List of 15 authors like Joyce Sidman

Joyce Sidman is an American children's author and poet, celebrated for her beautifully illustrated poetry collections. Works like Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night charm young readers with thoughtful verses and engaging imagery of nature.

If you enjoy reading books by Joyce Sidman then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Mary Oliver

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s thoughtful approach to nature and poetry may also connect deeply with the work of Mary Oliver. Oliver is celebrated for poems that vividly capture moments of tranquility, wonder, and connection to the natural world.

    Her collection American Primitive  offers readers striking snapshots of wildlife, wilderness, and human experience in simple yet powerful language.

    Poems like The Fish  and In Blackwater Woods  linger on small details of forests, rivers, and creatures, inviting readers to pause, notice, and reflect.

    For those drawn to Sidman’s blend of gentle wisdom and close observation of nature, Oliver provides a similar kind of depth and beauty.

  2. Douglas Florian

    Douglas Florian is an author and illustrator well known for playful poetry books about nature, animals, and seasons. His book Insectlopedia  features 21 delightful poems dedicated to insects.

    Florian brings creatures like dragonflies, grasshoppers, and cicadas vividly to life through clever rhymes and whimsical illustrations. Each poem offers humor and curiosity, celebrating the uniqueness and oddness of each insect.

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetry will appreciate Florian’s distinct poetic voice and inviting way of revealing nature’s wonders.

  3. J. Patrick Lewis

    If you enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetry and nature-filled books, you might also like J. Patrick Lewis. Lewis writes playful poems that invite young readers into the wonders of our world and imagination.

    In his book Face Bug,  Lewis blends fascinating facts about insects with witty verse. The book shares a guided tour through a quirky bug museum presented by two funny bugs, with detailed close-up photographs.

    Each poem reveals entertaining information about the lives of different insects, from beetles to grasshoppers, turning learning into pure fun. Lewis’s style combines humor, science, and vivid language, perfect for those who appreciate Sidman’s approach to poetry and nature.

  4. Paul Fleischman

    Readers who appreciate Joyce Sidman’s vivid poetry that captures the wonders of nature may also connect with Paul Fleischman. Fleischman skillfully blends imagery and narrative depth in his book Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. 

    This collection offers a fresh take on poetry about insects—with pieces crafted specifically for two readers to recite aloud together. The poems capture the distinct rhythms and sounds of buzzing bees, chirping crickets, and darting fireflies.

    Fleischman’s creative structure invites readers to experience poetry through playful performances.

  5. Kristine O'Connell George

    Readers who love Joyce Sidman’s lyrical and heartfelt poetry might also enjoy the works of Kristine O’Connell George. George is known for her thoughtful children’s poems that beautifully capture everyday moments in nature and life.

    In her charming poetry collection, Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems,  George brings to life the quiet wonder of a majestic old tree and all the hidden stories it holds.

    Each poem tells something special about the seasons, animals, or children who find joy beneath the tree’s wide branches. Fans of Sidman’s gentle, nature-centered verse will find a warm connection in George’s inviting poems.

  6. Naomi Shihab Nye

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetry and deep connection to nature may also appreciate Naomi Shihab Nye’s thoughtful writing style. Nye is a poet who explores everyday moments and the subtle beauty found within them.

    In her book A Maze Me,  she collects poems written especially for girls and young women. The poems offer fresh perspectives on friendship, family, and self-discovery.

    Nye’s careful observations invite readers to pause and notice the tiny details around them, whether in a quiet street or in conversations between close friends. Readers familiar with Sidman’s sensitive voice will find a similar warmth and honesty within Nye’s poems.

  7. Marilyn Singer

    Readers who admire Joyce Sidman’s poetic style and love of nature might also enjoy Marilyn Singer’s books. Singer is celebrated for her inventive poems about animals and the natural world.

    Her book, Mirror Mirror,  explores classic fairy tales through clever reverso poems—pieces that tell one story when read forward and a different one when read backward.

    With tales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel presented in this playful format, the book offers fresh insights and surprises with every read.

    Fans familiar with Sidman’s lyrical approach and unique perspectives on familiar subjects could find Singer’s poetry equally delightful.

  8. Georgia Heard

    Georgia Heard is well-known for her poetry and children’s literature that celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world. If you’re a reader who enjoys Joyce Sidman’s thoughtful attention to nature, you’ll appreciate Heard’s Creatures of Earth, Sea, and Sky. 

    The book offers a collection of poems that capture the mystery and magic of animals and their habitats.

    Through beautiful imagery and lyrical descriptions, Heard brings readers closer to creatures like whales singing in the ocean depths or birds embarking on incredible journeys across continents.

    Each poem connects readers emotionally to the wonders of wildlife, reminding us of our deep relationships with animals and the environments we share with them.

  9. Valerie Worth

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetry might also appreciate Valerie Worth’s thoughtful verse. Worth is known for her ability to capture everyday moments with clarity and charm, notably seen in her wonderful collection All the Small Poems and Fourteen More. 

    This book gathers simple yet meaningful poems where ordinary objects like a pencil or a fence become fascinating points of reflection. Worth’s careful, precise language turns familiar sights into fresh discoveries, offering readers a new way to look at the world around them.

    Anyone who enjoys Sidman’s celebratory view of nature and life’s quiet details could find much to love in Valerie Worth’s poems.

  10. Barbara Juster Esbensen

    Barbara Juster Esbensen was an author known for her lyrical style and keen observations of nature. Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetic yet informative approach might appreciate Esbensen’s book Echoes for the Eye. 

    This collection pairs vivid poems with striking images from the natural world. Each page brings to life the quiet marvels around us—from the silent growth of a plant to the subtle patterns on everyday insects—captured in thoughtful verse and beautiful illustrations.

    These poems encourage readers of all ages to pause and see ordinary scenes in a fresh, imaginative way.

  11. April Pulley Sayre

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetic celebration of nature will appreciate the vivid and absorbing writing of April Pulley Sayre. Sayre’s work blends joyful storytelling with accurate details about wildlife and the world around us.

    In her book Raindrops Roll,  Sayre explores the simple beauty of rain through spare yet descriptive text paired with stunning, close-up photographs.

    Each page brings into focus the tiny dramas played out in our backyards when it rains—from droplets clinging to leaves to insects taking shelter—a gentle reminder of nature’s quiet wonders. Her writing inspires curiosity and a deeper appreciation of everyday natural events.

  12. Irene Latham

    Readers who appreciate Joyce Sidman’s poetic approach to storytelling may also enjoy Irene Latham. Latham blends nature, poetry, and thoughtful narratives beautifully in her books. Her story Can I Touch Your Hair?

    Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship,  co-written with Charles Waters, sensitively explores race and friendship through poems exchanged between two students forced to collaborate on a school project.

    The exchanges start hesitantly but gradually build trust, each poem revealing truths about identity and empathy. Irene Latham’s warm prose and authentic characters offer a similar charm and insight as Joyce Sidman’s beloved works.

  13. Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

    If you enjoy Joyce Sidman’s thoughtful blend of poetry and nature, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is another author whose writing might speak to you. In her book Forest Has a Song,  VanDerwater invites readers into the heart of the woods through a diverse collection of poems.

    The poems spotlight small wonders, such as the soft rustle of leaves or hidden animal tracks, with a clear-eyed appreciation that gently mirrors Sidman’s style. Each poem captures a brief moment or a subtle observation, celebrating the quiet beauty of the natural world.

    For readers drawn to Sidman’s vivid imagery and lyrical connection to nature, VanDerwater offers an equally inviting poetic journey.

  14. Nikki Grimes

    Nikki Grimes is an author known for exploring deep emotions and powerful themes through poetry and prose, often focusing on young readers and their everyday experiences.

    Readers who enjoy Joyce Sidman’s poetic style and thoughtful exploration of nature and feelings may appreciate Grimes’ book Garvey’s Choice. 

    This novel in verse tells the story of Garvey, a boy who struggles with his father’s expectations and his own self-image until he discovers the liberating power of music.

    Through short and relatable poems, Grimes beautifully captures Garvey’s emotional growth, family relationships, and challenges. The writing style is heartfelt and candid, making the story accessible and memorable for all readers.

  15. Margarita Engle

    Books by Margarita Engle often blend poetry, vivid imagery, and deep appreciation for nature and culture in ways that fans of Joyce Sidman will readily connect with.

    In her book, The Surrender Tree,  Engle crafts a poetic historical narrative based on real events in Cuba’s struggle for freedom. Rosa, a healer known across the island, secretly runs hospitals hidden deep inside forests and caves, away from enemy eyes.

    Her compassion contrasts sharply with the cruelty of war and oppression surrounding her.

    Through poems told in the voices of various characters, Engle brings history to life in a personal, thoughtful way, capturing readers who appreciate Sidman’s sensitive touch with language and nature themes.