My selection is "Guyku: a year of haiku for boys" written by Bob Raczka with illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds.
Raczka's "Guykus" are great fun. He retains the classic five/seven/five syllable form and introduces a modern, boy-friendly collection of topics all related to outdoor play and/or nature. Raczka delves into his childhood memories or takes inspiration from his sons for these brief glimpses into the joy of being a boy. The book is divided into the four seasons with six poems for each section. Kite flying, bug collecting, fishing - are just a few of the typical activities, but each is appealing.
Here are two of my favorites:
In a rushing stream,
we turn rocks into a dam.
Hours flow by us.
I free grasshopper
from his tight ten-fingered cage -
he tickles too much!
Reynold's artwork is relaxed and fun -- a perfect fit for the text.
This book would be a wonderful way to introduce haikus in the classroom because they draw their subject matter from simple, real-life experiences that children will recognize as familiar.
P.S. Girls will enjoy these Guykus too.
2 comments:
I keep seeing references to this book. It looks so fun!
Guyku is a new favorite of mine, and it really would be a great introduction to the form for classes.
I liked them so much I wrote a few Guyku of my own for last week's poetry Friday.
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