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    You are here: Home / Books / Wise and Wonderful Haiku Books for Kids

     

    Wise and Wonderful Haiku Books for Kids

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    Haiku is a great way to introduce poetry to kids. Haiku's three line, five-seven-five syllable structure is quick to read and kids gain a sense of how poetry captures fleeting moments and as well as provoking and emotional response. The writing of haiku began in thirteenth century Japan. Although traditional subjects of haiku focus on the natural world, the haiku books on this list run the gamut from haiku about birds, seasons, life in Harlem and boyhood.

    After you dive into these fun haiku poems for kids, your children won't be able to resist writing a few haiku for themselves!

    Collage of haiku book covers

    Note: this post contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Qualifying purchases made through these links earn commission for this blog. Bookshop supports independent booksellers.

    Table of contents

    • Nature Haiku Books
    • Animal Haiku Books
    • Novelty Haiku Books

    Nature Haiku Books

    As haiku is traditionally about nature, start out with these wonderful poems about the miraculous beauty of the natural word!

    Beautiful Day haiku book for kids book cover

    BEAUTIFUL DAY!: PETITE POEMS FOR ALL SEASONS by Rodoula Pappa, illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Come for the haiku, stay for the gorgeous illustrations. Scenes of nature are adorned with traditional Japanese washi patterns, taking readers on a tour of the seasons through the eyes of a child.

    Rain haiku book cover

    RAIN by Anders Holmer

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    This unique collection of short poems translated from Swedish do not strictly follow the rules of haiku. Precipitation in all its forms provide the narrative through-line for scenes that cross cultural boundaries. Exquisite.

    Out of this World haiku book cover

    OUT OF THIS WORLD by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Matthew Trueman

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Young science fans will revel in these space-themed poems. Trueman's celestial illustrations spread across the page, inviting poetry loves to traverse the cosmos. Each of Walker's poems evokes stunning visual imagery with occasional whimsy. A haiku about Mars reads, cold, barren mountain/ Olympus Mons volcano/ an extinct dragon. The endnotes, offer further scientific facts and explanations about the subject of the haiku. Also read Walker's Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up

    Hi, Koo! book cover

    HI, KOO! A YEAR OF SEASONS by Jon J. Muth

    Find it: Your Library | Amazon

    The author of Zen Ties, tries his hand at haiku and his signature watercolor style illustrations make the perfect accompaniment. The words on the page engage in a waltz with the illustrations as with the poem, too much TV this winter / my eyes are square / let’s go Out and play is coupled with an illustration of children wide-eyed in front of the television.

    One Leaf Rides the Wind book cover

    ONE LEAF RIDES THE WIND by Celeste Mannis, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    A child’s love of the Japanese Garden is the inspiration behind this collection of haiku poetry, which is also a counting book. Cleverly, the poems follow the girl’s journey through the garden as she discovers and admires its delights.

    Cool Melons Turn to Frogs book cover

    COOL MELONS TURN TO FROGS by Matthew Gollub, illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon | Teachers' Guide

    Author and translator, Matthew Gollub tells the story of Kobayashi Issa, an 18th-century Japanese poet. Issa's original (in translation) haiku are woven into the story of his journey from his difficult childhood to that of celebrated artist Stone's illustrations are a delight and wonderfully reflect Issa's thoughtful, short poems.

    My First Book of Haiku Poems book cover

    MY FIRST BOOK OF HAIKU POETRY: A PICTURE, A POEM AND A DREAM; CLASSIC POEMS BY JAPANESE HAIKU MASTERS translated by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen, illustrated by Tracy Gallup

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    The title may mislead you to believe this is a collection of haiku that is only suitable for beginners. Not so, not so. Traditionally, haiku poetry invites reflection upon the natural world and readers of all ages will love this short poems, written in both English and Japanese. The absolutely gorgeous and evocative illustrations beg your children to open up their powers of imagination. At the conclusion, the author asks the readers to write their own haiku and the accompanying drawing is of a child opening a door to the outdoors. Magical.

    MORE: Haiku and poetry books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers

    Lion of the Sky book cover

    LION OF THE SKY: HAIKU FOR ALL SEASONS by Laura Purdie Salas

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    I am a a fan of Laura Purdie Salas's books and I encourage you to seek out her other collections. As you will have guessed from the title, this is a collection of haiku celebrating the seasons. But there is a twist! These are "riddle-ku," which ask the reader to identify the narrator of each short poem. You may think you will be able to confine yourself to reading only the corresponding haiku for whatever season you are in. But you won't!

    Animal Haiku Books

    Children can't resist a poem about their favorite animals, especially if the verse is funny or contains a secret! These animal haiku books are just the thing to read while snuggled up with a furry friend.

    Dogku book cover

    DOGKU by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Tim Bowers

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    I bet you didn't know the author of Frindle wrote haiku! Nor did I. Sixteen short poems narrate the life of stray dog, Mooch, as he is invited into a new home. This is a nice addition to your haiku picture book reading as it demonstrates how poems can sustain a longer narrative rather than only being separate, self contained phenomena.

    If Not for the Cat book cover

    IF NOT FOR THE CAT by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Ted Rand

    Find it: Your Library | Amazon

    If you need an animal haiku book then you should definitely check out this offering from Jack Prelutsky. Each poem is not just a haiku but a riddle to be solved. The answer to each riddle-haiku is revealed in Ted Rand’s exquisite illustrations.

    MORE: Animal Poems

    The Cuckoo's Haiku book cover

    THE CUCKOO'S HAIKU by Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Stan Fellows  

    Find it: Your Library | Amazon

    The observant birdwatcher may describe their hobby as obtaining fleeting moments of nature in progress. The same description also captures the essential nature of haiku. Fellow's watercolor illustrations also fall into this category! The bird haiku are divided into season.

    Also read Rosen's The Maine Coon's Haiku

    wabi sabi book cover showing cat

    WABI SABI by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    A cat named Wabi Sabi sets off on a journey to find the meaning of her name and along the way discovers ways of seeing beauty in simplicity, an important concept in Zen Buddhism and also the meaning of his name. The story is accompanied by haikus that act as both punctuation marks in the story as well as moments in which the cat learns how to see beauty in simplicity. The illustrations are decorated with haiku in Japanese calligraphy, with an explanation in the endnotes.

    Won Ton Haiku book cover

    WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

    Find it: Amazon | Your Library

    An entire story told in haiku? Awesome! This is the story of a shelter cat and his new adopted life. With bold illustrations, this is a wonderful, funny and unique book. After you've read this one, be sure to catch the sequel, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku.

    Spi-ku poems about spiders book cover showing spiders on purple background

    SPI-KU: A CLUTTER OF SHORT VERSE ON EIGHT LEGS by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Robert Meganck

    Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

    I'm not going to lie, even in children's picture books, spiders creep me out. One of my kids, when they were little, loved a book with photographs of spiders in it. I finally had to secretly get rid of it because I couldn't take it anymore. But even I can't resist a good haiku collection, even if it is about spiders! This collection also features excellent information with notes on the poetic form, a glossary of scientific names, sidebar notes and more.

    Novelty Haiku Books

    Kiyoshi's Walk book cover

    KIYOSHI'S WALK by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon | Teacher's Guide

    This is an essential read! Kiyoshi watches his grandfather, Eto, write poetry and asks, "Where do poems come from?" Eto and Kiyoshi then go for a walk and as they observe their surroundings, Eto composes haiku and Kiyoshi discovers how poems originate in sensory and emotional experiences. Simply wonderful.

    Seeing into Tomorrow book cover

    SEEING INTO TOMORROW by Richard Wright, illustrated by Nina Crews

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Richard Wright was an important 20th century African-American writer and this collection of some of the haiku he wrote late in life are republished as a collection for children. Crews' photographs, along with the haiku, take readers on a journey through the landscape from the point of view of a young boy. Exquisite.

    A Pocketful of Poems book cover

    A POCKETFUL OF POEMS by Nikki Grimes

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Young Tiana has pocketful of words and each word inspires two delightful short poems - one in free verse, one as a haiku. This delightful book is a nice tool for children to explore how inspiration can take many forms! Grimes writes that she thought it would be "...fun to read haiku poetry with contemporary images that I could relate to as a Harlem-born city girl." I think she succeeds marvelously.

    Guyku book cover

    GUYKU: A YEAR OF HAIKU FOR BOYS by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

    Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

    I truly adore this book, partly because being a mom of two boys I recognize the spirited and mischievous nature of boys so aptly translated to the haiku form. (That’s not to say girls are spirited and mischievous; girls will also enjoy these haiku!) We often think of haiku as peaceful, calming meditations but they can just as deftly depict moments of action!

    If it Rains Pancakes book cover

    IF IT RAINS PANCAKES by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Andy Rowland

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Look at that cover! I love it! If you are just about getting haiku-ed out, try mixing it up with another Japanese poetry form: the lantern poem. A lantern poem is written in a form of cinquain in which the shape of the poem on the page resembles a lantern. The verse in this collection are silly, rowdy and very witty!

    « Inspiring Middle Grade Verse Novels
    Diverse Summer Reading List for 7-9 Year Olds »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. iGameMom says

      March 25, 2013 at 9:39 pm

      Have to check out some of the books! Thanks for sharing. Love your site's new look!

      Reply
    2. thepicturebookreview says

      April 01, 2013 at 3:11 am

      You always come up with the best ideas for book lists. I love it!

      Reply
      • Erica says

        April 01, 2013 at 5:24 am

        This one was really fun to do - that's the best part: sharing the books with the boys. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says

      April 01, 2013 at 9:50 pm

      I have only read If Not For the Cat. I guess I better start reading!

      Reply
    4. Marie-Claude Leroux says

      April 02, 2013 at 10:04 pm

      Great list - thanks putting it together and sharing 🙂 I love it when a routine occurrence (like walking to school) turns into a fun opportunity for learning and creativity.

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 03, 2013 at 9:26 am

        It certainly makes the walk to school a bit more fun.

        Reply
    5. Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews says

      April 06, 2013 at 1:51 pm

      I Haiku You is so cute! I still need to read the rest of these, though.
      I've heard of Haikubes, but I haven't gotten to try it either. It looks like so much fun!

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 07, 2013 at 11:18 am

        I know, I want those Haikutubes so much!

        Reply
    6. Renee C. says

      April 10, 2013 at 1:41 pm

      I Haiku You looks so sweet - I remember seeing that one around Valentine's Day this year. So, are you going to share some of your Haiku creations with us? 😉 Thanks for linking into the Kid Lit Blog Hop

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 10, 2013 at 6:32 pm

        Our haikus are so cheesy, though!

        Reply
    7. Pauline @ LessonsLearntJournal.com says

      April 12, 2013 at 2:10 am

      Fabulous! I'll also be featuring this post as part of my Kids Books: Stories, Poems & Activities roundup from the Weekly Kids' Co-op. Thanks for sharing. xoxo P

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 12, 2013 at 6:22 am

        Thanks, Pauline!

        Reply
    8. Skye says

      April 18, 2013 at 9:45 am

      Thanks for this list! I love diversifying our kiddo's reading list not just in topic, but in format - and aside from Haiku Baby a long time ago, we haven't read much haiku.

      Reply
    9. Sammy says

      September 25, 2013 at 9:00 pm

      Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth is another great haiku book for kids!

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        September 26, 2013 at 5:23 am

        I agree, that's a wonderful book, Sammy.

        Reply
    10. Jennifer says

      November 13, 2014 at 11:04 am

      Another cute one is Kiddie-koos & Kangaroos by Stephanie Petroff. (Available on Amazon.com)

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        November 13, 2014 at 11:05 am

        Thanks for the suggestion.

        Reply
    11. Marie says

      April 02, 2015 at 8:15 pm

      I would recommend both Basho and the Fox and Basho and the River Stones by TIm Meyers. Cool Melons by Matthew Gollub was also a hit in the house.

      I would be careful with the Haikubes. Some of the words are not appropriate for young children.

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 08, 2015 at 5:10 am

        Thanks for the recommendation, and for the heads up on the Haikubes!

        Reply
    12. Masahiro says

      April 13, 2016 at 9:07 am

      I love HAIKU!

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 14, 2016 at 9:50 am

        So do we!

        Reply
    13. Lise McGuinness says

      April 04, 2017 at 11:52 pm

      even bad haiku
      (quirky morning ritual)
      lures with mathematics

      🙂

      Reply
      • Erica says

        April 05, 2017 at 12:46 pm

        Love it!

        Reply
    14. Amy Losak says

      April 21, 2017 at 10:46 am

      Hi Erica, Penny Candy Books (pennycandybooks.com) was founded by two poets. PCB will publish my late mom's themed haiku manuscript next spring. Sydell Rosenberg was a charter member of the Haiku Society of America who studied, wrote and published haiku and senryu for decades. I would love to connect with you at the appropriate time, in case you update this list of kids' haiku books. In the meantime, please consider including this gorgeous, recent kids' haiku book which deserves to be much better well-known by Dr. Edward Rielly, Spring Rain Winter Snow (link below). I've read the book -- the poetry and illustrations are just beautiful. And if you're looking for other kids' poetry book recommendations, please let me know. Thanks to my efforts on behalf of my mom, I've become acquainted with some wonderful talents in the poetry and kidlit communities. https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Rain-Winter-Edward-Rielly/dp/1941830943

      Reply
    15. Amy Losak says

      April 21, 2017 at 11:15 am

      Please permit me to share this short blog piece for April 17, which was International Haiku Poetry Day. http://readlearnandbehappy.blogspot.com/2017/04/happy-international-haiku-day-national.html?m=1

      Reply
      • Erica says

        April 23, 2017 at 7:14 am

        Thank you for sharing that! I love the one about cleaning and the dirt is really a spider! 🙂

        Reply
        • Amy Losak says

          April 23, 2017 at 8:13 am

          Thanks so much for your kind comment,Erica! This one actually came to me in a "flash" (which is rare). I do hope you will check out Dr. Rielly's book, which is gorgeous; and the titles from my publisher, Penny Candy Books (pennycandybooks.com). With your permission, I'd like to keep you posted about my mom's upcoming themed haiku collection for kids. It is supposed to be published next spring. I also have a partnership with a nonprofit arts education organization in NY, Arts For All (arts-for-all.org). We have co-developed programs that pair Sydell Rosenberg's haiku with music and art. The programs are for second graders. For this spring semester, a new program has been developed: it pairs the short poems with theater instruction and is being taught at a third grade school in the Bronx. It's been a rewarding endeavor! Thanks again. I am honored to be acquainted.

          Reply
        • Amy Losak says

          May 07, 2018 at 12:33 pm

          Eric, after a journey that's been decades-long, H IS FOR HAIKU: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z, is finally published! I am grateful to Penny Candy Books and the KidLit and poetry communities for their encouragement and warmth. Sydell Rosenberg, the author, was a charter member of the Haiku Society of America in 1968. The poems -- some of which were published in journals a long time ago -- celebrate life's small moments. Sawsan Chalabi is the illustrator and her art wonderfully brings out the playful joy and wit in mom's poems. Kids and adults alike will revel in H IS FOR HAIKU.

          Reply
          • Amy Losak says

            May 07, 2018 at 12:34 pm

            I meant to type "Erica" -- sorry!

            Reply
    16. Rebecca says

      April 25, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      Great list! I've seen a few of these before, but most are new to me.

      Reply
    17. Tanya Marshall says

      April 03, 2018 at 6:16 pm

      This is really good information! I hope you don't mind, but I included a link to this blog post on my blog for my readers to come and check this out. Here's the link for you to see it also: https://bit.ly/2Gz2GPh

      Reply

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