*I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder. Random House, 2012. 32 pages.

Bottom Line: This Valentine’s Day themed picture book is a wonderful introduction to the traditional Japanese poetic form of haikus.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
Maturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8)

Children bestow affection so freely. They have the innocence and openness to observe and delight in small, everyday encounters: a bird’s morning song, a note from a friend, a dog’s hearty smooch, a seed’s slight growth, and figures found in clouds and stars.

Poet Betsy Snyder captures these and other simple childhood pleasures with colorful illustrations and the Japanese poetic form of haiku in her book I Haiku You. Using the traditional three-lined, 17-syllable format, each page will recall memories for adults and elicit gratitude from the young.

Snyder’s short book is best read slowly and aloud. It is a wonderful introduction to this traditional poetic form for early readers. It may even provide inspiration for an eager writer to try his hand at penning a haiku. After finishing the book, a simple writing or narration prompt could be: “What do you haiku?”

Cautions: none

Overall Value: 4.5 (out of 5)

• Moral/worldview value: 4
• Artistic value: 4.5

Categories: Poetry, Children, Read-Aloud, Writing, Valentines.
Cover image from Amazon