Book Details:
Title : Happy Haiku
Author : Elizabeth Crocket
Illustrator: Jack Foster
Publisher : Crimson Cloak Publishing
Genre : Children Books, Children Holiday Books, Children Poetry, Picture Book
Print Length : 36 pages
Source : A free e-review copy from the author
Blurb:
These 26 delicious scenes retrieved from childhood help us, young and old, to revisit those times and to share them anew. Not the cookie-cutter haiku you’ll find in similar books, Liz Crocket’s work will introduce your child (and perhaps you!) to the way contemporary haiku has evolved over the past half-century, and perhaps inspire you to capture your own special moments in the same fashion.
— Jim Kacian, Editor-in-Chief, Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years
Elizabeth Crocket has filled this book with happy stories from nature, lessons on life, great ideas for children to try, and lots of family love. The 26 haiku--as many as the letters in the alphabet—present fine examples of alliteration “birthday bat”, expression “cutting teeth”, suspense “suddenly…” and hinge questions, “do you love me?” Short and simple to read on 3-lines following the form of traditional Japanese poetry, these haiku can inspire children from as early as two to become creative writers too.
– David McMurray (Asahi Haikuist columnist in Japan)
Purchase Links:
My Review:
Haiku is a short form of Japanese poetry written in 3 sentences with 17 syllables. The Haikus are popular for simplicity and directness of expression.
This book is a collection of such Haikus especially on childhood. The author successfully covers different emotions of children, their excitement, innocence and their pure nature. I remembered my childhood reading some of these haiku.They are simple and touch our heart.
The simple pleasures of childhood like gathering blankets for forts, saving pennies in a Jar for next vacation, sliding through water in tube, watching fireworks, playing with sand in beach etc and many more .., are all beautifully mentioned in this poetry.
I loved the illustrations. They are excellent complimenting the poetry and emotions. It is a good book to introduce contemporary and simple poetry to a 6 yr old. I have really enjoyed the book and I would recommend this to other parents and children.
My Rating: 5/5
PS: I have received this e-book in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
About the Author:
Elizabeth is an award winning Japanese short form poet and author living in Ontario, Canada.
She has two chapbooks published with Red Moon Press. One of them was shortlisted for the prestigious American Haiku Foundation Touchstone Distinguished Book Award.
Elizabeth also writes women's fiction and has two books published with Crimson Cloak Publishing. She has six grandchildren she loves to the moon and back. Jack Foster has been illustrating children's books for nine years, and has illustrated over sixty books.
Elizabeth's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.crocket.7923
Elizabeth's website: https://elizabethcrocket.com/