What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Sidman Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0544106164 | Format: PDF
What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings Description
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Newbery Honor winner Sidman and Caldecott Honor winner Zagarenski once again join together to create a beautiful and meaningful book. Sidman tells readers in her introduction that chanting, blessing, lamenting, and cursing are as old as human history. Her poetic offerings will touch today’s readers, whose feelings and fears are remarkably similar to those of our ancestors. This slim volume is divided into four parts: “Chants and Charms” (“to bolster courage and guard against evil”) uses repetition in both a chant about repairing a friendship and a charm against the dark. “Spells and Invocations” (“to cause something to happen”) ranges from the practical—finding lost items—to the improbable—asking time to speed up or slow down. The sadder “Laments and Remembrances” (“to remember, regret, or grieve”) brings readers close to the bone with ruminations about illness, death, and loss. “Praise Songs and Blessings” (“to celebrate, thank, or express love”) ends the book on a high note. And while not every celebration might seem of the highest order—for instance, “Blessing on the Curl of a Cat”—the words make you see things differently. If pictures can be poetic, then Zagarenski’s surely are. Her signature stylized mixed-media pictures can be intricately designed, but some are spare: a teddy bear and a crown hugging the bottom of a tall page. An evocative book that pulls readers to a special place—their hearts. Grades 7-12. --Ilene Cooper
Review
"Poems of bravery, love, heartbreak, justice, and peace unite to offer readers of all ages solace, inspiration, and strength."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Profound, lushly illustrated poems explore some of life's more trying moments. . . . A winning combination of word and image sure to challenge readers both to contemplate big subjects and to act."
—Kirkus, starred review
"An evocative book that pulls readers to a special place--their hearts."
—Booklist, starred review
"Readers just edging toward adult poetry and those filling their notebooks with their own lyrics will find this elegant little title perfect for poetic dreams."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Poetry fans will savor the wordplay and whimsy, as teachers appreciate both its craft and wide appeal. Poetry fans will savor the wordplay and whimsy, as teachers appreciate both its craft and wide appeal."
—School Library Journal
"Each poem speaks directly from Sidman's heart to the reader's, addressing subjects of deep importance . . . Zagarenski's illustrations beautifully extend the poems with her dreamy style and deft use of white space, symbolism, and images from Sidman's text."
—The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
See all Editorial Reviews
- Age Range: 12 and up
- Grade Level: 7 and up
- Hardcover: 80 pages
- Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (October 8, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0544106164
- ISBN-13: 978-0544106161
- Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
- Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
"We may no longer believe that words can make crops grow, prevent illness, or keep rivers from flooding. But we still believe in the power of words themselves. Why else would we pray, sing, or write? Finding phrases to match the emotion inside us still brings an explosive, soaring joy."
There have been many titles I have considered posting.
And, then. . .yesterday morning, a book dropped on my front porch. I had been waiting for it with great expectation.
And I was moved beyond consideration of posting about this book.
I was compelled to. . .
And this is that share.
Joyce Sidman has given us a number of collections to celebrate in the past ten years. Whether it has been the wonder of the meadow (BUTTERFLY EYES), the world found in a pond (SONG OF THE WATERBOATMAN), or the "who" of creativity and innovation (EURKEKA! POEMS ABOUT INVENTORS), Sidman is a go-to poet for younger readers for her special treatment of non-fiction subjects.
One begins to sense how special WHAT THE HEART KNOWS with just a quick glance of the cover art. Pamela Zagerenski is the 2013 Caldecott Award winner for her work in SLEEP LIKE A TIGER. Zagerenski early or otherly-world figures walk on wheels and keep their hands tucked inside of buckets rendered like hearts for the sprinklings of wonder and magic. They shine in their heart places. They reach out to other figures in companionship. They hold up bowls to catch a single drop of rain. They ride upon roosters and they protect the sanctity of special boxes that must contain all of the secrets of a world of wonder until they are ready to be opened.
Each illustration is wonderfully-paired with the piece it accompanies.
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