Haiku Picturebook for Children

by Keisuke Nishimoto, Kozo Shimizu

Word-pictures are complemented by charming illustrations in this unique introduction to haiku. This collection includes classic haiku poems written by Japan's most famous masters.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Sabastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great tool for teaching children about the importance of nature, and how to respect it. It's a great way to introduce them to the concept of nature and its importance in our lives. The author does a great job at making this topic accessible to young readers through his use of simple language and illustrations that are colorful and engaging. This book would be especially useful for children who are just starting out learning about the environment, or who have never thought much about it before.
The plot is suitable for children ages 4-8 years old because they will be able to understand what's happening on each page without being too difficult for them. The characters are also well developed and easy enough for kids to relate to, which helps make this book more appealing as well (although there aren't many characters).
The themes explored in this book include respecting nature, not littering, and taking care of our planet so future generations can enjoy it too! These themes are important because they teach children how important it is for us all to take care. I enjoyed this book because it allowed me to learn more about Japanese culture while also learning some new words and phrases in English along with it. I would recommend this book to any child who likes stories about characters who try hard to do what's right even when it isn't easy.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It says it is a "board book", but I would not describe it as such. It is a beautiful hardcover book with many delightful surprises. Not only are there wonderful poems, but the illustrations are great. There is also a short explanation for each poem and the poem is written in Japanese as well along with a pronunciation key. FUNNY: I was enjoying the book so much I said to myself, "I need to buy a copy of this book!". Then I realized I was reading the copy I had just recently bought. :)

[Catherine Woodman]

This is part of my National Poetry Month April celebration, and I really like the illustrations that go along with the Haikus--but they are Japanese Haikus, so do not follow the 5-7-5 pattern in English, and only one of them could I rearrange into that pattern. I will have to look further for the American-ized version of this, but this is a nice book to introduce poetry and cultural differences to a small child--there is a little explanation of the cultural context of each poem under it, both of which are short and could become a conversation. THe book is also arranged to go in sequential seasonal order, which is a good third or fourth teaching point in the book.

[Katharine Grubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some amazing stuff! First, it has original haiku, written in the Japanese. Under each word is the pronounciation. You can see the "5,7,5" pattern of the haiku right on the page. Next, it has a translation of the haiku into English. After that, there is a short description explaining the haiku in more detail. The illustrations are beautiful and compeltely add to the detail of the haiku poem. I really liked this book!

[Nicola Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes the original poem in Japanese and a brief explanation of the haiku or a comment. Definitely for the younger crowd (K-2)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for introducing Haiku to young children. After listening to Haiku, my second graders do a quick sumi-e painting and then write their own Haiku. It's a favorite activity!