The Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. It is typically written on the theme of nature. It is short and has 17 syllables divided into three lines of 5, 7, and 5. Kala Ramesh, a famed Haiku poet, brings the crispness and timelessness of this beautiful art form in a little book. In an elegant way this brings forth Haiku for children.
Haiku for Children: Interacting with words and the physicality of books
When we read books from Katha Publishers, we do expect a seamless package between the text, illustrations and the final product quality. Haiku by Kala Ramesh, is a set of two books, quite compact and to the point. Here is a little duo that have been executed to perfection.
The book on Haiku is a foldout. To read the book one needs to interact with the pages in a different manner. I feel this physical interaction by unravelling folds adds an extra layer and an important nuance to the entire experience of reading the book. The reader can read and appreciate Haiku presented with colourful and apt illustrations.
The accompanying activity book, My Haiku Moments is an activity book for young Haiku lovers. It’s small in size, but packs in a truckload of information on writing haiku. Right from what the word Haiku means, to the technicalities of the construction of the haiku and the themes it concerns with, you’ll find just the right amount of information required to get a child into the haiku grove!
One may think that writing a poem is serious business. However, what I love about the book is that Haiku is presented like a word dance. Consequently, this can be seen in the foldout book. Here, the words and art intermingle and give a fun vibe. In the activity book as well, we see Haiku as a fun way of expressing thoughts.
The explosion of art and words is quite impactful. The wildly creative lines find expression in equally wonderful art by Surabhi Singh.
This resource book and guide will give you a rocking start to your Haiku journey! If you want to read more about Haiku you may enjoy reading this. Welcome to the world of Haiku for children!
