Review by Booklist Review
Cleary introduces readers to haiku and lantern poems, defining each, providing background, explaining syllabic line requirements, and offering examples. Admitting that he takes a broad approach to haiku (traditionally they are nature poems), Cleary offers many humorous verses, including: My pet pig, Betty, / in her full karate stance, / performs the pork chop.' The lantern poems range from pastoral (Spring. / Yellows, / Blues, and greens. / Chirp, peck, peep, pop, / bloom) to more contemporary themes (Slush / gulping / icy treat. / Getting brain freeze. / Whoa). Rowland's colorful cartoon illustrations capture the varying moods and often extend the text. For example, he depicts one lantern poem (Eight: / circles / up and down. / Each must be worth / four) as a figure eight-shaped race track with four cars driving on each circle. Appended with suggested websites and books for further reading, this will be welcomed by classrooms studying poetry. Pair with Bob Raczka's Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys (2010).--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-This slim volume introduces two forms of Japanese poetry. The first and larger section focuses on the more familiar haiku. A simple introduction defines the form but explains that while haiku subjects traditionally focus on nature, these selections cover a broader range of topics, including school and food. Twenty original haiku follow, illustrated with spot cartoon illustrations. The second part is dedicated to lantern poems (or a poem whose visual shape resembles a lantern), opening with an even briefer introduction and 15 illustrated examples. The poetry in both sections varies from thoughtful to silly. While this is an interesting look at the two different poetic forms, format is all that ties the wide assortment of selections together, and even the transition between the two sections feels abrupt. Still, the explanatory texts provide clear instruction and encouragement for readers creating their own poems.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Cleary introduces two traditional Japanese poetic forms, the well-known haiku and the less-familiar lantern. The thirty-five verses and accompanying illustrations feature good-natured, kid-pleasing fun (e.g., "Yummy": "When something's so good / you want to taste it again, / that's what burps are for"; and "Sneeze": "Sneeze-- / ah-CHOOOO-- / hurricane / out of my nose / blows"). This amusing collection can't miss with kids or teachers. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
