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Wise and Wonderful Haiku Poetry Books for Kids

Do you share poetry with your kids? Even if you are a dedicated read-aloud parent, it is easy to overlook poetry. Haiku books for kids are a good place to start, especially as National Poetry Month is right around the corner. Poetry has played a very calming and joyful role in our home, and I know it can do good things for you, too.

Haiku picture books for kids

Haiku Poetry for Kids

One year during our interminable walk to school every morning, my son and I passed the time by composing Haiku. On a whim one morning I explained the 5-7-5 syllable structure with some examples of haiku poems I composed on the spot (they were very bad). I described how the subject of haiku is nature but truth be told, it was the mathematical component that hooked his interest! Some of the poems we compose on our walks are really silly but I loved our quirky morning ritual.

The following books are all lovely collections of haiku poetry you can share with your kids. I know these books will inspire your kids to write haiku so be sure to read our haiku poetry challenge! (Note: book covers and titles are affiliate links)

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Haiku Books for Kids


GUYKU: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. 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, but I don’t have daughters. If you’re a girl and want to protest you can do so at the Guyku website!)


Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth. With our love of poetry, the boys and I have been enjoying this book of haiku about the seasons. There is a bit of whimsy in both the pictures and poems that is quite appealing. Muth’s signature illustrative style is just as dreamy and wonderful as in his other books.


The Cuckoo’s Haiku: and Other Birding Poems by Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Stan Fellows.  The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous and birds are divided into season, which is perfect for enthusiastic birders.


One Leaf Rides the Wind by Celeste Mannis, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung. 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.


A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes. Young Tiana has pocketful of words and each word inspires two delightful short poem – one in free verse, one as a haiku. This is a wonderful book 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.


Haiku Baby and Haiku Night by Betsy E. Snyder. This is a darling board book with 6 haiku poems about nature. I really loved how Snyder uses onomatopoetic words which naturally appeal to babies and the collage illustrations are colorful and sweet.


I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder. This is another lovely collection by Snyder. Each haiku is an expression of love and affection: super-sweet but not saccharine.


Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. 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 new Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku.


Dogku by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Tim Bowers. I bet you didn’t know the author of Frindle wrote haiku. Me neither. Short poems for your little dog lover.


If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Ted Rand. 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.


Today And Today by Kobayashi Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas . 18th century Japanese poet Issa’s haikus are given a fresh life for kids in this collection. Organized by season and accompanied by winsome illustrations from one of my favorite illustrators (I have a lot of favorites, actually).


Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young. I don’t know what it is about haikus and cats, but here is another selection that pairs the two. 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.


Cool Melons – Turn To Frogs!: The Life And Poems Of Issa.  Story and translations by Matthew Gollub, illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone. Gollub tells the story of Issa, an 18th century Japanese poet. Issa’s own haiku are woven into the story 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.


Guess Who Haiku by Deanna Caswell, illustrated by Bob Shea. A guessing game in haiku poetry for babies and toddlers! Lots of fun.


If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems by Brian P. Cleary, illustrated by Andy Rowland. 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.


The Maine Coon’s Haiku: And Other Poems for Cat Lovers by Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Lee Anthony White. More cat haiku! Lovely little poems about cat breeds, not just the Maine coon.

More poetry books for kids: 

Haiku books for kids

Comments

  6. 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

  8. 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

  11. 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

  14. 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

      • 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

      • 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

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