2006 Winner
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman. Illustrations by Beckie Prange.
The 2006 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award was given to Joyce Sidman for Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems. This delightful collection inspired judges to comment "Upon first read one is struck by the perfect marriage of the poetic art and science of nature that embodies Song of the Water Boatman. Each poem delights the reader of any age with its ability to capture the details of pond-life inhabitants" and "The combination of exquisite poetic images, solid science, and lush and lovely woodcuts speaks to young nature lovers and awakens their curiosity about the world around them."
