Customer Reviews

Haiku (Asian Arts and Crafts For Creative Kids)

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First let me say this: I NEVER write reviews. But after seeing so few written for this title, I feel compelled to offer my praise.

After a half hour of perusing this book, I have
- Learned interesting tidbits about the history of haiku
- Gained several simple but brilliant insights into the spiritual nature of haiku
- Become determined to lead a haiku class at my sons' school
- Started planning for a seasonal haiku-writing party with friends

Put it this way: If you're interested enough in this book to actually read the reviews, then you must buy it. Must buy it.

This book is a gem for adults as well as children. Not only does it clearly and simply explain the elements of haiku, and how to write good haiku, but it contains various projects to encourage children in writing. Included are projects that can be used to involve the whole family in exploring haiku together. As a grandmother who has in the distant past touched into haiku, I found the way this book approaches the subject actually inspired me to resume writing haiku. My granddaughters, 12 and 14, loved the book and are both exploring the medium.

This book is awesome. The author does a GREAT job at explaining about the essential elements of haiku and how to include them in your poetry. This book is great for teachers who would like a simple guide to help them teach the art of haiku to their students. In addition, this book suggests a number of extension activities involving the arts that are great as well.

What people love about haiku is its simplicity. This book further offers seven keys to understand and appreciate haiku: form (three lines with or without 17 syllable count), image, nature/season word, here and now, feeling, surprise and compassion. Author of HAIKU MIND and CHINO-NI: WOMAN HAIKU MASTER, Patricia Donegan is characteristically patient with words and she goes into great details to provide readers young and old with stories, backgrounds, anecdotes, project ideas and methods of reading and writing haiku. The information presented in this book is fairly accurate from an eastern reader's perspective.

I used this for a workshop with fourth graders and this book is extremely helpful. Great examples and how tos. Also wonderful examples of Haikus to get you going.