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Children's Fiction Poetry (see Also Stories In Verse)

Guyku

A Year of Haiku for Boys

by (author) Bob Raczka

illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Publisher
HarperCollins
Initial publish date
Mar 2018
Category
Poetry (see also Stories in Verse), General, Boys & Men, Stories in Verse, Seasons, Humorous Stories, General
Recommended Age
4 to 7
Recommended Grade
p to 3
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780547240039
    Publish Date
    Oct 2010
    List Price
    $21.00
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781328869302
    Publish Date
    Mar 2018
    List Price
    $8.50

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

Boy-centric haiku about outdoor fun throughout the seasons, with illustrations by the New York Times bestselling creator Peter Reynolds.

The wind and I play
tug-of-war with my new kite.
The wind is winning.

When you’re a guy, nature is one big playground—no matter what the season. There are puddles to splash through in the spring, pine trees to climb in the summer, maple seeds to catch in the fall, and icicles to sword fight with in the winter.

Nature also has a way of making a guy appreciate important stuff—like how many rocks it takes to dam up a stream, or how much snow equals a day off from school.

So what kind of poetry best captures these special moments, at a length that lets guys get right back to tree climbing and kite flying? Why, guyku, of course!

About the authors

Awards

  • ALA Notable Children’s Book
  • Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award

Editorial Reviews

* "This wonderful collection will resonate with all children as they recognize their earnest and sometimes misdirected antics in each poem. The pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations mirror the simplicity of each entry and capture the expressions of the boys and their adventures honestly. This is haiku at its most fun. All libraries should grab it for their collections." —School Library Journal, starred review "This is childhood as adults remember it, or want to remember it: no flat-screen TVs, no computers, no cars or cellphones. Whether children will recognize their own lives in these wistful visions is not clear, but they will certainly appreciate Raczka's humor." Publishers Weekly "Non-rhyming poetry can be a tough sell for kids. For some, though, haiku is less intimidating, thanks to its brevity and reliance on rigid rules—and intimidating is one thing this book is not." Booklist "Raczka and Reynolds are a winning team, and the results will start many boy (and girl) readers thinking about turning their own experience into a seventeen-syllable poem." The Horn Book

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