Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors is a recipient of the Caldecott Honor in 2010 and was written by award-winning poet Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarensk. This children's picture book is about the four seasons and the many colors that are associated with each one. Ocean blue in the summer, black echos in winter, and red cardinals that return in spring. This is a circular story written in poetic prose that teaches children about how the four seasons are connected with objects, feelings, smells and sights that come back around every year. 

This book is a great tool to use when teaching about colors or the seasons, and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Something that can be a helpful strategy when learning new vocabulary words or content words, such as the four seasons, is to illustrate the word with visual descriptions that correlate with that word. For example, students can write the word "Winter" in letters that look like blocks of ice, snowflakes, hot coco, etc to make comprehension more attainable. Or the word "Spring" with cherry blossoms and green leaves. This story is also available in Princess Anne Library's online audiobook library, which is a great alternative to having students silently read. While the story is being read aloud on the computer, students might even use some kinesthetic learning by standing up and mimicking the words and actions in the story, such as "low bending branch" (children would bend down low and sweep their arms around like branches).

Sidman, J. (2009). Red sings from treetops: A year in colors. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.