Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Bibliography
Sidman, Joyce. 2010. Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night. Ill. by Rick Allen. Boston [Mass.]: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. ISBN 9780547152288

Plot Summary 

This collection of poetry is an exploration of the night and the creatures that live there. The book opens to  two full pages of a forest scene with an owl in flight at dusk and the moon rising. Each poem in the book has a focus on one animal or object in the forest, like an owl or a tree. The poem is then coupled with a textbook-like passage about that animal or plant that goes into more detail about its habits. After going through nine animals, a tree, a mushroom, and the moon, the book closes with two full pages of the original scene that has cycled into the transformation of the moon setting and the sun rising. 

Critical Analysis

This book of poetry is full of vivid, sensory words about the night. They create a strong mental picture; you feel you can reach out and touch it. For example, ”Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze, / come smell your way among the trees, / come touch rough bark and leathered leaves: / Welcome to the night.” Sidman also uses onomatopoeia to introduce the animals in the book. For example, “To all of you who crawl and creep / who buzz and chirp and hoot and peep.” 

The language is supported by very detailed drawings of scenes from nature that include the animal of focus. Different fonts and colors of text would have added to the illustrations. Although the language is very colorful, this book of poetry did not evoke a lot of emotion. It seems to portray the varied life in a forest in more of a factual manner than emotional. It might be tough to get students engaged if they do not already have an interest in the forest. 

Each poem has its own rhythm and rhyme to match the personality of the animal. The description of the primrose moth uses short words and phrasing with no rhyming. Sidman also uses the repeated word “primrose” in the poem that gives a feeling of the moth’s obsession. On the other hand, the oak tree has long, slow, rhyming passages. The poems are written in first person and third person. For example, the poem about the owl is described by a mouse watching from below. 

A bonus feature of this poetry book is a short glossary at the end.

Review Excerpts

This book is a:

  -  Newbery Honor Book

  -  Bookist starred review

  -  Publishers Weekly starred review

School Library Journal

“As in her other collections, each selection is set in an expansive spread that includes a factual discussion of the featured subject. The illustrations are bold, richly detailed linoleum prints colored in gouache.”

Boolist

“Like Sidman's Caldecott Honor Book, Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (2005), this picture book combines lyrical poetry and compelling art with science concepts.”

Connections

-  This book is ideal to use with a science lesson on environment, habitat, species, conservation, or other 
    lessons on nature..

-  This collection of poems could be used in an evening program at a nature conservancy or park. 
-  Another option is transform a classroom into an evening space with dimmed lights and a recording of
    nighttime forest sounds.

-  Other nature books by Sidman:
          Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems. ISBN 9780618135479

          Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. ISBN 9780618563135