Genre 3 - BUTTERFLY EYES and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. 2006. BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 061856313

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Joyce Sidman creates a world of science wonder and curiosity by invoking readers to answer her poetry riddles. Following a common pattern throughout the book, the author provides two riddles that ask readers to identify the creature or element being described. Upon turning the page, readers will then be introduced to newfound science knowledge surrounding the meadow and many of the creatures which are its inhabitants. Throughout the book, readers may test their own knowledge, inference skills, and contextual conclusions. The author is sure to provide sound reasoning and explanation to her questions before the back cover closes, leaving no one in the dark and without answers to the questions she poses.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In each of her free verse poems, Sidman highlights a central theme: the meadow. Through figurative language and symbolism, she paints a vivid picture of meadow life. Rhyming is used at times to convey a sense of flow and ease within each poetic phrase. At other times, more conventional speech and patterns are solicited to bring the essence of the poem to the reader. The range of rhythm and rhyming patterns offers just enough variance to keep the reader engaged and wondering what will be next. A sense of anticipation is also created with the questions posed at the end of each poem, leaving the reader to turn the page before discovering the answers. The contrast of poem and informative prose ensures that readers are given clear, meaningful answers to each riddle.

Sidman plays to readers’ senses using language to simulate touch, taste, sound, vision, and smell. The language choice is highly descriptive and it creates the imagery of each of the poems. Upon opening the book and reading the first poem, readers feel as though they have fallen head first into the meadow. The illustrations in the book are incredible representations of the elements and subjects of each poem. However, the illustrations seem to solicit much attention with their vibrant colors and contrastingly bold, black accents. While readers will definitely enjoy the artwork provided, it plays too great a role for a book of poetry. If readers are highly observant, they may find that the answers to many of the author’s questions are drawn into the pages’ illustrations.
A final aid for readers still developing their knowledge of meadowland ecology is the glossary provided in the back of the book. This reference guide ensures that S words are defined and appropriately applied to the context provided in the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This book is a handsome and versatile compendium, melding art, poetry, and natural history.”
Review in BOOKLIST: “The poetry draws children straight into an awe-inspiring natural world with infectious sounds and beats, inventive images, and a range of poetic styles that make the book an excellent choice for use across the curriculum.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*See if students can create their own poetic riddles, or create one as a group.
*Together read BUTTERFLY EYES to determine the answer to each riddle posed.
*Use BUTTERFLY EYES to introduce science lessons about meadowland ecology. The book could be broken down into various lessons with the poems/riddles used as anticipatory sets and the prose sections serving as a jumping-off point for lecture/instruction.