Turtle in July

Turtle in July presents a collection of poems about animals and their experiences throughout the changing seasons. The text features a range of creatures, from turtles to birds to mammals, each observed during different months of the year. Jerry Pinkney's illustrations accompany Singer's poems, bringing the natural world and its inhabitants to life. The artwork captures the distinct characteristics of each animal as well as the seasonal environments they inhabit. The book earned recognition as one of The New York Times' 10 Best Illustrated Books of 1989 and received the CCBC Choice award. It continues to serve as a resource for both poetry and nature education in classrooms. The poems explore themes of adaptation, survival, and the cyclical nature of time, offering readers a window into the rhythms and patterns of the natural world.

Reader reviews emphasize this poetry collection's vivid seasonal imagery and animal perspectives. Teachers note its usefulness for teaching personification and nature-focused poetry to elementary students. Readers appreciate: - Clear, concrete language that children can understand - Strong illustrations by Jerry Pinkney - Poems that showcase different animal voices - Educational value for poetry units - Length of poems (short enough to hold children's attention) Common criticisms: - Some poems seen as too abstract for youngest readers - Limited appeal beyond classroom use - High price point for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (82 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (11 ratings) One teacher on Goodreads wrote: "Perfect for teaching point of view through poetry." A parent reviewer noted: "My son enjoyed the animal perspectives but struggled with some of the metaphors." The book appears in multiple teacher-created reading lists and poetry curriculum guides.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack Prelutsky A collection of poems celebrates nature and the changing seasons through both playful and contemplative verses.

Winter Poems by Barbara Rogasky The poems in this anthology capture winter's moods through observations of animals, weather, and outdoor activities.

Cricket Songs: Japanese Haiku by Harry Behn These translated haiku focus on small moments in nature and seasonal changes through precise imagery.

A Child's Calendar by John Updike Each month receives a poem that depicts seasonal activities and natural phenomena throughout the year.

All the Small Poems and Fourteen More by Valerie Worth The poems examine everyday objects and natural elements through precise observations and unexpected perspectives.

🌟 Singer has published over 100 children's books during her career, exploring genres from poetry to mystery to non-fiction 🎭 Before becoming a writer, Singer worked as a high school English teacher and trained as a modern dancer 🏆 Her book "Mirror Mirror" revolutionized children's poetry by pioneering "reverso" poems - verses that can be read both forwards and backwards 🎨 This collaboration with illustrator Jerry Pinkney was particularly notable as Pinkney went on to win the Caldecott Medal in 2010 for "The Lion and the Mouse" 📚 The book uniquely combines zoology and poetry, drawing from Singer's background in science - she studied English and Animals at Queens College, City University of NY