Dear Treefrog

Today we wrapped up our poetry unit with the gentle, soul soothing picture book” Dear Treefrog “by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Diana Sudyka. This story in verse is beautiful, tender, and full of quiet strength. My students connected deeply with the little girl who finds comfort, courage, and companionship in a small treefrog while settling into a new home.

As the seasons change, she watches the life around her. She notices insects, flowers, sounds, and sensations and learns how nature can hold us during moments of fear and loneliness. My class loved how the treefrog hides when the noisier children come. Such a powerful reminder of how personalities and environments interact.

Inspired by the book, my students researched facts about their favourite animals and wrote free verse poems. They created a small collection of poems that blend nonfiction information with poetic language.

Another strong reason to bring nonfiction poetry into the classroom. It gives young writers room to wonder, notice, and create.