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Parents' Guide to

Red Sings from Treetops

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Exquisite poetry and artwork will excite kids of all ages.

Book Joyce Sidman Poetry 2009
Red Sings from Treetops Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

GypsyBelle
GypsyBelle Parent of 18+, 6 and 7-year-old
September 26, 2013
age 4+

Education through poetry and color

color comparison, poetry, seasons. It also let's our children practice critical thinking when we pause and ask them to figure out what the author means when she says a color behaves in a particular way. They figure out that it was worms or ice cubes! It is a mystery and beautiful! One of our favorite books; right up there with The Giving Tree.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

An angular character in a crown and robes strolls through the seasons with her (his?) dog, also wearing a crown. Through spring to summer to fall and winter, they interact with the world around them, noting the changing shades, and roles, of colors as they go. Poetry and artwork combine to tell their story.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This book is exquisite, with poetry and artwork that individually are absolutely amazing. Taken together, the result is even more unbelievable. Colors and seasons have never seemed so interconnected and vibrant. But nothing here really hits you over the head. The message is subtle, creative, and full of song.

Joyce Sidman's poetry is the real deal, not the sing-song kind of rhyme that is sometimes dished out to kids. And Pamela Zagarensi's artwork is clever, alive, intricate, and innovative. This is a perfect pairing, and a unique and beautiful book to keep on your picture book bookshelf forever.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the poems. They'll enjoy reading the poems aloud, and finding the reds, yellows, blues, greens (and other colors) of spring, summer, fall, and winter in words and pictures. How does each poem use both color and the senses to describe each season? For example, in spring red sings, in summer it darts, jags, whispers along fingers, and so on.

  • Can you find the colors in the playful artwork? How do the pictures fit with the poems?

  • Can you create any color poems of your own?

Book Details

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