sharing the seasons: a book of poems written by lee bennett hopkins and illustrated by david diaz

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems, Illustrated by David Diaz. New York: Magaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781416902102

Critical Analysis:

     Sharing the Seasons is a compilation of poetry that incorporates forty-eight poems based around the conceptual theme of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The author, Lee Bennett Hopkins, arranges these forty-eight poems by subdividing them into each season. Each season includes twelve poems that specifically convey the essence that the specific season entails. Within each poem, Hopkins includes authors who specifically utilizes an unique usage of imagery with his words and descriptions. This form of poetry, descriptive poetry, allows the audience to visualize the season that Hopkins is trying to convey by his constant usage of adjectives and elaborate imagery. 

     Hopkins also collaborates with David Diaz to further strengthen the visualization of each poem. Diaz uses vibrant colors and elaborate airbrushing techniques that bring the poems to life. Specifically, for the season of Autumn, Diaz uses warm colors that directly coincide with the season, such as orange. The color orange is symbolic for energy and change, thus, directly relating to the change that occurs during Autumn. The collaboration between the author and the illustrator provide their audience with a definitive evocation of more than one of the senses. 

Spotlight Poem:

"Spring Sun"

I warm chilly bones of winter

melt snow banks

send ice floes gushing.

I open buds on branches,

stir frozen dirt,

release crocus

from its earthy bed.

When I shine

fiddleheads unfurl

their green frills to spring.

Children throw down their jackets,

jump rope, scoot scooters and 

call through open air

like new robins.

          

         - Elizabeth Upton

Connections:

• Before introducing the poems within this collection, advise children to thoroughly listen to the poem that will be read. After the reading of each poem, have the children guess which season each poem depicts. 
• Choose a poem from each season and during the reading, have children illustrate what it is they hear being read. This exercise will introduce the concept of imagery.