into the poems itself.
This book is very engaging and I could see a reluctant poetry reader enjoying it!
September 3, 2007
Not only are these wonderful poems, but the illustrations are beautiful! Well deserving of the Caldecott honor book award it received.
January 7, 2008
Listen for Me (SPRING PEEPERS)
Listen for me on a spring night,
on a wet night,
on a rainy night.
Listen for me on a still night,
for in the night, I sing.
That is when my heart thaws,
my skin thaws,
my hunger thaws.
That is when the world thaws,
and the air begins to ring.
I creep up from the cold pond,
the ice pond,
the winter pond.
I creep up from the chill pond,
to breathe the warming air.
I cling to the green reeds,
the damp reeds,
the muddy reeds.
I cling to the slim reeds;
my brothers are everywhere.
My throat swells with spring love,
with rain love,
with water love.
My throat swells with peeper love;
my song is high and sweet.
Listen for me on a spring night,
on a wet night,
on a rainy night.
Listen for me tonight, tonight,
and I'll sing you to sleep.
Listen for me on a spring night,
on a wet night,
on a rainy night.
Listen for me on a still night,
for in the night, I sing.
That is when my heart thaws,
my skin thaws,
my hunger thaws.
That is when the world thaws,
and the air begins to ring.
I creep up from the cold pond,
the ice pond,
the winter pond.
I creep up from the chill pond,
to breathe the warming air.
I cling to the green reeds,
the damp reeds,
the muddy reeds.
I cling to the slim reeds;
my brothers are everywhere.
My throat swells with spring love,
with rain love,
with water love.
My throat swells with peeper love;
my song is high and sweet.
Listen for me on a spring night,
on a wet night,
on a rainy night.
Listen for me tonight, tonight,
and I'll sing you to sleep.
June 24, 2011
It is rare to see a "total package" book! Science info, literature in the form of poetry and beautiful woodcuts are beautifully showcased in this title. While Sidman the author is obviously the beginning of this book, the woodcuts and graphic layout are just as important to the overall presentation. Houghton Mifflin is to be praised for the work of true art that their editors have produced in this title.
Some of the science facts I learned were wood duck babies jump from h nests built high in trees into the water to follow their mother, it is only the male spring peeper that we hear, 5,000 is the number of species of dragonflies and that dragonflies begin their life living for various lengths of time underwater.
I especially liked the poem ""In the Depths of the Summer Pond" about the food chain in the pond which ended with the heron.
Some of the science facts I learned were wood duck babies jump from h nests built high in trees into the water to follow their mother, it is only the male spring peeper that we hear, 5,000 is the number of species of dragonflies and that dragonflies begin their life living for various lengths of time underwater.
I especially liked the poem ""In the Depths of the Summer Pond" about the food chain in the pond which ended with the heron.
October 6, 2016
1. This book of poems is about the secret life of spring. We may think the ponds around us are lifeless and quiet but they are all full of surprises. For example did you know the life of ponds begins with plants? Well this book goes into detail about all of the things you'll find inside a pond.
2. This would be used for 2nd-3rd grade
3. I would use this book for science
4. Anyone who is interested in the outdoors would enjoy this book.
5. For small groups I would have the kids take turns reading and then pick out their favorite informational fact about an animal/plant and then research it.
6. As a whole class the teacher could read the book aloud and then go over all of the different important things that live in the pond.
7. Joyce Sidmans has written several books.
8. You can find the audio version of this book online.
2. This would be used for 2nd-3rd grade
3. I would use this book for science
4. Anyone who is interested in the outdoors would enjoy this book.
5. For small groups I would have the kids take turns reading and then pick out their favorite informational fact about an animal/plant and then research it.
6. As a whole class the teacher could read the book aloud and then go over all of the different important things that live in the pond.
7. Joyce Sidmans has written several books.
8. You can find the audio version of this book online.
March 26, 2012
I just love this book. The combination of poems and informative sidebars is terrific, and the art is wonderful. It never leaves my "favorites" bookshelf.
May 16, 2012
Poetry about seasons
And life cycles,
At a pond,
With animals and plants.
And for those,
With a thirst for more,
A paragraph of facts,
Found nearby,
On the opposite page.
And life cycles,
At a pond,
With animals and plants.
And for those,
With a thirst for more,
A paragraph of facts,
Found nearby,
On the opposite page.
Read
November 28, 2017Summary: This book provides many different poems about insects. Some poems include Spring Splashdown, In the Depths of the Summer Pond, and Song of the Water Boatman & Backswimmer Refrain.
Evaluation: I really liked this book. The pictures are awesome which is great for keeping the students engaged. This book also has many different poems inside. Students could use this book for free writing or they could refer to it while learning how to write poems. You could also incorporate this into science because they are talking about insects. This would be in my classroom library and I would read aloud from the text.
Teaching point: This book could be used for making predictions. I would read the title aloud without showing them the book and have them predict what the book was going to be about. I would then show them the book cover and see if their prediction is right. I would then tell them that this is a book about pond creatures. I would have them predict what kind of plants or animals they might think are in the book. Then we could predict what water boatman might mean.
Evaluation: I really liked this book. The pictures are awesome which is great for keeping the students engaged. This book also has many different poems inside. Students could use this book for free writing or they could refer to it while learning how to write poems. You could also incorporate this into science because they are talking about insects. This would be in my classroom library and I would read aloud from the text.
Teaching point: This book could be used for making predictions. I would read the title aloud without showing them the book and have them predict what the book was going to be about. I would then show them the book cover and see if their prediction is right. I would then tell them that this is a book about pond creatures. I would have them predict what kind of plants or animals they might think are in the book. Then we could predict what water boatman might mean.
February 10, 2020
2006 Caldecott Honor - Favorite Illustration: The dragonfly page.
This is a lovely collection of poetry that focuses on some of the species one would find in a pond. I really enjoyed that there were different styles of poetry throughout the book as well as the additional information on each page that told you a bit more about the species being highlighted. The illustrations softly flowed with the poetry and prose on each page, and made me interested in several species I would otherwise not care to learn more about (most of the bugs).
This is a lovely collection of poetry that focuses on some of the species one would find in a pond. I really enjoyed that there were different styles of poetry throughout the book as well as the additional information on each page that told you a bit more about the species being highlighted. The illustrations softly flowed with the poetry and prose on each page, and made me interested in several species I would otherwise not care to learn more about (most of the bugs).
October 28, 2017
The story of the Song of the Water Boatman and Backswimmer's Refrain is about the the two bugs of a water boatman and backswimmer whom live near the pond. The poem tells about their lives as where they live, what they eat, their predators and how it sometimes hangs on its back upside down.
I'd include this book in my classroom because it the book in general it contains many poems about different animals and insects. I think that this would be an easy way to help more students read poems if they could read it on things that they like such as animals and insects. Additionally, I would have the poem The Song of the Water Boatman and Backswimmer's Refrain because it helps gives students more insight on an insect and duck and their lives.
A teaching point for this poem would be to focus on making predictions with your students. Tell students that the story is about ponds and what things (insects and plants) that you might find in a pond. You could use post it notes and ask some predictions they may have about who the water boatman might be. Show them the cover of the book and ask why the duck's foot is like that and have them compare it to their own foot. After go back and answer the prediction questions and use inference from the story to answer these.
I'd include this book in my classroom because it the book in general it contains many poems about different animals and insects. I think that this would be an easy way to help more students read poems if they could read it on things that they like such as animals and insects. Additionally, I would have the poem The Song of the Water Boatman and Backswimmer's Refrain because it helps gives students more insight on an insect and duck and their lives.
A teaching point for this poem would be to focus on making predictions with your students. Tell students that the story is about ponds and what things (insects and plants) that you might find in a pond. You could use post it notes and ask some predictions they may have about who the water boatman might be. Show them the cover of the book and ask why the duck's foot is like that and have them compare it to their own foot. After go back and answer the prediction questions and use inference from the story to answer these.
March 21, 2022
This poetry book is a Caldecott award-winning book! The poems in this book are about different animals, fish, and insects. In addition, this poetry book is set in verse and prose because the book gives a poem for each animal and then describes facts about. This book also has beautiful fly papers that match the illustrations. The theme of this book is to inform because it gives you facts about each animal. If you want an educational, yet fun poetry book, you need this!
October 24, 2022
Do you enjoy reading about nature? If so, you should try reading about it in the form of poetry!
This poetry book by, NCTE award winner, Joyce Sidman is a collection of poems about animals, insects, and plants that can be found in a pond. The poems are written in verse and use rhyme schemes and repetition. This would be a great book to introduce your students to poetry!
This poetry book by, NCTE award winner, Joyce Sidman is a collection of poems about animals, insects, and plants that can be found in a pond. The poems are written in verse and use rhyme schemes and repetition. This would be a great book to introduce your students to poetry!
November 7, 2019
This book makes you think of an actual Boatman travelling through the ponds and undisturbed wetlands. Many of the poems tell of the life heard and envisioned on the waterways. It starts with spring time when frogs mate during night calls. When mentioning the algae then you realize is is the food chain of life in the wetlands is what these poems are all about. Towards the end of the book you realize who the actual boatman is of the book and who is telling about all of the other forms of evolution.
This can be used for instruction of the food chain. Students can learn how some plant life are eaten by higher organisms up the food chain. Photosynthesis plays a part which can be taught as well.
The author wrote a phenomenal scientific story and put it into poetry. This is a WOW book because it tells about many simple forms of life and how it evolves and survives.
This can be used for instruction of the food chain. Students can learn how some plant life are eaten by higher organisms up the food chain. Photosynthesis plays a part which can be taught as well.
The author wrote a phenomenal scientific story and put it into poetry. This is a WOW book because it tells about many simple forms of life and how it evolves and survives.
April 18, 2018
This is a beautiful book - beautifully, wonderfully written, and beautifully, fantastically illustrated.
The use of poetry to convey scientific ideas of events and life in the pond is brilliant. There are also short bits of prose with each poem to explain the larger concepts contained in the poetic lines.
I got this book from the library, and am sad to have to return it. However, I will be buying my own copy for my library and to reread as often as I like (which I suspect will be quite often indeed).
Note: I gave this book a full review because this book was published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
I used to give full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies, (GR Authors' Feedback) the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these new GR policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing efforts by only giving full reviews to books published by: publishing businesses outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of these smaller publishing efforts so I have given it a full review.
The use of poetry to convey scientific ideas of events and life in the pond is brilliant. There are also short bits of prose with each poem to explain the larger concepts contained in the poetic lines.
I got this book from the library, and am sad to have to return it. However, I will be buying my own copy for my library and to reread as often as I like (which I suspect will be quite often indeed).
Note: I gave this book a full review because this book was published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
I used to give full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies, (GR Authors' Feedback) the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these new GR policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing efforts by only giving full reviews to books published by: publishing businesses outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of these smaller publishing efforts so I have given it a full review.
November 8, 2015
This is my Poetry book club book.
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems is a compilation of rhythmic and scientific poetry. It is a Caldecott Honor book.
I found this book fascinating because poetry is such an under-served genre for young children. The poems are written in kid-friendly but challenging content-specific vocabulary. Each poem is accompanied by information related to the animal the poem is based on. Some of the facts were really quite interesting! I also liked that the author did not simply write one type of poem. Joyce Sidman played around with the style of her poems to make each page different and surprising.
I could see this being used with late primary/intermediate level students for a variety of uses. Obviously, students studying poetry would find excellent examples of a variety of types of poems here. Students studying animal ecosystems would also find this book informative.
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems is a compilation of rhythmic and scientific poetry. It is a Caldecott Honor book.
I found this book fascinating because poetry is such an under-served genre for young children. The poems are written in kid-friendly but challenging content-specific vocabulary. Each poem is accompanied by information related to the animal the poem is based on. Some of the facts were really quite interesting! I also liked that the author did not simply write one type of poem. Joyce Sidman played around with the style of her poems to make each page different and surprising.
I could see this being used with late primary/intermediate level students for a variety of uses. Obviously, students studying poetry would find excellent examples of a variety of types of poems here. Students studying animal ecosystems would also find this book informative.
May 1, 2018
Awards Received: The Caldecott Medal
Appropriate grade level(s): First Grade to Fifth Grade
Summary: Song of the Water Boatman discusses all of the diverse life in ponds and how they coincide together. The poems are about an aspect of the pond and then at the side of the poem is factual information about that aspect.
My review: Song of the Water Boatman introduces students to the different aspects of ponds and how nature works as a whole. I thought it was a great idea to have interesting facts about each aspect of the pond next to its coinciding poem. The Illustrations painted a picture of pond life and made it come to life.
1-2 Possible in-class uses: Song of the Water Boatman is a great book to incorporate during science lessons and when discussing how animals live in the same habitats. I also think this book is a good book to read once the weather starts to get warmer because some of the poems are about ponds in the spring.
Appropriate grade level(s): First Grade to Fifth Grade
Summary: Song of the Water Boatman discusses all of the diverse life in ponds and how they coincide together. The poems are about an aspect of the pond and then at the side of the poem is factual information about that aspect.
My review: Song of the Water Boatman introduces students to the different aspects of ponds and how nature works as a whole. I thought it was a great idea to have interesting facts about each aspect of the pond next to its coinciding poem. The Illustrations painted a picture of pond life and made it come to life.
1-2 Possible in-class uses: Song of the Water Boatman is a great book to incorporate during science lessons and when discussing how animals live in the same habitats. I also think this book is a good book to read once the weather starts to get warmer because some of the poems are about ponds in the spring.
October 2, 2015
Song of the Water Boatman explores a pond through artistic expression. Joyce Sidman’s words examines the living things in and around a pond. From algae to a nymph to a frog to a turtle, her words give the personalities to all of the pond’s inhabitants and will make you look at a pond differently the next time you visit one. From cover to cover, Beckie Prange’s illustrations bring you into the pond’s world and gives the feeling that you are actually there. Together, they create a world that you can get lost in. Each page gives detailed information about the plant, animal or insect of the poem, which makes it a great introduction to the pond ecosystem. Along with the glossary at the end of the book, students can explore each organism further and create their own art based on the poems. This would be a great book for 1-3 graders.
November 16, 2017
Summary
A book of poetry. Frogs, beetles, the food chain, and even a dragonfly are in the spotlight of this book. From the start of Spring until the end of Autumn the reader gains insight into the world of a pond.
Evaluation
I gave this book of pond poems five stars. It was fun and informational. It contained poems about all things you find in a pond, as well as different kinds of poems. It would be an enjoyable way to connect reading and science.
Teaching Point
I would use this book of poems to integrate literature and science. The book has sidebars that explain the animals and other pond aspects in the poems. This would be a fun and engaging way for students to learn about this content.
A book of poetry. Frogs, beetles, the food chain, and even a dragonfly are in the spotlight of this book. From the start of Spring until the end of Autumn the reader gains insight into the world of a pond.
Evaluation
I gave this book of pond poems five stars. It was fun and informational. It contained poems about all things you find in a pond, as well as different kinds of poems. It would be an enjoyable way to connect reading and science.
Teaching Point
I would use this book of poems to integrate literature and science. The book has sidebars that explain the animals and other pond aspects in the poems. This would be a fun and engaging way for students to learn about this content.
September 11, 2018
Summary
The book Song of the Water Boatman is a book mixed with poems and Non-fiction information about the poem. For example, on the first page the book had a small poem about ducks. On the next page the book explained to the reader some facts about that kind of duck. The text goes on to do the same thing with different animals or insects.
Opinion
I loved the approach the author took while writing this lesson. The pictures are wonderful and the content is very rich. Though the information is a little high, I do believe that a teacher can lower it to the learning level of her students.
Teaching Idea
This book could be used grades K-5. When I read it I thought it would be great as a read aloud at the end of the day or in between classes.
The book Song of the Water Boatman is a book mixed with poems and Non-fiction information about the poem. For example, on the first page the book had a small poem about ducks. On the next page the book explained to the reader some facts about that kind of duck. The text goes on to do the same thing with different animals or insects.
Opinion
I loved the approach the author took while writing this lesson. The pictures are wonderful and the content is very rich. Though the information is a little high, I do believe that a teacher can lower it to the learning level of her students.
Teaching Idea
This book could be used grades K-5. When I read it I thought it would be great as a read aloud at the end of the day or in between classes.
July 18, 2012
This book won a 2006 Caldecott honor award. Honestly, I didn't think much of this book from the cover, but the book itself is genius. The author created these fantastic nature poems about insects, birds, amphibians and other pond creatures. They are paired with these absolutely gorgeous woodcut and watercolor illustrations. Each poem has a scientific explanation about the creature featured in the poem and there is an index of scientific terms in the back of the book. I believe that this book or "Zen Shorts" should've won the Caldecott Award that year. Highly recommended for ages 7-11, 5 stars.
July 7, 2008
I loved this! Not only are the poems and illustrations great, but each poem is paired with a fascinating informational paragraph. I had never heard of the microscopic water bear. Did you know that it can live for decades out of water in a shriveled-up barrel shape until it is blown back into some water? Then it swells up again and resumes its normal life as a water bear!
August 28, 2019
This wonderfully illustrated book collects a variety of poems about pond life, both plant and animal. The titular poem, which contrasts the lives of two similar-looking water insects, brought back memories of the time I caught a backswimmer bug in a public swimming pool and experienced a nasty bite (I had mistaken it for a much more peaceful water boatman).
October 18, 2017
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman is a picture book of poems focused around pond life and animals. The poems focus on a pond's living creatures, but they also discuss hibernation, the food chain, and the circle of life. The author also includes bits of factual information connected to each poem. Each poem has its own unique title and there is even a glossary at the end, depicting more challenging words.
This Caldecott-award-winning poetry picture book is designed so that the reader learns fascinating facts while reading poetry. What's cool about this picture book is that its content can grasp the attention of both a younger and older audience because of the science intertwined within it. The book's illustrations are painted in an up-close fashion, making the reader feel like part of the pond life. The text's poetic language is intimate and the bold artwork makes the reader eager to look at it. The paragraphs full of bits of factual information are on the page opposite to the poem they correspond to. The pages are laid out on a two page spread so that the reader always feels involved with the text and art presented.
This Caldecott-award-winning poetry picture book is designed so that the reader learns fascinating facts while reading poetry. What's cool about this picture book is that its content can grasp the attention of both a younger and older audience because of the science intertwined within it. The book's illustrations are painted in an up-close fashion, making the reader feel like part of the pond life. The text's poetic language is intimate and the bold artwork makes the reader eager to look at it. The paragraphs full of bits of factual information are on the page opposite to the poem they correspond to. The pages are laid out on a two page spread so that the reader always feels involved with the text and art presented.
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