International Haiku Poetry Day
The CBC Holidays Series explores stories that relate to specific holidays so that kid, and adult, readers can celebrate in the best way… with a good book!
On International Haiku Poetry Day (April 17), we celebrate the 5-7-5 syllable poems. Haiku are short poems with just 3 sentences. Originally created in Japan, these poems would showcase nature and beauty, but today we see more variety in our haikus by including topics like zombies and pancakes. Let’s pick up a book and try writing out our own haiku!
Brains For Lunch: A Zombie Novel in Haiku?! by K. A. Holt, illus. Gahan Wilson (Macmillan / Roaring Brook Press) — Fiction, Prose, Poetry, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, ages 7-12.
Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs, illus. Anna Laitinen (Macmillan / Sounds True) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Concepts, ages 4-6.
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko, illus. Melissa Sweet (Candlewick Press) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Concepts, Science, ages 7-12.
Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market by Michelle Schaub, illus. Amy Huntington (Charlesbridge Publishing) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Humor, Science, ages 4-6.
Guess Who, Haiku by Deanna Caswell, illus. Bob Shea (ABRAMS) — Fiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Animals, Series, ages 4-6.
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka, illus. Peter H. Reynolds (HarperCollins) — Fiction, Picture Book, Poetry, ages 4-6.
H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z by Sydell Rosenberg, illus. Sawsan Chalabi (Penny Candy Books) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Concepts, ages 4-6.
Haiku Baby by Betsy E. Snyder, illus. Betsy E. Snyder (Random House Books for Young Readers) — Fiction, Board Book, Poetry, Animals, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Hi, Koo!: Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth, illus. Jon J. Muth (Scholastic Press) — Fiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Animals, Concepts, ages 4-6.
I Haiku You by Betsy E. Snyder (Random House Books for Young Readers) — Fiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Animals, Science, ages 4-6.
If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems by Brian P. Cleary, illus. Andy Rowland (Lerner Publishing / Millbrook Press) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Humor, ages 7-12.
My Mindful A to Zen: 26 Well-Being Haiku for Happy Little Minds by Krina Patel-Sage, illus. Krina Patel-Sage (Lerner Publishing / Lantana Publishing) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Health, ages 4-6.
One Leaf Rides the Wind by Celeste Mannis, illus. Susan Kathleen Hartung (Penguin Random House / Puffin Books) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Concepts, Science, ages 4-6.
The Maine Coon’s Haiku by Michael J. Rosen, illus. Lee White (Candlewick Press) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Animals, Science, ages 7-12.
Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico! Brotes de las Américas by Pat Mora, illus. Rafael Lopez (Lee & Low Books) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Poetry, Background / Culture, Science, ages 4-6.
Join International Haiku Poetry Day with a book!
List compiled by CBC’s resident holiday expert, Sommer Wissner. Check out other CBC Holiday book lists on our blog.
