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Echoes for the Eye / What a Wonderful World
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 11:31:09 -0500
One of the books I frequently bring to the attention of friends of all ages is
"Echoes for the Eye: Poems to Celebrate Patterns in Nature" written by Barbara Juster Esbensen with artwork by Helen K. Davie (HarperCollins, 1996).
Here's how "Echoes for the Eye" was described in the publication CCBC Choices 1996 -
"A hurricane's spiral. The branches of veins in a hand. The circle of a curled up fawn, a sleeping bear, and the orbit of the earth which marks passing time. Twenty-five poems arranged in sections titled Spirals, Branches, Polygons, Meanders and Circles look at nature through Barbara Juster Esbensen's keen and patient eye, exposing its secrets as well as the strength and wonder of words to young readers. Helen K. Davie's full-page illustrations help mark the transition from one untitled poem to the next, while at the same time they provide a significant yet subtle backdrop for the text."
Carolyn Phelan reviewed "Echoes for the Eye" Booklist (5/1/1996). She pointed out Esbensen's note referring to the "mathematical formulation known as the Fibonacci series that can be observed in nature, such as in the spiral rows of sunflower seeds." Phelan observed that "this leads into a poem and painting of sunflowers, grouped with pages featuring other spirals such as ferns, hurricanes, tornadoes, nautilus shells, and galaxies. Branches are also explored in verse and illustrations, and include tree branches and roots, leaf veins, blood veins, and lightning ... geometry in nature."
To my eyes and ears, Barbara Juster Esbensen got it right. Perfectly. Esbensen's words and Davie's artwork offer examples of the miraculous ways the small worlds within our marvelous planet consistently reiterate patterns.
Ashley Bryan got it perfectly right, too. His inspired paintings accompanying Weiss
& Thiele's lyrics for "What a Wonderful World" suggest a world concept (A Jean Karl Book / Atheneum, 1995) and are a marvelous complement to "Echoes for the Eye."
I reflect upon what I gained from each book almost every time I'm outside. They accomplish so much by showing (not telling) how certain science concepts are ever so wondrous.
On a practical level I wonder about something else, as well. I wonder if it's possible to bring Esbensen & Davie's "Echoes for the Eye" back into print, so we can buy this fine book time and again as a gift for children, families and adult friends
- and to keep Bryan's "What a Wonderful World" in print for the same reason...
Peace, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 08 Jul 2005 11:31:09 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 11:31:09 -0500
One of the books I frequently bring to the attention of friends of all ages is
"Echoes for the Eye: Poems to Celebrate Patterns in Nature" written by Barbara Juster Esbensen with artwork by Helen K. Davie (HarperCollins, 1996).
Here's how "Echoes for the Eye" was described in the publication CCBC Choices 1996 -
"A hurricane's spiral. The branches of veins in a hand. The circle of a curled up fawn, a sleeping bear, and the orbit of the earth which marks passing time. Twenty-five poems arranged in sections titled Spirals, Branches, Polygons, Meanders and Circles look at nature through Barbara Juster Esbensen's keen and patient eye, exposing its secrets as well as the strength and wonder of words to young readers. Helen K. Davie's full-page illustrations help mark the transition from one untitled poem to the next, while at the same time they provide a significant yet subtle backdrop for the text."
Carolyn Phelan reviewed "Echoes for the Eye" Booklist (5/1/1996). She pointed out Esbensen's note referring to the "mathematical formulation known as the Fibonacci series that can be observed in nature, such as in the spiral rows of sunflower seeds." Phelan observed that "this leads into a poem and painting of sunflowers, grouped with pages featuring other spirals such as ferns, hurricanes, tornadoes, nautilus shells, and galaxies. Branches are also explored in verse and illustrations, and include tree branches and roots, leaf veins, blood veins, and lightning ... geometry in nature."
To my eyes and ears, Barbara Juster Esbensen got it right. Perfectly. Esbensen's words and Davie's artwork offer examples of the miraculous ways the small worlds within our marvelous planet consistently reiterate patterns.
Ashley Bryan got it perfectly right, too. His inspired paintings accompanying Weiss
& Thiele's lyrics for "What a Wonderful World" suggest a world concept (A Jean Karl Book / Atheneum, 1995) and are a marvelous complement to "Echoes for the Eye."
I reflect upon what I gained from each book almost every time I'm outside. They accomplish so much by showing (not telling) how certain science concepts are ever so wondrous.
On a practical level I wonder about something else, as well. I wonder if it's possible to bring Esbensen & Davie's "Echoes for the Eye" back into print, so we can buy this fine book time and again as a gift for children, families and adult friends
- and to keep Bryan's "What a Wonderful World" in print for the same reason...
Peace, Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 08 Jul 2005 11:31:09 AM CDT
