crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the energy in these haiku aimed at guys. Fun stuff and the illustrations fit perfectly.
How many million
flakes will it take to make a
snow day tomorrow?
How many million
flakes will it take to make a
snow day tomorrow?
sandraagee's review against another edition
4.0
I really like the haikus, the layout, and the illustrations in this book. But I don't at all think that it's just for boys. Will boys like it? Quite possibly. But girls would love it too. Except for the title, this book speaks to a wide audience about playing as the seasons change.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
2013 Bluestem nominee
This book is a collection of haiku poems that are written specifically for boys. They are great topics that are perfect for young boys - splashing in puddles, throwing snowballs, putting things in the wheels of your bike to make cool noises... And the simple, yet telling, illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds (The Dot) are the perfect touch for each poem.
This book is a collection of haiku poems that are written specifically for boys. They are great topics that are perfect for young boys - splashing in puddles, throwing snowballs, putting things in the wheels of your bike to make cool noises... And the simple, yet telling, illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds (The Dot) are the perfect touch for each poem.
riverdogbookco's review against another edition
4.0
Whimsical and kid-friendly, these haikus speak to the little guys about favorite seasonal activities. Acclaimed illustrator Peter H. Reynolds (probably known best for his books Dot and Ish) brings his signature charm to these illustrations, using a muted color-palate of shades of one color per season – greens for spring, yellows for summer, browns for fall, and blues for winter. Children of all races and sizes fly kites, pound cattails to make pretend snow, skip rocks, and play in the stream. My favorite aspect of this book is that almost every scene takes place outside. This is a true celebration of outdoor fun during all four seasons.
Proving these activities can be enjoyed just as much by girls as guys, one of my favorite haikus reminds me of summer nights from my own childhood when my father used to take my sister and me out to tell us about the stars:
“Lying on the lawn,
we study the blackboard sky,
connecting the dots.”
This is a perfect book to share on the first day of each new season, and then write your own seasonal haikus. Encouraging notes by the author and the illustrator at the end will help the reader connect with the creators of such a poignant, inspiring book.
Proving these activities can be enjoyed just as much by girls as guys, one of my favorite haikus reminds me of summer nights from my own childhood when my father used to take my sister and me out to tell us about the stars:
“Lying on the lawn,
we study the blackboard sky,
connecting the dots.”
This is a perfect book to share on the first day of each new season, and then write your own seasonal haikus. Encouraging notes by the author and the illustrator at the end will help the reader connect with the creators of such a poignant, inspiring book.
howattp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a delightful introduction to haiku for boys. It moves through the four seasons, starting with Spring, and told entirely through haiku vignettes. Haiku explores nature, which is the inherent environment for young boys, so it works incredibly well.
Haiku is my favorite poetic form, and it's great to see someone introducing it to kids.
Haiku is my favorite poetic form, and it's great to see someone introducing it to kids.
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
This is really fun and the subjects are funny and very boy-centric--although outdoorsy girls will relate, too. And great illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds of Ish, the Dot, etc. My favorite:
"If this puddle could
talk, I think it would tell me
to splash my sister."
And what other haiku titles and subjects can we invent? buyku--about shopping? (although not natural...) whyku--about how things came to be the way they are? Just this exercise is fun!
Pie-ku...yum!!
Also read Dogku by Andrew Clements.
"If this puddle could
talk, I think it would tell me
to splash my sister."
And what other haiku titles and subjects can we invent? buyku--about shopping? (although not natural...) whyku--about how things came to be the way they are? Just this exercise is fun!
Pie-ku...yum!!
Also read Dogku by Andrew Clements.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
4.0
Boys and poetry don't really seem to go together, do they? But for poet Bob Racza, given haiku's focus on nature and boys' desire to play outside, they should. And so he has created twenty-four haikus, which he has organized according to season.
Haiku purists will quibble that these are not all true Haikus, given that some are about bikes, sisters and school, but they are definitely all about things boys love (or love to hate). More for the junior reader, teachers will LOVE this book for their poetry units.
Haiku purists will quibble that these are not all true Haikus, given that some are about bikes, sisters and school, but they are definitely all about things boys love (or love to hate). More for the junior reader, teachers will LOVE this book for their poetry units.
emdoux's review against another edition
2.0
Seasonal haiku, some humor.
Didn't like it much, but I appreciate that it's poetry for boys.
Didn't like it much, but I appreciate that it's poetry for boys.
northanger_abby's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite:
In a rushing stream,
we turn rocks into a dam.
Hours flow by us.
we turn rocks into a dam.
Hours flow by us.
hsquared's review against another edition
5.0
In his introduction, Raczka argues that little boys and nature go hand in hand. Together with illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, he takes readers through a year-long romp of haiku celebrating this innate partnership. Full of humor and down-to-earth reflection, the somewhat idealized poems capture the energy of guys out exploring the world. Boys and girls both will relate to poems about splashing in puddles, flying kites, or expressing regret at the end of summer. The simple line and watercolor illustrations match the whimsical,energetic, and sometimes profound text. This is a perfect introduction to poetry for boys and girls alike.