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Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades, The

Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades, The
View Larger Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades, The
Sue Van Wassenhove
In Poetry
Ages: 8–12
Pages: 32
List Price: $17.95
Cover: Hardcover
Published: 2/1/2008
ISBN: 1-59078-352-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-352-8
Poems and quilts pay tribute to the unique creatures and landscape of the Everglades. The unusual waterways and exotic vegetation of the Florida Everglades create a home rich with sea creatures and wildlife, especially birds. Colorful and often majestic, these feathery residents evoke images that can tickle the imagination: the ballerina-like spoonbill; the bikercool, wild-eyed cormorant; the snowy egret, elegantly dressed in white tails and black spats. Sue Van Wassenhove, who lived in Florida for many years, shares her passion for the Everglades in thoughtful poems and—in an unusual twist—with breathtaking quilts, creating a one-of-a-kind poetry book for readers to savor.

Reviews

Starred review "[V]isits to the Florida Everglades inspired the author to describe its unusual beauty in poetic form. ... The author combines her love of quilting with her love of this special haven. The result is breathtaking, and should be very inspiring to young readers who are also interested in animals and art. This book would serve well as a read-aloud for any unit of poetry. Learners of all ages will enjoy the factual notes accompanying several poems. Because of the colorful and exacting detail of each species depicted and described in poetry form, this book can be easily integrated in the science, language, and art curriculums. Librarians should recommend this to teachers looking for a book that can inspire young imaginations and creativity in their course of study."
     —Library Media Connection

"There are some pleasing poems among the 17 offered here on the flora and fauna of the Florida Everglades, their habitat and their habits, and the author's affection is evident in every one. ...[T]he textile art is striking—sculptural, full of detail, lovely embroidery and clever use of fabric, pattern and color."
     —Kirkus Reviews

This review of The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades can be found in the February 15, 2008 issue of Booklist:

"Through exuberant poems and quilted illustrations, first-time author and illustrator Van Wassenhove offers an unusual tour of the delicate Everglades habitat. ... The best entries, however, need no commentary, as in this vivid verse: “The Florida Keys / grow canopies / of mangrove trees / for manatees." Van Wassenhove’s creative application of quilting techniques to depict the rippled surfaces and shifting hues of a wetland environment will draw fascinated gazes."

The April/May 2008 issue of Library Media Connection features a starred review of Sue Van Wassenhove's The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades:

"[V]isits to the Florida Everglades inspired the author to describe its unusual beauty in poetic form. ... The result is breathtaking... This book would serve well as a read-aloud for any unit of poetry. Learners of all ages will enjoy the factual notes accompanying several poems...this book can be easily integrated in the science, language, and art curriculums. Librarians should recommend this to teachers looking for a book that can inspire young imaginations and creativity in their course of study. Highly Recommended."