A Child's Calendar (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator), 2000) A Child's Calendar (Caldecott Honor Book (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

letter day for poetry lovers. Each month receives its due in shiveringly lovely verse while Hyman's brightly populated watercolors trace the corresponding activities of a lively Vermont family. The interplay of text and art has both depth and beauty. The language and illustrations are not merely pretty or ornamentally descriptive, but vibrantly aliveAenough to keep young readers occupied through more than one reading. Crisp images from the poems are amplified or buried like treasures in the artwork. In March, "Pale crocuses/ Poke through the ground/ Like noses come/ To sniff around," while the family is pictured tending the sheep that likewise burrow their noses into waiting hands. Familiar things are made new with the grace and freshness of Updike's simple and accessible imagery. In June, for example, "The live-long light/ Is like a dream,/ And freckles come/ Like flies to cream." A breathtaking book that will unfold the world to new readers: "each flower, leaf,/ And blade of turfA/ Small love-notes sent/ From air to earth." Ages 4-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3–John Updike reads each of his 12 poems celebrating everyday life month by month (Holiday House, 1999) at a deliberate, measured pace. Background music plays lightly, changing with each piece to reflect the season, month, holiday, etc. that is being presented. Appropriate sound effects such as crunching snow and geese honking add texture to the even reading. The accompanying book features colorful watercolor illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman portraying the activities of a multiracial Vermont family. The slow-paced narration has little inflection and may not hold the interest of the youngest children. This read-along is a good way to introduce poetry and teach the months of the year.—Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823414450
• ISBN-13: 978-0823414451
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #302,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #23 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( H ) > Hyman, Trina Schart
  #92 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Weather > Nonfiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dandy eye and word candy, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

Updike creates a poem and word picture that accurately and wonderfully describes each month of the year. His short, simple poems are packed full of words and imagines that conjure up seasons and holidays, emotions and activities throughout the year. Hyman's illustrations are an added bonus, as she brings each month to life through the eyes of a family and their friends. I highly recommend this one. It's beautiful.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vivid, Visual Introduction to Poetic Imagery, April 6, 2001

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Today, many children only know about poetry from Dr. Seuss. A Child's Calendar is a rich introduction to the imagery of poetry that has entranced all who listen since the days of wandering story tellers and shamen. In this volume, classic New England situations and events are beautifully illustrated in warm, heavily inked water colors showing beautiful brown and pink faces amid nature's wonders. Although no one would buy this volume solely for the poetry, the resulting book of illustrated verses makes for the raw material for a garden of happy memories tended by reading to your child (or grandchild) and listening while she or he learns to read to you.

Each month is featured, beginning with January, with a brief poem and two beautiful illustrations spread over two pages. The illustrations are clearly well deserving of the Caldecott Honor.

I found some of the imagery particularly meaningful, and these lines are included below:

January -- "The sun a spark/Hung thin between/The dark and dark."

February -- "And snapping, snipping/Scissors run/To cut out hearts."

March -- "The timid earth/Decides to thaw."

April -- "All things renew./All things begin."

May -- "And Daddy may/Get out his hoe/To plant tomatoes/In a row."

June -- "In golden hours,/Silver days."

July -- "Bang-bang! Ka-boom!"

August -- "The pavement wears/Popsicle stains."

September -- "The breezes taste of apple peel."

October -- "Frost bites the lawn."

November -- "The ground is hard,/As hard as stone."

December -- "We were fat penguins,/Warm and stiff."

The subjects of sun, earth, plants, animals, and change recur in almost each poem.

One of the charms of this book is that it makes the harsh weather interesting and appealing, helping a child understand the balanced nature of the year and his or her role in that balance. For someone who lives in a warm climate year round this book will seem very magical.

After you have finished enjoying the book, I suggest that you and your child partner discuss other cycles that she or he has noticed. You could talk about the daily cycle of the sun, the monthly cycle of the moon, the twice daily tides, or even three meals a day. Young people often have trouble developing a perception of context for what is going on around them. This book and your discussions can help. You will also encourage someone who may want to write some poetry. If so, why not start with January and describe what is happening where you live?

See and hear the most in the beauty around you! Capture it for others to enjoy!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dandy Eye and Word Candy, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

Updike creates a poem and word picture that accurately and wonderfully describes each month of the year. His short, simple poems are packed full of words and imagines that conjure up seasons and holidays, emotions and activities throughout the year. Hyman's illustrations are an added bonus, as she brings each month to life through the eyes of a family and their friends. I highly recommend this one -- it's beautiful