Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)

by Joyce Sidman

Other authorsBeckie Prange (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2005

Description

A collection of poems that provide a look at some of the animals, insects, and plants that are found in ponds, with accompanying information about each.

Status

Available

Call number

811.54

Collection

Publication

HMH Books for Young Readers (2005), Edition: 0, Hardcover, 32 pages

User reviews

LibraryThing member bekstrom
This book is a compilation of poetry. It is also informational because on each page with each poem is a discription of the animal. They are written to purposely express feelings, ideas, and emotions through the use of sound, rhythm, and various patterns. They are shorter in nature. The style of
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this book incorperates a lot of imagery, similies, metaphors, and rhythm. The discriptive language used helps paint a picture in the students mind. I would use this book in an intermediate classroom. The type of media used are colored woodcuts.
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LibraryThing member pjw1173
This is the third Sidman book, or is it the fourth, that I bought this year on Amazon. The book blends poems and non fiction to make a fun book for both my classroom library and for me to use as a mentor text. This book focuses on the organisms that live in a pond.
LibraryThing member KSueMcDonald
This book is a compiliation of poems about water wildlife. It contains a variety of poems and a variety of literary elements such as simile and metaphor used. The illustrations are very abstractly drawn woodcuts but they are very good illustrations for the poems they represent. Another good thing
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about this book is that on every page there is information about some type of water wildlife.
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LibraryThing member rdelamatre
A collection of nature poems that combines beautiful illustrations, different kinds of word play, and scientific facts. Most poems have a specific creature as the focus, though some like "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" talk about systems such as the food chain. (This poem would be a great class
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read-aloud, since each verse builds on and adds to the previous.) Each poem has a sidebar of facts about the subject of the poem.
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LibraryThing member teacherliz
Wow!!! I love this book!!! (Sorry, that's not a very academic start but I couldn't help myself. Now onto the official stuff...)

Each double-page has a poem and a non-fiction piece to match, along with an incredible woodcut illustration - all around the theme of ponds.

Caldecott Honor Book 2006, BCCB
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Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award 2005.

This could obviously be used in a study of pond ecosystems (as in the 4th grade curriculum). Each non-fiction piece gives facts that would enhance students' understanding of the science aspect and help them comprehend the poem. In particular, "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" is a poem about a food chain that is similar to "There was an Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly" in that it starts with one thing eating another and then repeats that but adds one more thing to the food chain.

It could also be used in a study of poetry to show how poetry is connected to real life and how it can help us look at things in a new light. Also in looking at different devices that poets use - repetition, shape, alliteration etc. Sidman uses these beautifully.
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LibraryThing member elizabethwallmacht
Subjects/Content Studies/AASL Standards:
Poetry, Ponds, Pond Animals, Seasons.

4.1.1 Read, view, and listen
for pleasure and
personal growth.
LibraryThing member belindamcdonald
This is a book containing poems that are just about water and the life around the pond.

I like this book because my grandson pointed out to me all the animals in the pictures.

I will use this book to teach along with a poetry unit. I can also use it to teach students about water and it's wildlife.
LibraryThing member braedonsmommy2007
This book is a collection of poetry about water and life in, on, and around bodies of water. The illustrations cover the entire pages and are woodcuts.

I like this book because the illustrations are very beautifully done, and the poems being centered on one subject is a good thing i think.

I would
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use this book in a science unit when it is talking about bodies of water and/or the animals that inhabit those areas. I would also use it in a middle school literature class and have the students break down the poems into categories such as limericks and haikus, then i would have them write their own poem.
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LibraryThing member ms150691
Summary: This book is a collection of poems that describes animal, insects, and plants that live in or around a pond. This book lets students know that ponds have many creatures in their midst. This book also contains information about each animal, insect, and plant that the poems
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describes.

Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed reading this book. I think this book would be a good book for science class in the elementary classrooms. The poems were very vivid and well written. The information given about each creature was intriguing and added to the information of the plants, insects, and/or animal.

Classroom extensions: 1. This book can be used in science lesson that deal with bugs and the life in a pond. It can be read during the lesson, to students to let children see that bugs live in ponds.
2. I can use this book when teaching about the food chain and habitats of insects, plants, and animals. It can be read to students, to let students learn about the lifestyle and habitats of pond creatures.
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LibraryThing member djmeyers
Lucious artwork brought this book about pond life alive for the reader. On each page layout, I enjoyed reading the poem then the accompanying nonfiction information related to the plant or animal being discussed. This method of delivery was effective in creating a sense of wonder at the diversity
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of pond life. I learned a lot concerning this habitat and found myself quite engrossed in the factual information as well as the artwork. The illustrator did a fabulous job with her wood printings and water colors! Her art was very realistic and interesting for the reader. My favorite depiction was that of the Caddis Fly, as the page layout really drew me in. I can see why Elementary Science teachers would choose this book to enhance their curriculum on the wetland habitat.
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LibraryThing member mrcmyoung
Joyce Sidman does it again, bringing mystery and wonder to animals, insects and plants that we might take for granted if she didn't encourage us to look closely and listen carefully. Her beautiful poetry is accompanied by factual information about the subjects, making it a match for both ELA and
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science units.
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LibraryThing member derbygirl
(easy, poetry) Elements of a pond from pond critters to pond plants are described in poetic verse and tied to non fiction entries. This book would be a good oppurtunity to tie poetry in to a science unit.
LibraryThing member DayehSensei
An amazing collection of poems, illustrations, and nonfiction passages about various animals and insects who live in and around ponds. This book, and its follow up (Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow) should be in every elementary science classroom.
LibraryThing member sderby
Joyce Sidman's poems tell the stories of the wildlife around a pond, with biological facts following each poem.
LibraryThing member Alexandra1600
Sidman's poetry stimulates the senses and transforms the reader into an aquatic world of imagery, verse and science!
LibraryThing member theCajunLibrarian
A good book sometimes makes us look at common things in new ways. This book of poems encourages readers to look deeper at nature to find more beauty. The in-depth scientific information about pond animals and their habitats make this an invaluable tool for science instruction.
LibraryThing member rileykoch
Eleven poems -- all uplifting. a wonderful book
LibraryThing member pgreenley
A lovely collection of poems about all the life in a pond, a beautiful way to explore biology and poetry at the same time.
LibraryThing member haldemac
Theme-- pond creatures
A collection of poetry and expository text.
Beautiful block stamp illustrations
LibraryThing member SuPendleton
I love the pairing of nonfiction and poetry. There is a small informational piece on what is being described in verse. The illustrations are beautiful! This is a perfect cross-curriculum type of book. We always visit Jean Lafitte nature park and this would be a good text to read first. I like the
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description/poem about duckweed. There is also a glossary of terms at the back of the book that is very helpful. The book made we want to know more about the water bear.
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LibraryThing member kradish
Again, a lovely book full of poems and explanations about creatures, this time pond animals. Too wordy to read aloud as is, but ripe for plucking bits from for appropriate lessons.
LibraryThing member manich01
This delightful collection of poetry and prose explores the aquatic ecosystem. Masterfully-crafted, lyrics bountiful in sound devices are accompanied by both rich ilustrations and prose providing the science behind the poetry. Use to learn environmental or ecological science, or simply enjoy the
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beauty of the poetry.
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LibraryThing member JanetB2
Beatifully illustrated and written poetry about pond life. Includes informational sidebars about the creatures described.
LibraryThing member kathellenahagen
The story is about a pond and the autumn is a dramatic place. The pond is a quit place and the fish and frog, and the duck go through different changes in life. Its talk about how the animals go their life feeding and living.

personal extension
I enjoyed the story and this was the first time that i
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read this book

extensrion idea
1. Have the kids make a change of life with the animal and how the eat and find food.
2. Have the kids make a frog and a duck and color the animals.
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LibraryThing member stephanie.west
Summary
The book uses poetry/song like writing to talk abut various plants and animals found in or near ponds and the roles they may play.

Personal Reaction
I found the writing style very unique and clever with a chunk of facts followed by a poem to describe the plant or animal. MIT makes for a more
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fun way to learn about a topic rather than just reading straight facts some kids may relate to the poetry better.

Class Extension
1. Discuss and/or create an in classroom ecosystem and the importance of preservation of even the smallest living things.
2. Discuss/chart out a food chain that matches some of the ones you read in the story.
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Language

Original publication date

2005

Physical description

32 p.; 9.5 x 0.25 inches

ISBN

0618135472 / 9780618135479
Page: 0.5437 seconds