Grass Sandals : The Travels of Basho

by Dawnine Spivak, Demi (Illustrator)

A simple retelling of the travels of seventeenth-century Japanese poet, Basho, across his island homeland and includes examples of the haiku verses he composed

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Japan, Childrens, Biography, Asia, Geography

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haikus traditionally are written in 17 syllables, five in the first and third lines and seven in the second line that are characterized with two of six senses, “sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste” or “movement.”

300 years ago a revered Haiku poet Basho ambled across Japan. He had renamed himself after the banana tree. Throughout his walk, he wrote. He lived simply sleeping in the grass, horse stalls, or beds and ate what was given or found. His meanderings are simply written but the illustrations are beautiful. 3.5 stars.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

old and quiet pond
suddenly a frog plops in--
a deep water sound

[Jon Cone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seeing this title, I immediately thought how Basho's wise and generous simplicity could prove fruitful subject for a children's book. This treatment feels half-hearted: the illustrations are very good but one can easily imagine more to appeal to both young and old eyes alike. Given the many poems that Basho wrote -- and the short form employed -- there is relatively little of his work here. (His work could have proven the source of this book's central energy.) For some reason, a poem by Issa appears in this book. The frog poem, of course, always the frog poem. I was ready to love a book for children about Basho, about his travels and his poetry. This book didn't provide me the object for that love. I understand this was intended for very young readers, a book that would likely be read by parent to child; nevertheless, I wanted more. It was okay; it wasn't awful, or artful abomination, by any means. It was merely okay. I'm sorry. I wish I could report otherwise.

[Regine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interestingly illustrated but oddly disjoint. The haiku are overtranslated and not all by Basho. Some of the kanji don’t match up with the illustrations, though the point was how they often “follow the forms of nature.”And strangest of all, Basho’s journey has been “compressed and combined” from multiple trips. Not to be mistaken for Basho, the revered poet.

[Prem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations pop out like 3D. The landscape, details are very beautifully done. Travel & it's pleasure are very nicely depicted in pictures & Haikus. Lovely read & simple!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely picture book about Basho on his travels, which includes both lines of haiku and some cool Japanese written characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faithful to the original in spirit. Lovely illustrations and fantastic translations of Basho's haiku.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight!!! The illustrations are marvelous! Loved the inspiring notion to write haiku when we were finished reading it.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was read by Melissa Maini on the Library’s online Storytime. Props and everything! Tune in to the Donnelly Public Library’s story time for more.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basho in nature writing poems of thousand year old trees and friends among other things.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated picture book about a famous Japanese Haiku author. The book recounts his travels and inserts simple Haikus (I believe are his) throughout.

[Krystal 🦢 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great picture book full of haikus and the story of Basho who wrote them. The art is beautiful.

[Rodopa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of the Japanese poet Basho - including many of his haikus. Beautiful illustrations and a nice introduction to Japanese form of poetry.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably not historically accurate. But interesting. Reminds me of Thoreau. Similarly not plausible. But worth thinking about.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

”one morning at dawn
I wade in the wide river –
pants wet to the knees”

I don’t normally write down the picture books that I read. Most of them are for my grandchildren and by the time I have read them ten or more times, I just want to be done with them.

However, I read this one for myself. I have heard of Basho before and have enjoyed his haiku. I am visiting the Northern part of Japan and so this book appealed to me. It is a lovely, wonderful book.

I may read it to my grandson, but it will probably not have enough action for him.

[Catherine Woodman]

I really loved this book, maybe the best one I have read throughout April while celebrating National Poetry month--I am not a huge poetry fan, so it is important that I spend a little time with it, actually trying, and this month seems to be as good a month as any. I also have been on a streak of reading more non-adult as the intended audience books in an effort to keep even with that work as I inch ever further away from that time in my kids lives. Thisis a tale of Basho, the most famous and beloved Haiku poet in Japan (who lived in the 1600's and traveled through Japan, writing poetry. I very much liked the education, the storytelling, the explanation that haiku is supposed to appeal to 2 of your five senses as well as the other rules. I would read this to younger children and try to engage them on the sensory response to the poems.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book. The text and illustrations work perfectly to characterize the work and life of the 17th Century Japanese poet Basho, still admired and beloved for his wonderful haiku. Children will benefit from a beautifully nuanced introduction to this poetry form. But many other things quietly unfold. This is also an introduction to Japanese characters and calligraphy and to the history and geography of Japan. It might inspire children and adults to write haiku, an attractive place to begin writing poetry.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of those books that you want to keep for a long time & pass on to your children & children's children!
Amazingly beautifully narated & equally wonderfully illustrated. On top of that, both the author & artist are non-Japanese, non-Asian! Thank you to all involved in creating this beautiful book.

However, more publicity could be done to promote this book though. It is a wonderful piece of beauty that should be shared!

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights the traveling experiences of Basho through standard text plus accompanying illustrations and pertinent haiku.
By reading this story, your eyes will be opened to the simple pleasures of nature.
*the book also shows japanese characters and words for...mountain, rain, river, tree, fish, fire, horse, moon, friend, and world.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a wonderful job of conveying Basho's journey and delight in the beautiful sensory experiences in life. This isn't a story of events, but rather vignettes of Basho's travels with haiku woven throughout.

It was a lovely morning read, leaving me a calm meditative feeling. I think anyone with an appreciation for art and nature would enjoy this book.

[Sherry Elmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful.

I've enjoyed Robert Haas's translation of Basho, so when I noticed this book on the shelf at the library, I was immediately interested. I was not disappointed.

The book tells the story of Basho's travels, interspersed with his haiku. This is a nice introduction to haiku for young people.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A haiku poem is a companion for the story on each page. As well as ELA we could make connections to the senses cluster in science. Each haiku includes language that appeals to two of the five senses and we could discern which two apply.

[Nammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple, yet wonderfully illustrated book. It is a good introduction of some of his poems. I am not a big fan of poems, but I love the simple ways he had used to paint pictures of the fascinating scenarios he had seen.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

travel, nature (Japan)

[dthaase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book that follows the travels of Basho (the seventeenth-century Japanese haiku poet). The appeal of this book is in the illustrations by Demi.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK. Story of Japanese haiku poet with some haiku.

[Wendi Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay. Liked that it is about a real poet. Demi is an amazing illustrator.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated children's book about the travels of a poet.