Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce (author) and Krommes, Beth (illustrator). BUTTERFLY EYES: AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. 2006. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN: 9780618563135.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Joyce Sidman writes an assortment of poetic riddles about the life and beauty found in the meadow. Topics include the morning dew, the vascular system of plants, and a variety of wildlife, including grasshoppers, deer, fox, and owls to just name a few. Each poem is accompanied by a scientific explanation of the role each of these organisms play in the ecosystem. Throughout the book are scratchboard illustrations created by Beth Krommes. The artwork helps the reader solve the sixteen riddles, as well as complements the natural science descriptions.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS, Joyce Sidman uses a variety of poetic elements in this beautifully written ode to the meadow. The children’s poems are written as riddles, with carefully selected word choices so as to not reveal the answer too soon to the reader. Instead, readers are given clues in both the poems and illustrations before turning the page to discover the answers. Scientific, yet easy to understand descriptions accompany each poem and explain the role the various organisms have in the meadow ecosystem.

Several of the poems use rhyming to capture the essence of the meadow, such as the verse “Sap Song” where Sidman writes “I go up/ I go down/ from the roots/ to the crown.” In terms of rhythm, Sidman varies one poem from the next—sometimes using short lines to create a beat-like feel (“Glaze/daze/itch/twitch/hot/spot”), while in other instances she uses several words per line (“I am deeply sorry for my huge orbs/of eyes, keen and hooded/that pierce your lush/tapestry of meadow”).

Throughout the poems, Sidman also uses words that create a vivid mental image, such as that seen in the “Heavenly” verse: “At high noon/on a midsummer’s day/ when the pavement is steeped in heat/and cicadas are screaming.” Many of the poems will be enjoyed even more when read aloud, such as in “Shhh! They Are Sleeping,” which will delight children when read in a hushed tone. Sidman’s also adds some whimsy to her poetry when she writes several of the verses from the perspective of the creatures, such as in the poems “Apology to My Prey,” “Letter to the Sun” and “Letter to the Rain.”

Readers will not only be captivated by the cleverly written poems, but also by the exquisite illustrations by Beth Krommes. The colorful and detailed scratchboard pictures jump off the pages and capture the beauty of the meadow and its complicated web of life. Environmentalists and poetry lovers will certainly enjoy this collection of nature poems and it will be welcomed in both language arts and science classrooms.


4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• School Library Journal (2006): “This book is a handsome and versatile compendium, melding art, poetry, and natural history.”

• Kirkus Reviews: “Combining striking illustrations, evocative poems that do double duty as riddles and lucid prose commentary, this venture into the natural world stands out for both its beauty and its unusual approach.”

5. CONNECTIONS

• Recommended for children ages 8 to 11

• Have children research a topic related to nature (e.g., an animal, plant, weather, etc.) and cite their sources. Based on the information they find, ask children to write a poem and/or a riddle about their topic.

• In the classroom, BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS may be used both during poetry units, as well as in the science classroom when discussing ecosystems.

• Other children’s poetry books by Joyce Sidman include:
  -Sidman, Joyce (author) and Prange, Beckie (Illustrator). UBIQUITOUS: CELEBRATING NATURE’S SURVIVORS. 2010. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780618717194.
  -Sidman, Joyce (author) and Zagarenski, Pamela (illustrator). RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. 2009. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780547014944.
  -Sidman, Joyce (author) and Zagarenski, Pamela (illustrator). THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. 2007. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780618616800.
  -Sidman, Joyce (author) and Prange, Beckie (illustrator). SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN AND OTHER POND POEMS. 2005. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780618135479.
  -Sidman, Joyce (author) and Swan, Susan (illustrator). JUST US TWO: POEMS ABOUT DADS. 2003. Minneapolis, MA: Lerner Publishing Group. ISBN: 9780761318330.