Birches

( 58 )

Overview

Birches beautifully illustrates Frost’s celebrated ability to blend observation, imagination, and poetry. Caldecott medalist Ed Young uses his own powers of observation and imagination to create an extraordinary series of paintings that complement and extend the poem.

An illustrated version of the well-known poem about birch trees and the pleasures of climbing them.

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Birches

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More About This Book

Overview

Birches beautifully illustrates Frost’s celebrated ability to blend observation, imagination, and poetry. Caldecott medalist Ed Young uses his own powers of observation and imagination to create an extraordinary series of paintings that complement and extend the poem.

An illustrated version of the well-known poem about birch trees and the pleasures of climbing them.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
"Emotionally sound and visually arresting, Young's interpretation of Frost's work is one of unqualified beauty," wrote PW. Ages 6-10. (Oct.)
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
On the title page of this work is a rough silhouette of a farm; with this minute touch, Young expresses his affinity, and perhaps affection, for the poet's work and observations. Frost himself makes a dabbled appearance in watercolor in these pages, a white-haired man out strolling with his dog: ``So was I once myself a swinger of birches. / And so I dream of going back to be.'' Done in an impressionistic style, these paintingswith shadows darting like children among the birchesrepresent the recalled images of memory rather than concrete images of nature. This, too, seems a close representation of the poem's meaning. A final bittersweet spread reveals that the walker in the woods has gone on, leaving only tracks through the snow and his dog looking after him. Emotionally sound and visually arresting, Young's interpretation of Frost's work is one of unqualified beauty. Ages 6-10. (August)
School Library Journal
Gr 3 Up Frost's spare phrases conjure up vividly concrete mental pictures which are not reflected in Young's lovely, but often abstracted and incongruent, watercolors. In double-page spreads above the cream band that contains the few lines of text per page, Young's flowing atmospheric washes catch the New England landscape in all seasons and moods, but neither their sweeps and splotches nor their impressionistic shapes that blur into precision get across that crucial central image of the bend of those trees toward earth. Their perspective is sophisticated and does convey something of the climb and descent imagery, but as a whole, the paintings provide a musical background rather than illumination of the poem. A literal interpretation isn't necessary, or perhaps even desirable, but there should be some congruence between art and text; and these softly frenzied abstractions tend to be disconcerting and dissonant. The full-color (but with an autumnal cast) pictures stand back; while adults may appreciate the non-interference with the text, children will find it distancing. The complete poem is reprinted at the end of the book, offering an intriguing contrast to seeing it page by page and illustrated. A Swinger of Birches (Stemmer House, 1982), a collection of 38 Frost poems for young people, illustrated by Peter Koeppen, is much less dramatic artistically, but a better straightforward introduction to the poetry. Susan Jeffers' illustrations for the picture book edition of ``Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'' (Dutton, 1978) offer a better example of expansion of the text without contradiction or confusion. Nancy Palmer, The Little School, Bellevue, Wash.
From the Publisher

"The beautifully composed illustrations ... neither overwhelm nor attempt to explicate the superbly stated text; in their own way the paintings parallel the poetic experience." --The Horn Book
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780805072303
  • Publisher: Square Fish
  • Publication date: 10/28/2002
  • Edition description: Revised
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 408,573
  • Age range: 6 - 10 Years
  • Product dimensions: 7.46 (w) x 9.75 (h) x 0.09 (d)

Meet the Author

Robert Frost (1874–1963) is this country’s best-loved poet. His work epitomizes the American affinity for plain speaking, nature, and the land.

Ed Young was born in China and spent his childhood in Shanghai. The illustrator of many books for children, he has received numerous awards, including a Caldecott Honor. Ed Young lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Ted Rand has illustrated many books for children, including Knots on a Counting Rope, Here Are My Hands, and Barn Dance! He and his wife, writer Gloria Rand, live on Mercer Island in Washington State.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 58 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(44)

4 Star

(6)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(4)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 58 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 19, 2012

    Hello

    Hello my name is scarclaw im a queen with 4 kits there are all males and ther names are bramblekit, icekit, strongkit, and lionkit. I would like to join. I used to be a medicencat but now i am a warrior. I was from a clan that tryed to kill my kits when they were born

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 7, 2013

    Flamestar

    Man this clan is disorganied

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 3, 2013

    Fish tail

    Gets kit and takes it to hill res one to try to heal it

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 25, 2013

    Hawkwing

    1. Fireheart 2. I have no idea 3. Stonefur, Mistyfoot, and Mosskit who died in the snow.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 26, 2013

    Halkwing follow up lionblazes power is invincibility.

    Tell halkwing that spacekit was here.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 25, 2013

    Silversparkle

    A light brown she cat pads in. "My name is Silversparkle. May I join as deputy?''

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2013

    Fierceheart

    * a white and black she cat with almost red eyes pads in, her eyes scan the camp and looks for the leader* " I am Fierceheart, and i would like to join as a warrior. " * she looked up to the leader*

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2013

    Garfeild

    "Hey do u guys have ny spare bacon i ate all of mine."

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2013

    River

    o.o

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2013

    Hawkfang

    A fluffy brown tabby she cat walked in "Can I join this clan?" She asked.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2013

    Dhxhyjdsdhdhj

    Vdjsh

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 1, 2013

    FUCKIN CHANGE YOUR NAME

    MY CLANS NAME IS FORESTCLAN NOT YOURS!!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2013

    Duskfur and co.

    She walked in two cats following her "im Duskfur" said a brown she cat "and this is Silverflame" she meowed pointing to a silver she "and that cat is Leafwing" she meowed pointing to a tortishell she "May we join?" ~ Duskfur and co.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 27, 2013

    Trueclan

    Since you answered two of the three questions, and you were the first cat to ask, you may become deputy

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 21, 2012

    A small sick kit walks in slowly

    A sand colores shekit slowly crawls in alone she looks up with her newly opened water blue eyes. She is starving and very sick and needs a mother

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 17, 2012

    Jaguarkit

    Im jaguarkit Im a shekit who looks EXACTLY like lepoardstar except in a tiny version and i have blue eyes. I dont know what color lepoardstars eyes are. May i join? My suggested warrior names are jaguarsoul jaguarheart jaguarshadow jaguarstream jaguarspirit jaguarfate jaguarspeed jaguarlake jaguarlily jaguarspots jaguarleaf jaguarsnow jaguarfall jaguarspring jaguarlight. Those are just suggestions u can pick any name u want. Can i join i need a mommy.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 16, 2012

    To mudstar and lightning star

    Hello i am spottedleaf and am a black shecat with gray spots. I was wondering if i could join duskclan.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 16, 2012

    To all of the cats here READ THIS

    Two cats walked into the camp. "We are here for one reason." One of the said. "We are here for help. We need cats to help us bring down the kitnappers. If you going to help us go to stop second resuot." The other cat said the they both ran away

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2012

    Umm can i join

    Please

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 11, 2012

    Alphamoon

    Helllllo? Does ANYONE ansewer me?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 58 Customer Reviews
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