My First Book of Haiku Poems - by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen (Hardcover)

About the Book

This volume contains 20 classic poems by great haiku masters, each paired with a stunning original painting by Gallup that both portrays and inspires a child's imagination. Fully bilingual, the book presents the original versions in Japanese script and Romanized form alongside the English translation. Full color.

Book Synopsis

**Chosen for 2020 NCTE Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels List**
**Winner of 2020 Northern Lights Book Award for Poetry**
**Winner of 2019 Skipping Stones Honor Awards**

Escape into a dreamy world of watercolors and nature-inspired haiku.

My First Book of Haiku Poems introduces children to this ancient poetry form that's still a favorite among teachers, parents and children. These concise poems are easy for readers of all ages to understand and appreciate.

Each of these 20 classic poems by Issa, Shiki, Basho, and other great haiku masters is paired with a stunning original painting by award-winning illustrator Tracy Gallup--which children will want to dive into and adults will want to frame.

A fully bilingual children's book, My First Book of Haiku Poems includes the original versions of the Japanese poems (in Japanese script and Romanized form) on each page alongside the English translation to form a complete cultural experience.

Commentaries offer parents and teachers ready-made "food for thought" to share with young readers and stimulate a conversation about each work.

Review Quotes

"...the illustrations by Gallup are just stunning! Thoughtful 'dreamscape' paintings accompany each haiku, bringing them to life." --A Little Literary Love blog

"An extraordinary and unique bilingual picture book, My First Book of Haiku Poems: a Picture, a Poem and a Dream will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library poetry collections and bilingual picture book collections." --Midwest Book Review

"Classic haiku works by Japanese poets--appearing in their original script as well as Romaji and in English translation--are compiled in this artful collection. Ramirez-Christensen invites readers to contemplate the poems' meanings...The poems gracefully encourage reading, contemplation, and creativity, and Gallup evokes wonder through her gently surreal imagery." --Publishers Weekly

"Each poem is paired with a stunning original painting that reflects the strength and beauty of the words, opening the door to the world of imagination. Illustrator Gallup's superb artwork vividly captures the nature of the poet's meaning...Well-constructed and thoughtful, this collection is a recommended title." --School Library Journal

"Each two-page spread of this enigmatic collection of poems features a three-line verse by a haiku master--printed in English, Japanese, and romanized Japanese syllables--accompanied by a full-page painting of a surreal, imaginative scene...Haiku is a mainstay of classroom poetry sections, and this volume does an unusually good job of putting the form in context and emphasizing its evocative, quiet beauty." --Booklist

"Haiku is often a gateway to writing poetry for youngsters, and this brief, image-focused form encourages sharing and discussing at home and school. Artist Tracy Gallup's luminous 'dreamscapes' beautifully convey the tone of curiosity and wonder in these 20 poems from Japanese masters such as Basho, Buson and Issa. Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen provides graceful translations, guiding questions, short biographies and historic background. A gem of a book!" --Washington Parent magazine

"I love how this book combines the words of the haiku with the picture from the artist." --Crafty Moms Share blog

"Nature comes alive in each classic haiku accompanied by an expressive, imaginative painting. The poems appear in both English and Japanese, which is also transliterated to facilitate pronunciation." -- Reading Rockets

About the Author

Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen is a professor at the University of Michigan and an award-winning teacher and scholar of classical Japanese literature. She has written extensively on the subjects of Japanese poets and poetry and Buddhist philosophy.

Tracy Gallup is an author, illustrator and lifelong artist. She has a BFA from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA in painting from Syracuse University. Tracy worked as an elementary school art teacher for many years, and celebrates imagination and childhood in her own artwork. She is the author and illustrator of 9 children's books, including Paint the Night, A Roomful of Questions, four books in A Crazy Little series, King Cat, and also illustrated the book Beastly Banquet. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her husband. As a child, Tracy had and loved her very own collection of Tuttle books.