bees, snails, and peacock tails: Patterns & Shapes...Naturally by Betsy Franco

Bibliography
Franco, Betsy. (2008). BEES, SNAILS, AND PEACOCK TAILS:  PATTERNS & SHAPES. . . NATURALLY.  Ill. by Steve Jenkins.  NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.  ISBN 13978416903864

Plot Summary
In this fascinating collection of poetry, Franco draws the reader’s attention to a wide variety of shapes and patterns that occur in nature.  Gathering a diverse group of interesting creatures which includes bees, spiders, starfish, and snakes, she incorporates lively text to highlight the unique repetitions found in their physical appearance or the geometrical shapes they create.  The bold artwork created by Caldecott Honor Medalist Steve Jenkins adds extraordinary visual appeal.  

Critical Analysis
While the striking collage of a peacock spreading his glorious tail feathers on the cover of the book momentarily steals the show, readers soon discover that illustrations merge beautifully with text to create a memorable reading experience.  With vibrant colors and hand-made paper designs, Jenkins creates rich panoramic double-page spreads.  His distinctive cutwork produces a three-dimensional effect that highlights these creatures, their habits, and their habitats.  In the opening poem about “the mathematical genius of the bee,” readers are greeted with a larger-than-life honeycomb which shows the hexagonal shapes hidden inside.  To emphasize the distinctive symmetry of the moth’s wings, Jenkins covers both pages entirely in black.  Then he places one huge multicolored moth on one page, while its smaller friends flitter around a candle on the facing page.  The effect is truly spectacular. 

After a moment or two to enjoy such eye-catching illustrations, readers will begin to notice Franco’s unique poetic style.  She cleverly arranges each poem so that it blends perfectly into the picture which adds dramatic flair to the entire presentation.  In the poem about the ants, for example, the lines in each stanza are longer than in previous poems and are placed in pairs.  This imitates the lines that soldiers make when they are marching in columns.   In another instance, she encircles the puffer fish with text to highlight the spherical shape he makes when he is frightened.   

Franco skillfully combines word choice, rhyme, and rhythm to create an image that takes the reader beyond the illustration on the page and connects to personal experience.  When she writes that, “Some spiders weave/ delicate tapestries/ that shine in the sunlight/ and sway in the breeze” readers can easily recall the wonder in seeing such fragile designs on a tree or a fencepost.   Another inspiring vision is brought to mind when she writes, “Look up in the sky and seasonally/ you’ll notice it’s filled with graceful V’s” to describe the shape of geese as they fly south for the winter.   In each poem, Franco selects font colors to create vivid contrast to the background.  For the spider poem, she uses white font against the bright blue sky and for the geese poem, it is dark black against an orangey sunset.

Young readers will appreciate the lyrical language when this book is read aloud and will enjoy identifying the many different shapes and patterns in nature.   In some instances, however, Franco’s word choice may be too difficult for some readers to understand.  For example, she refers to the spider’s “knowledge of shape to be truly profound” and to the male peacock that “struts and preens.”  To ensure full enjoyment and understanding of the poems, a teacher or librarian can discuss difficult vocabulary words prior to reading or immediately afterwards.  

The theme of this book, patterns and shapes found in nature, is extremely interesting and can easily be connected across the curriculum (i.e. Language arts, Science, and Mathematics).  A reference included in the back of the book, "New Angles on the Animals," briefly provides additional facts sure to spark student interest.  This exquisite partnership between Franco and Jenkins educates, fascinates, and entertains.

Review Excerpts
Starred review from Booklist: (Age PreS - grade 2) "Jenkins’ masterful collage work, which renders everything from the transparency of dew drops on a spider web to the soft gray fur of a deer mouse, will have readers impulsively reaching out to feel the tactile appearance of the shaped and textured papers."

From Publishers Weekly: (Age 3-7) "This inviting book is bound to spark more careful observation of the shapes and colors in the reader's natural world."

Connections - Math, Reading, Art
This book would be an engaging introduction/addition to a unit on geometrical shapes and patterns for grades 3-5. The striking illustrations will help students remember the names of shapes (i.e. hexagons, spheres) and concepts such as symmetry.   Additional Geometry poems suitable for these grade levels can be located at: http://mathstory.com/Poems/mathpoemspage.html
* students select favorite poems to recite to a partner or the class
* students create an illustration for one of the poems

Even preschool age children will enjoy locating and identifying the wide variety of shapes and learning how they exist in nature. This website has a list of shape activities specifically for preschoolers: http://prekinders.com/pre-k-shapes/ Several of my favorite ideas from the list include:
*making a Shape Book (cutting out pictures of everyday items in familiar shapes such as a slice of pizza)
*exploring with Pattern Blocks to create Geometric Designs

Betsy Franco's other books that focus on mathematical concepts include:
ZERO IS THE LEAVES ON THE TREE.  ISBN 1582462496
MATHEMATICKLES!  ISBN 1416918612