Name: Forest Has a Song: Poems
Brand: Books
SKU: 0618843493
Availability: InStock

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-Creatures and plants and the sights and sounds of the forest are described from the perspective of a girl who appears occasionally in this collection of nature poems. Simple watercolor scenes, set on softly washed backgrounds or white space, run above, beneath, below, or alongside each selection, which generally focuses on a specific aspect of forest life. For example, “Moss” reads, “Barefoot on this emerald carpet/toe-by-toe I squish across./I softly sink in velvet green./Oh how I wish for socks of moss.” The girl, other human companions, and her dog encounter chickadees, tree frogs, lady slippers, lichens, and fossils, and these forest experiences span the seasons. The poems are simple, well-shaped, and pleasant for read-aloud sharing. The book is an inviting tour for those who enjoy observing the natural world through poetry.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Bostonα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

VanDerwater’s collection of 26 breezy, accessible poems explores in close-up detail the fascinating microcosm of the forest, from its lush sensory experiences throughout the seasons to its charmingly diverse cast of characters. Playful word choice, effortless rhyming schemes, and simple metaphors and imagery (“Ferny frondy fiddleheads / unfurl curls from dirty beds”) brighten the collection’s quiet, contemplative tone, while personification of many of the subjects, from a courting frog to maple leaves affecting fall color, bring the subjects even closer for young audiences, while still offering kernels of factual information. As with most themed collections of this size, some poems stand out and others less so, but the crisp, bright watercolor illustrations on white backgrounds, which depict a girl and her brother’s ventures into the woods throughout the year, add another layer of distinction to each poem and further express the meaning in the words. Dip into this appealing collection for an introduction to early nature studies or poetry writing, or for generating some well-deserved enthusiasm for a stroll in the great outdoors. –Kristen McKulski

Review

“Children will understand this poetry as the quiet beauty of the forest is given a voice.”
—Children’s Literature

“The imagery is fresh and original; it’s accessible, too….Readers, too, may want to return to these explorations over and over.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The verses are approachable for readers and vivid for readaloud listeners, so this is a title with a broad spread of possible use. Even if there’s no nearby forest, just have kids close their eyes, listen to the poetry, and imagine that there is.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“…an inviting tour for those who enjoy observing the natural world through poetry.”
—School Library Journal

“Moving gracefully through the seasons, newcomer VanDerwater shares a girl’s experience of what the forest has to offer.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Dip into this appealing collection for an introduction to early nature studies or poetry writing, or for generating some well-deserved enthusiasm for a stroll in the great outdoors.”
—Booklist

“With her first book of children’s poetry, Ms. VanDerwater has already arrived. A compendium of lyrical observations, Forest Has a Song includes the earnest marriage proposal of one frog to another, a woodpecker typing his (w)hole poem in a tree, and April waking in a slough of assonants. Teacher alert: This is the perfect companion–and poetry prompt–for an elementary school nature walk.”
—J. Patrick Lewis, Children’s Poet Laureate of the United States

“This book invites the reader into the forest ecosystem with all five senses and a delicious sense of mystery. True science, for me, starts with a personal connection to nature, and I love how the young voice in these poems speaks to all she finds in the woods, asking questions, wondering, pondering. A perfect jumping-off point for further inquiry!”
—Joyce Sidman, Award Winning Children’s Poet

“…an exceptionally beautiful book of poetry filled with whimsical verse and images about the outdoors…”
—Richie Partington, Richie’s Picks

“What a song it is — what lyrics, imagery, rhyme at its finest…The work is in the tradition of past masters such as Myra Cohn Livingston, Lilian Moore, Aileen Fisher…This forest’s song will sing, ring, stay in hearts and minds. Take your readers here.”
—Lee Bennett Hopkins, The Pied Piper of Poetry

“Each poem in FOREST HAS A SONG is a little key to a different door in nature. Each line holds the possibility of opening a child’s imagination and helping him see the delight and mystery in tiny little moments.”
—Barbara Langridge, A Book and a Hug

From the Author

It was a joy to write this book; each poem brought me to the woods of my childhood and took me to the Adirondacks where our family walks barefoot on moss. Over and over, I hiked behind our home, studying Forest in tree, bird, plant, and furry creature. I listened, and I imagined. Then, I wrote and revised, reliving each season again.

I was and am delighted with Robbin Gourley’s warm illustrations of a girl and her brother exploring their own woods, full of curiosity, wonder, and a sense of freedom. Such time with nature changes us, and I hope that all parents and teachers will make time to bring children beyond their own backyards, to discover the mysteries of our beautiful and fragile world.

From the Inside Flap

Take a walk in the forest. Have a chat with a chickadee, watch the fiddleheads unfurl, discover a fossil, hear what a young owl tells its mother before its first flight. Find out what the spring tree frog is really saying:

Marry me.

Please marry me….

Pick me now.

make me your choice.

I’m one great frog

with one strong voice.

The forest is inviting you to come and visit. The poems in this book, intimate and lighthearted, will take you there.

About the Author

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is author of children’s poetry books FOREST HAS A SONG (Clarion, 2013), READING TIME (Boyds Mills Press, TBA), WITH MY HANDS (Clarion, TBA), EVERY DAY BIRDS (Scholastic, TBA),and another suprise picture book, yet to be announced. She is also co-author, with Lucy Calkins and Stephanie Parsons, of POETRY: BIG THOUGHTS IN SMALL PACKAGES (Heinemann, 2013). Amy has a master of arts in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, and she currently works in schools throughout the United States, teaching teachers about writing workshops, studying literature, and conferring with students. Amy lives on a farm in Holland, New York with her husband, their three children, lots of animals, and plenty of books. She blogs at The Poem Farm and Sharing Our Notebooks.