Dark Emperor
Bibliography
Sidman, J., & Allen, R. (2010). Dark emperor: & other poems of the night [Audiobook]. Boston Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Plot Summary
A collection of poems that celebrate the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night and describes the many things that hide in the dark.
Critical Analysis
This collection of poems about life in the darkness was a refreshing way to learn interesting facts. Many of the poems were filled with rhyme and repetition that kept me intrigued to learn more. Sidman has a way with words that creates rich imagery throughout the collection. And the beat of the poems with figurative language throughout helps carry them with fluidity.
Included with each poem is a short note on the featured creature, explaining its appearance and habits. The fun delivery of informational text will keep kids captivated and wanting to learn more. It would be a great addition to any class across many curriculum.
Review Excerpt
Booklist starred (June 1, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 19))
The thrilling title poem captures the drama of predator and prey: a mouse in the undergrowth flees an owl’s “hooked face and / hungry eye.” A final glossary concludes this excellent, cross-curricular title.
School Library Journal (August 1, 2010)
The bookmaking is beautiful with the concept of night lending itself generously to poetry. It invites lingering enjoyment for nature and poetry fans, and, as with Sidman's earlier collections, it might be used with varied curriculum.
Publishers Weekly (August 9, 2010)
In Sidman's delicious poems, darkness is the norm, and there's nothing to fear but the rising sun.
Awards
· ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011
· Booklist starred, 06/15/10
· Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred, 09/01/10
· Christian Library Journal, 04/01/11
· Horn Book Magazine starred, 09/01/10
· Newbery Honor, 2011
· Publishers Weekly starred, 08/09/10
· Science Books & Films (AAAS), 01/01/12
· Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
Connections
• Learning about night creatures: Most of these creatures are familiar to children. Take a moment to ask them what they know about each creature before reading the poem. Then follow the poem with the nonfiction note. Did they learn anything new?
• Read “Night-Spider’s Advice” with students. Discuss favorite words or phrases, then ask your students to pick out “clues” that this poem was written in the voice of a spider.
• Create and advice poem: Let each student choose their own subject—something he or she knows a lot about: how to make cookies, how to score a soccer goal, how to float on your back. Have them include not only instructions, but also phrases that describe why they love this activity (the “delicious chewy nuggets of dough,” the “whoosh of the soccer ball”), or how this activity relates to life in general (“if you don’t hustle, you’ll never touch the ball”).
• Raccoon Hands and Mouse Ears: have students practice searching for “food” in buckets of water, much like raccoons. Blindfolded, they grab “food” and try to guess what the objects are; Mice rely on their excellent hearing to avoid predators like the owls. 1. Have each student sit somewhere in the classroom, with a piece of paper and a pencil. 2. Ask them to shut their eyes and listen carefully. How many different noises can they hear? What do they think each noise is? Have them write down as many noises as they can, trying to describe and identify each one. 3. Discussion: compare noises heard; perhaps write them on the board. 4. Then ask them: if they were mice, lost in the classroom, which would be important noises for them to identify? How could they escape using just their hearing?
Sidman, J., & Allen, R. (2010). Dark emperor: & other poems of the night [Audiobook]. Boston Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Plot Summary
A collection of poems that celebrate the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night and describes the many things that hide in the dark.
Critical Analysis
This collection of poems about life in the darkness was a refreshing way to learn interesting facts. Many of the poems were filled with rhyme and repetition that kept me intrigued to learn more. Sidman has a way with words that creates rich imagery throughout the collection. And the beat of the poems with figurative language throughout helps carry them with fluidity.
Included with each poem is a short note on the featured creature, explaining its appearance and habits. The fun delivery of informational text will keep kids captivated and wanting to learn more. It would be a great addition to any class across many curriculum.
Review Excerpt
Booklist starred (June 1, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 19))
The thrilling title poem captures the drama of predator and prey: a mouse in the undergrowth flees an owl’s “hooked face and / hungry eye.” A final glossary concludes this excellent, cross-curricular title.
School Library Journal (August 1, 2010)
The bookmaking is beautiful with the concept of night lending itself generously to poetry. It invites lingering enjoyment for nature and poetry fans, and, as with Sidman's earlier collections, it might be used with varied curriculum.
Publishers Weekly (August 9, 2010)
In Sidman's delicious poems, darkness is the norm, and there's nothing to fear but the rising sun.
Awards
· ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011
· Booklist starred, 06/15/10
· Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred, 09/01/10
· Christian Library Journal, 04/01/11
· Horn Book Magazine starred, 09/01/10
· Newbery Honor, 2011
· Publishers Weekly starred, 08/09/10
· Science Books & Films (AAAS), 01/01/12
· Wilson's Children, 10/01/10
Connections
• Learning about night creatures: Most of these creatures are familiar to children. Take a moment to ask them what they know about each creature before reading the poem. Then follow the poem with the nonfiction note. Did they learn anything new?
• Read “Night-Spider’s Advice” with students. Discuss favorite words or phrases, then ask your students to pick out “clues” that this poem was written in the voice of a spider.
• Create and advice poem: Let each student choose their own subject—something he or she knows a lot about: how to make cookies, how to score a soccer goal, how to float on your back. Have them include not only instructions, but also phrases that describe why they love this activity (the “delicious chewy nuggets of dough,” the “whoosh of the soccer ball”), or how this activity relates to life in general (“if you don’t hustle, you’ll never touch the ball”).
• Raccoon Hands and Mouse Ears: have students practice searching for “food” in buckets of water, much like raccoons. Blindfolded, they grab “food” and try to guess what the objects are; Mice rely on their excellent hearing to avoid predators like the owls. 1. Have each student sit somewhere in the classroom, with a piece of paper and a pencil. 2. Ask them to shut their eyes and listen carefully. How many different noises can they hear? What do they think each noise is? Have them write down as many noises as they can, trying to describe and identify each one. 3. Discussion: compare noises heard; perhaps write them on the board. 4. Then ask them: if they were mice, lost in the classroom, which would be important noises for them to identify? How could they escape using just their hearing?
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