Poem

Poem

Title: A Child’s Calendar

Author: John Updike

Illustrated: Trina Schart Hyman

Publisher: Holiday House

Date of Publication: The poems were originally written in 1965.  This edition includes illustrations that were done in 1999.

ISBN: 0-8234-1766-2












This book received a Caldecott Honor. It is a book of poems that center around the calendar, in each month of the year there is a separate poem.  There are illustrations that show the change of seasons with each month. 
For January, there is a poem that starts out:  “The days are short, the sun a spark, hung thin between the dark and dark.”  It is a perfect description of January in the northeast.  The picture that accompanies it is a little town covered in snow with children on the top of the hill getting ready to ride down on their sleds.  There is another larger illustration of a cozy house, with a dog and cat curled up.  A little boy is outside the door, looking through the window, all  bundled up for winter.  It gives a nice seasonal feeling of winter.

February there are pictures of children making Valentines, and birds feeding at the feeder. 
For March the pictures show the countryside thawing out, and some crocuses peaking out of the ground.  This is part of the March poem: “Pale crocuses poke through the ground, like noses come to sniff around.”

April shows spring, and this is part of the text for April: “All things renew, all things begin.  At church they bring the lilies in.”

In June; “The sun is rich, and gladly pays in golden hours, silver days.”  There is a picture of two boys in a lake trying to catch a frog. The illustration is made up of several shades of green and it just feels like summer.

In August: “Some people leave the local scene, and go to seaside bungalows, and take off nearly all their clothes.”  There is a scene of a family at the beach.

October shows trick or treat night with kids dressed up in costume.

For October: “Great V’s of geese honk overhead, and maples turn a fiery read.”

November shows leafless trees and families enjoying Thanksgiving. 

Last is December; “Old carols peal, the dusk is dense.  There is a mood of sweet suspense.  The shepherds wait, the kings, the tree - all wait for something yet to be.  Some miracle, and then it’s here, wrapped up in hope - another year!”  That is how the poem ends, with children gazing at a Christmas tree. 

I like this book because the illustrations include people of different races.  The pictures reflect present day looking America and have a modern, yet cozy, look.
 I think these poems are great for children because they are beautifully written and complex, but children can understand them . I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I think this is a great book for elementary school teachers to use when teaching about the months. I  also think a teacher could take this book out the first day of each month and read that month’s poem. What a fun way to celebrate the seasons