Explore Poetry with SINCE THE BABY CAME by Kathleen Long Bostrom

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  We are excited to have guest post by Kathleen Long Bostrom, author of Since the Baby Came: A Sibling’s Learning-to-Love Story in 16 Poems , talking about the process of writing the book and sharing some ideas for discussing and poetry writing! Read : Since the Baby Came: A Sibling’s Learning-to-Love Story in 16 Poems by Kathleen Long Bostrom, illustrated by Janet Samuel I love poetry and rhyme, and always have. I grew up with a mother who often recited poetry and I learned to read with Dr. Seuss books. It’s no wonder I turned to poetry when I began writing picture books for children.  At a children’s book conference one day about 12 years ago, I asked my friend, an editor for an educational publishing house, “What are the areas in early education where more good books are needed?”  Without hesitation, she replied, “Poetry.”  Many of my published books were written in poetry, but what could I write that was unique? Aha! I thought. What if I wrote a story using a variety of styles of
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National Poetry Month Celebration: Haiku

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Welcome to week two of Read, Discuss, Do's poetry celebration! This week we are encouraging you to read, discuss, and write haiku, a Japanese poetic form made up of 3 lines. A traditional haiku is often about something in nature, but it doesn't have to be.

Dogku by Andrew Clements and Wonton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw (illustrated by Eugen Yelchin) are both stories about pets told in a series of haiku. Also look for its companion book, Wonton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku. And be sure to keep reading for an example of a "catku" that Lee was kind enough to share especially for this post!

Whoo-ku Haiku by Maria Gianferrari (illustrated by Jonathan Voss) is also a story told in a series of haiku. More true to the traditional haiku in subject matter, the story is about a family of great horned owls.

In Lion of the Sky by Laura Purdie Salas (illustrated by Mercè López) the haiku are also riddle poems!

A few other haiku books:

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Chris Raczka (illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds)

If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky (illustrated by Ted Rand)

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder


Here are some examples of haiku:


Colorful leaves drift

streaming bits of confetti

fall's celebration

© Rebecca J. Gomez


Blind Tom hunched at old

hole, poised to pounce for so long - 

slips into a nap

© Lee Wardlaw


Two miles. Heart pumping.

Wind rushing, affirmation

....I forgot my gloves.

© Samantha Coté


Are you ready to write your own now? Feel free to share your (or your kids') haiku in the comments. 


About the poets:

Rebecca J. Gomez is the founder of Read, Discuss, Do!, an author, and a poet. Find out more about her and her books at www.rebeccajgomez.com.

Lee Wardlaw is an award-winning author and poet. Her book Wonton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku won the Lee Bennet Hopkins Poetry Award and the Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award, and many others. Wonton and Choptstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku was an NCTE Notable Poetry Book and it won the Booksource Scout Award for Poetry. Find out more about Lee and her books at her website, leewardlaw.com. 

Samantha Coté is an outspoken poet and blogger, and the daughter of Rebecca J. Gomez. You can read more of her musings at her blog, thoughtmoot.blogspot.com.

Comments

Samantha Coté said…
I think haiku is the perfect form of poetry for cats. Succinct yet elegant. Sometimes incredibly difficult.
April 22, 2022 at 10:48 AM
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