I Haiku You

December 10, 2012
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only chance to share special feelings with loved ones. Snyder’s diminutive book of haiku shows children with round faces and blue hair sharing moments of quiet togetherness all year round, against soft watercolor backgrounds. In a springtime scene, a boy in a sailor cap and a girl with a red beret fly a butterfly kite with heart-shaped wings (“love is in the air—/ every time our hearts meet up,/ i get butterflies”); another pair of children roast marshmallows around a fire later in the year (“toasty together—/ happy-camper sandwiches,/ ooey-gooey s’mores”). As though contained within a snow globe, each intimate scene is a distilled moment of joy. Ages 4–up. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

November 1, 2012
This sweet collection of haiku captures special moments of friendship and appreciation from a child's point of view. Love is explored in its broadest sense as a cast of winsome, ethnically diverse children are featured in everyday activities such as making snow angels, riding a bicycle and sharing a purple Popsicle. The pale watercolor backgrounds provide a soft, cozy environment in which the children begin their day as a cardinal chirps outside a window or several friends gather around a campfire to toast marshmallows. Snyder chooses words familiar to new readers while keeping the imagery and language lively and fun. One poem focuses on the reunion of a child and pet: "wiggle-wag tail love, / sloppy-smoochy-poochy love, / true-furry-friend love!" Another addresses a nighttime comfort: "shiny mister moon-- / your smile keeps me company / when the lights go out," while still another celebrates a newfound friend: "you be my jelly, / i'll be your peanut butter-- / let's stick together!" It appears the book's design aims to make it accessible to new poets and readers. All the text is lowercase, and much of the punctuation is limited to dashes and exclamation points. And most importantly, each poem satisfies when read aloud. A good choice for emerging poetry fans. (Picture book/poetry. 4-7)

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December 1, 2012

K-Gr 3-This sweetly simple book focuses on love and the smaller joys in life. Twenty haiku in the 5 syllable/7 syallable/5 syllable format depict scenes of happiness and childhood friendship as seen through shared activities such as flying a kite, coloring together, and making a snow angel. The selections are sparkling-"your everyday song, /my favorite alarm clock-/good morning to you!"-but Snyder's cheerful watercolor illustrations, which add a touch of gentle whimsy and complement the themes of the poems, are the best part of the reading experience. While the book seems well suited as a gift to a young loved one (a prominent and bright "This book is especially for __" precedes the first poem), it would make a quietly compelling addition to any poetry collection.-Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
"Achy-heartbreak love, / miss-you-so-much-it-hurts love. / Please hurry home, love." The haiku in this collection express love for a pet dog, bicycle riding, a new friend, lemonade, and other things. Many poems are strong, child-appropriate examples of the Japanese form, but overall the collection lacks cohesion. Sweet and simple multimedia art also spotlights love in the small, attractive square book.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)