I've been creating units for kindergarten using picture books to introduce the poetic concepts of rhythm, rhyme, and metaphor. Today I thought I'd write about another picture book that would help in teaching older children about metaphors in poetry: Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski.
By renaming the familiar thing as colors, she gives them a new life. Color becomes a metaphor for all seasons, and I love how in each season the colors mean different things too. She also has a sprinkling of similes in there too.
Sidman's picture book would be a great way of teaching students about metaphors and getting those students thinking about what spring means to them!
I created a brainstorming page for my writing class students to get them thinking in terms of the sights and sounds of spring, much as Sidman had done with all the seasons.
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