Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature (2024)

Gorgeous and eye catching illustrations.

Fascinating scientific information about how spirals are so prevalent in nature. This goes for individual animals (and animal parts and postures), individual plants, ocean waves, clouds, and entire galaxies.

I love how this can be read on so many different levels to and by so many ages of kids. The simple text information and big pictures can appeal to the youngest child. the words used are soothing enough so that this could even work as a bedtime story! The slightly older child will love finding the smaller pictures within pictures that give more specific examples, which are named. And for older kids there is a wonderful two page spread at the end of the book, which both reviews and expands on the information in the book proper.

This is the best kind of nature & science book: it teaches in a way that is so interesting. I learned quite a few things I hadn’t know until reading them in this book, and it also got me thinking about this spiral pattern.

Also, anyone who finds the spiral shape attractive or compelling in any way will find a lot here to love.

We really enjoyed this fascinating picture book about all the different spirals in nature, some that you just don't realize are spirals at all! The unique illustrations are what make the book so interesting.

It's a book that's simple enough for a toddler. yet intriguing enough for an adult.

4****

Loved this! Gorgeous illustrations, visually beautiful and full of rich detail. The storytelling is fairly simple but is also evocative of all the different types of swirls being described. I loved the variety, from swirls on snail shells and animals curling up in their burrows, to the swirls in ocean waves and in storm clouds and in the galaxy. Just breathtaking. I think the book could be appreciated by young children, while the back matter makes it more educational for the older picture book crowd. Definitely recommended!

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature is yet another children's picture book by Joyce Sidman packed with intriguing information about the natural world and beautifully illustrated by Beth Krommes employing scratchboard art of which she is a master: http://www.bethkrommes.com/illustrati.... The detail in these illustrations is extraordinary.

I am not a sharp-eyed observer of nature, but writers and illustrators like Sidman and Krommes may inspire me to change my ways. Who knew that spirals could be so fascinating and have so many different uses - spirals that protect and grow and move. A hedgehog rolls up in a tight spiral to protect itself - who would want to tangle with all those quills? The hard spirals of certain ferns are able to push up through the soil and then change into feathery fronds. A tornado or an ocean wave is a powerful spiral that moves.

In the appendix of the book more information is provided about spirals, including the fact that some plants display a pattern which Sidman describes as, "the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two numbers preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 . . .)" I am constantly amazed at the information I learn in children's books. But it's not just the information that is compelling, Krommes' artwork is stunning and a true complement to Sidman's writing.

P.S. Check out the copyright information - another spiral!

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes reveals the many spirals in nature — from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies — but also celebrates the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.

Spirals are described as snuggling, growing, strong shapes that reach out, are clever, beautiful, and can move.

The spare text features a large font with the pertinent flora and fauna identified in a very small font. The poetry is clear, yet descriptive, and in the end comes full circle. The text on the cover is curved as it is on the title page. The copyright information is given in a spiral arrangement. The back matter gives a definition of a spiral, summarizes the types described and includes information on dna helixes and fibonacci number sequences.

The beautiful scratchboard illustrations include plenty of details while clearly portraying the varieties of spirals in nature. Among the flora, fauna and phenomena pictured that exhibit some spiral features are harvest mice, eastern chipmunks, woodchucks, bull snakes, the nautilus, lady ferns, European hedgehogs, millipedes, land snails, merino sheep, an octopus, spiny seahorses, spider monkeys, Asian elephants, giant swallowtail butterflies, garden orb spiders, breaking ocean waves, gardenias, chrysanthemums, daisies, angel's trumpets, roses, sweet peas, calla lilies, sunflowers, hibiscus, a tidal whirlpool, a funnel tornado, and a spiral galaxy.

Among my favorite images are the front and back covers, the endpapers, the expanding animals, the protective curve of the hedgehog, the octopus, clinging monkeys and spiders, breaking ocean waves, beautiful flowers, the tornado, and the spiral galaxy. I appreciate the curves of the text identifying flora, fauna and phenomena. Additional animals pictured will give young readers further things to identify.

The poetry and illustrations combine to give a unique look at spirals in all their natural wonder. This book should receive Best of 2011 list status and possibly receive other awards. I highly recommend it for school and public library collections.

For ages 5 to 8, teachers and librarians, nature, language, poetry, science, spirals, and fans of Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes.

Author Joyce Sidman and illustrator Beth Krommes explore the spiral shape in this poetic work of picture-book natural history, producing a work that will inform younger children, while also keeping them entertained. From animals snuggling in their winter burrows to spiders weaving graceful webs, from nautiluses building their shells outward to hedgehogs curling themselves inward, spirals abound in nature. Sometimes a temporary reaction to circumstance - the cold, a perceived threat - sometimes a cyclical motion - the pounding of the waves, the swirling of a whirlpool - and sometimes permanent - the final stage of a ram's horn - the spiral is always beautiful, something that is highlighted in Swirl By Swirl: Spirals in Nature.

With a simple text - one sentence or phrase per page - and gorgeous scratchboard art, this is a wonderful work of natural history for the preschool set, introducing young children to a pattern that they will see over and over again in the world around them. The animals, plants and forces (tidal whirlpools, tornadoes) shown in the illustrations are labelled, making the artwork as informative as the poetic text, while an afterword gives significantly more detail about each kind of spiral depicted. Having greatly enjoyed some of Joyce Sidman's other picture-books, from

This is a nearly perfect nonfiction picture book that teaches more than it seems possible in just a few simple words. I love the way Sidman teaches the various functions of spirals in nature - many of which I never really connected together until I read this. The illustrations by Beth Krommes are gorgeous and pair perfectly with the text to teach about spirals in nature. And of course, don't forget the additional information given at the end of the book. This is well worth reading for children and adults of all ages!

I'm blown away at the bold, brilliant and beautiful illustrations in this book. Add to that a solid and somewhat educational story line and viola - You have yourself an AH-maz-ing book!

Limitless creativity! Endless beauty!

A gorgeous ode to the golden ratio!

The scratchboard illustrations are beautiful! I love how they fill up the pages and create all these little spaces for other little images. The text is spot on by being easy to follow and also lyrical. I also love when children's books have a set of pages at the end that expand on the subjects in the texts for readers who are super interested in learning more, and this book offers that. This book would make a great gift for a child that is interested in animals and/or nature.

"A spiral is a clever shape. It is graceful and strong. It is bold...and beautiful." This is just one example of the thought provoking descriptions used by Sidman to draw students in to the magic of spirals. Krommes' illustrations of plants, animals, and other swirly shapes in nature are labeled in a subtle, yet artistic way.
Beauty in nature is the theme of the book, and would make an interesting addition for a science or poetry lesson about the shapes that occur naturally, as well as an enjoyable read-aloud with younger grades.
The timeless feel of the illustrations makes "Swirl by Swirl" a book that could be used in a wide range of age groups - kindergarten through eighth grade even, depending on the context it is presented.
The complexity is flexible with Sidman's piece because the labels on the drawings may either be emphasized (in a science lesson) or downplayed (in a read-aloud), and at the back is an index that goes more in depth with each spiral mentioned.
Both Sidman and Krommes have been critically acclaimed for their work together, and "Swirl by Swirl" is no different, having been awarded a Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor Award.
The book is littered with opportunities to expose children to the beauty of nature, some of the science behind this beauty, and introduce some elementary-level vocabulary as well.
Personally, I think Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes are an inspiration to children's literature. The more time I spent with "Swirl by Swirl" the more I wanted to go outside and see find spirals and think about how I would describe them - I am confident that elementary school children would have the same impulse.

Sidman, Joyce, Krommes, Beth (2011). "Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature". Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books Harcourt..

Swirl by Swirl presents a fascinating examination of one of the most beautiful and prevalent shapes in nature, the spiral. After contemplating the examples presented here - a nautilus shell, the arrangement of a flower's petals, and a spider's graceful web - readers will no doubt discover more spirals in their world - perhaps the whorls in their fingertips, to start. With her keen control of language, Joyce Sidman's captivating and poetic narration marries science and art, much like the spiral itself, which contains both beauty and a myriad of uses the reader discovers on these pages. Indeed, her text seems to spiral on its own, describing first the tiny sleeping harvest mouse, then bigger flora and fauna, expanding to global patterns in air and sea, until finally the reader sees spiral galaxies, all illustrated by Beth Krommes, whose pattern-filled scratchboard art brilliantly reinforces the repetition experienced in the structure and content of Sidman's language. She ends with the harvest mouse once more, a gentle conclusion that wraps itself up as neatly and snuggly as young readers will feel when enjoying this book at bedtime.

My first thought after reading Swirl by Swirl:Spirals in Nature? I want more of this author/illustrator team! The book couldn't be more aptly named. It shows how spirals can be found in plants, animals and even waves. The simple text at first deceives. The reader needs to pay close attention to the pictures to truly understand the text. For example, "A spiral is a strong shape." The illustration of a hedgehog curled in a tight spiral while a red fox carefully sniffs, but does not harm, demonstrates the "strength" of the spiral. The realization of how tightly integrated the text and pictures are is wonderful! The illustrations are gorgeous and the large text works very well. And not to be missed are the wonderful author notes which go into more depth, including for the really curious how the Fibonacci sequence appears in spirals. This is a book teachers and librarians can be sure will peak curiosity in the early grades.

Absolutely splendid. Excellent presentation, wonderful graphics. I fell head-over-heels in love with this book. The text is clear without the slightest hint of condescension, and the examples given are stellar indeed. The afterword brings up Fibonacci. One for the permanent collection, no question.

Quite lovely book, beautiful illustrations. Love how it shows such a variety of nature, the usefulness of spirals, the warmth and comfort, even with things that might normally be scary, like snakes and octopi.

Sidman here describes all kinds of spirals found in nature, accompanied by Beth Krommes' gorgeous illustrations. Use this in story time and then let kids go outside and find the spirals themselves. A beautiful book!

I loved this book! My kids loved it too. I have never intentionally thought about the beauty & function of a spiral. The illustrations are beautiful & the author weaves great facts about animals into the book. A winner! We got it from the library, but this may be a purchase for our home shelf.

I anticipated reading this book for so long. When I put it on hold at our local library, I was something like 79th in the queue for it. So it must be something special, right?

When we read the book, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the narrative. Perhaps it was the long wait that had me expecting brilliance. It has a lyrical simplicity that is soothing and encourages looking at the pictures, but it didn't "wow" me.

But as for the illustrations, that's another story. The scratchboard pictures have a woodcut feel to them and are incredibly gorgeous. The crosshatching adds a layer of depth and texture to the pictures and the colors pop. I just love the flowers and our girls loved the animals best. All I can say is absolutely

The information provided at the end gives more detail about the many ways that spirals occur in nature and the functions they serve. It's a good way to expand on the sparse narrative. Overall, I think this is a very nice way to introduce a complicated mathematical concept and a gorgeous pattern in nature. We really enjoyed reading the story together. Without the illustrations, I would've rated this book a three, but the illustrations alone merit at least a four-star rating.

This story was selected as one of the books for the June 2013 - Poetry discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

Swirl by Swirl is a picture book tribute to spirals found in nature. A snail’s shell is the most obvious natural occurrence of a swirl shape, but this book also points out the swirls in the curls of waves, the horns of rams, and everywhere else in between.

While I think the concept might be too abstract for my story time audiences - mainly kids under the age of three - I can see this book making a great addition to a preschool or school-age program about nature or shapes, and it lends itself to some neat craft ideas. The art is also really eye-catching. It shares a similar style to The House in the Night, Krommes’s Caldecott-winning book, but expands the color palette to evoke the freshness and earthiness of the natural world. I also enjoy the fact that the stars near the end of the book resemble the ones in The House in the Night. It gives kids a nice entry point into studying this artist’s style of illustration.

Finally, I like the fact that the author did her homework, and that the back matter reflects the details that inform her work. Each animal and plant in the book is defined by name one the last two pages, giving kids the opportunity to continue learning about them even after they finish with this particular book.

Read at Circle Time on 8/14/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Joyce Sidman's Swirl by Swirl is a fantastic poetry read aloud for younger children, possibly Kindergarten through third grade. Sidman and illustrator Beth Krommes use beautiful words and vibrant illustrations to describe the spirals found in nature, like snails, flowers, ram horns, snakes, and elephant trunks. The wording is easy for younger children to understand, yet beautifully written to fully paint a picture and place the reader out in nature, viewing these spiral objects. The end of the story also contains two informational pages for children to learn the definition of a spiral and more detailed descriptions of spiral objects found in nature. I could use this book in my future classroom either when introducing the genre of poetry, to show an example of fantastic illustration, when discussing shapes found in nature, or when teaching a science lesson about animals and plants. I read this book to my two year old daughter and she loved it! I highly recommend this book to elementary teachers.

On each bold scratchboard spread, Sidman describes a characteristic of spirals found in nature. The result is fascinating! From the snuggling spiral shapes of burrowing creatures like the bull snake and woodchuck to the bold spiral shapes of breaking ocean waves, readers will learn that the spiral is a growing, snuggling, and strong shape. The last two pages give detailed information about each of the characteristics described in the previous pages and offers great factoids to springboard discussion during and after a read aloud. For example, readers will learn why the hedgehog’s spiral shape is a strong shape and how some spirals such as waves and tornados move. The spiral works so well in nature, and one cannot help but notice (and be awed of) this shape after reading this lovely picture book.

I love everything about this book! First, it is absolutely gorgeous! The illustrations, by winner of the 2009 Caldecott "The House in the Night," are incredible. The colors are fascinating and the design is both playful and mysterious. One glance gives one impression, but looking closely will catch lots of little details. I also like the text. Spirals may not sound intriguing, but this short book shows how they are they are represented in many different kinds of objects, living and not living--all within nature. The author shows how to recognize a spiral, and their various functions. The text is lyrical and short--easy to share with children. The pictures truly connect and illustrate the text's meaning. Love it.

This was a book chosen for my Goodreads picture book group. I loved it and thought for young children the bold illustrations and simple language would intrigue them. The pictures gave great examples of spirals in nature and their labels would help adult readers give additional explanations for the child. In addition, more information is provided in the back of the book if the child is interested. This author also won a Newbery Honor for Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night which I just realized I had on my shelf. I would suggest having this book around for its beautiful pictures and language of nature.

This is a stunningly beautiful book with scratchboard illustrations washed with colors that celebrate the wonder of the spiral shapes found in nature. Thus, readers will see the spirals in a ram's horn, the spirals in funnel clouds, the spiral shape in which a chipmunk curls as it falls asleep, the spiral in a snail shell. The text is sparing yet carefully chosen, and together, the text and illustrations inspire curiosity in readers and possibly encourage them to look more carefully at the world around them. This is a must-have for the classroom library.

Love this book. Ordering my own copy. Sidman and Krommes bring to life how we are surrounded by spirals in nature and how those spirals serve many different purposes. Simple text and detailed illustrations require young reader or listener to think carefully about what is being said. At the end of the book, there is a clear definition of a spiral (a shape that curls around a center point) with an explanation of the spirals in the illustrations in the book. These last two pages should be read aloud to children as well.

Beth Krommes's scratchboard art is amazing and Joyce Sidman's simple prose works well for a younger audience. Unlike Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, the text in this one is preschool level. The illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages.

Audience: grades P-3, science teachers, nature lovers.

Appeal: This quick and easy story is full of information but not in the traditional sense. This nonfiction story is formatted in a way that tells a story while giving information. The book reads very quickly and can be used for a variety of science topics. The layout is informational but not boring for readers. The illustrations are eye catching and full of detail.

Genre: Nonfiction
Awards: None
Grade Level: K-2

This would be a great book to read to the younger students. I could use this book to help teach the students about some of the different shapes in nature, primarily the spiral shape. After we have read the book I would have the students complete an art project. I will have them create a spiral mobile and hang it from the ceiling for everyone to see.