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An engaging lantern poem and haiku how-to for young readers. Veteran children's series author Cleary (Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What Are Irregular Plurals? with Brian Gable, 2014, etc.) and British illustrator Rowland team up to launch the new Poetry Adventures series with a picture book demonstrating the great fun to be had with wee poems. While poets typically choose the spare haiku or concrete lantern form to communicate profound reflections on nature, here Cleary turns poetic convention on its ear by conjuring silly, sometimes-hilarious situations. Whether describing a bodily function, as in "Yummy"—"When something's so good / you want to taste it again, / that's what burps are for"—or poking fun at the haiku form itself—"When you've written one / without enough syllables, / you add words. Football"—Cleary's light touch immediately grabs attention. Even the more contemplative lantern poems, so called because the five-line syllabic form's outline slightly resembles that of a Japanese lantern, are perfectly geared for the young: "Hug: / a gift / that is best / when you return / it." To further entice readers to write, Cleary provides clear descriptions of the poetics of each form alongside Rowland's vibrant, brightly hued illustrations that include a nicely ethnically diverse cast of human characters as well as zany aliens and plenty of visual wit. Wonderfully crafted and illustrated: a delightful, effective primer for budding poets. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)
Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)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.
ALA Booklist (Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)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).
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)An engaging lantern poem and haiku how-to for young readers. Veteran children's series author Cleary (Feet and Puppies, Thieves and Guppies: What Are Irregular Plurals? with Brian Gable, 2014, etc.) and British illustrator Rowland team up to launch the new Poetry Adventures series with a picture book demonstrating the great fun to be had with wee poems. While poets typically choose the spare haiku or concrete lantern form to communicate profound reflections on nature, here Cleary turns poetic convention on its ear by conjuring silly, sometimes-hilarious situations. Whether describing a bodily function, as in "Yummy"—"When something's so good / you want to taste it again, / that's what burps are for"—or poking fun at the haiku form itself—"When you've written one / without enough syllables, / you add words. Football"—Cleary's light touch immediately grabs attention. Even the more contemplative lantern poems, so called because the five-line syllabic form's outline slightly resembles that of a Japanese lantern, are perfectly geared for the young: "Hug: / a gift / that is best / when you return / it." To further entice readers to write, Cleary provides clear descriptions of the poetics of each form alongside Rowland's vibrant, brightly hued illustrations that include a nicely ethnically diverse cast of human characters as well as zany aliens and plenty of visual wit. Wonderfully crafted and illustrated: a delightful, effective primer for budding poets. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)
School Library Journal (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)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
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews
Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
ALA Booklist (Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
School Library Journal (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
What is a haiku? It sounds like a sneeze. And isn't a lantern a light source? Actually, they are two types of ancient Japanese poetry. Award-winning author Brian P. Cleary explains how each form worksand shows how these little poems can contain big surprises!
If It Rains Pancakes is packed with poems to make you chuckle, puzzle, and ponder. And when youve finished reading, you can try your hand at writing your own haiku and lanterns!
Watch out
Color me confused
Decisions
Outdoor conert
Drifting
City of brotherly lunch
Delish
Yummy
Reflection
Autumn
What if?
Snow(y) day
Reversal
Baby
Nature
The mind
Lucky ducks
Haiku
Zzzzzzzz
Sneeze
Bees
Cat
Hug
Bed
Stars
Dawn
Lunch
Slush
Spring
Gum
Ball
Eight
Nap
Bus.