Short and Sweet: A Haiku Classic for April

 

Lee & Low Books, 1998

Pause with me for this brief review of, and reflection on,  COOL MELONS- TURN TO FROGS: THE Life and Poems of ISSA, with story and haiku translations by Matthew Gollub, illustrations by Kazuko G. Stone. Why? Because April is National Poetry Month. Because haiku is an accessible poetic form that offers peace and grace and calm. Because it is spring. Because the life of poet ISSA is fascinating. 

Just because.

The life of iconic 19th century Japanese Haiku poet ISSA is portrayed in a combination of narrative text and actual haiko poems he wrote throughout his life. The simple storytelling grace of the narratives fully complements and showcases the featured poems, with vertical illustration and the poem itself written in Japanese characters, top to bottom, on facing pages. In total, the book provides an immersive cultural experience for young readers, providing connection to Issa as a child and then later in his life. 

Originally released in 1998, this treatment of Issa's biography and translations of his poems is timeless and tender, appealing to readers and audiences of any age.

As promised in the title of this post, it is short and sweet. But just in case you are longing for a bit more on the subject, here are some prior posts to explore:

Haiku: HERE, HERE, and HERE.

POETRY: HERE, HERE, and HERE.

These are only a few of many past posts featuring poetry, and they stretch beyond a decade. But as with this featured title, now more than a quarter century in print, the very best in poetry is timeless. Please accept my invitation to PAUSE in your own busy lives and see if you agree!