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How Do You Haiku?: A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates
An excellent resource for at home or in the classroom From the author of Peek-A-Boo Haiku (Simon & Schuster) comes a haiku how-to handbook. Haiku is a Japanese poetry form, but it's more than just a short, three-line poem. It's an opportunity to slow down, go outside, and experience the world in a new way. Haiku is a "snapshot" of a moment in nature (if you blink, you might miss it!), and it's a powerful way to show compassion for all living things. This book will help you understand haiku so you can create poems with powerful words and images. Each chapter contains examples from Japanese haiku masters and current poets. The included activities and templates will guide you through fun ways to "haiku," including painting poem stones for your garden (Kuhi), creating haiku comic strips, and writing group poems with your friends (Renga). How Do You Haiku? This handbook will show you how— step-by-step. Includes haiku by contributing poets Kate Coombs, Nancy Etchemendy, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Raven Howell, Linda Hoffman Kimball, Amy Losak, Bobi Martin, Angie Quantrell, Sydell Rosenberg, Lee Wardlaw, and Linda Whalen.
- GenresPoetry
106 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2023
About the author
Danna Smith
35 books66 followersWhen Danna was a child, her favorite “toy” was a pencil. Today, she is a poet and award-winning author of over twenty-five books for children. Danna lives in northern California with her husband, children, and grandchildren. For more information about her books and teaching activities, visit her website at www.dannadmithbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 23, 2023
HOW DO YOU HAIKU? by Danna Smith
Available in Hardcover, Paperback and e-Book
Whether or not you think you know how to haiku, this book is for you! It’s a comprehensive exploration of this diverse poetry form which includes a step-by-Step guide to writing haiku, published examples from both traditional and modern poets, inspiring quotes, templates, etymology, biographies and more.
Smith starts off with her definition of a poet, which is clear and accessible to the child reader. But don’t be fooled – this book will work for haiku writers and masters of all ages! Smith’s structured approach to haiku will surely inspire children to express themselves and their emotions through poetry. And as a bonus for parents and teachers, it’s a fun exercise in perception, learning the seasons, following directions and accepting a small challenge!
For those who rise to the challenge, Smith provides a strong foundation to understanding the genre, as well as the tools to write one. And, as yet another added bonus, she inspires the child to take a ginko – a quiet walk through nature to observe and consider the world that surrounds them. Step by step, she leads the reader to find inspiration, capture a moment in time, count syllables, navigate the differences in form, and review their work with a helpful checklist.
But there’s more –
Smith shares fun facts - did you know that haiku started as a party game over 700 years ago?
She includes forms that can be copied for readers to write both traditional forms of haiku (saijiki, renga, kuhi, haibun, senryu, haiga – just to name a few) and also modern forms, including comic haiku, catku and other engaging options.
And there’s crafts and travel games, as well!
Once the reader completes this multi-level book, they will have an Aha! Moment! They’re realize they can understand, read and write many forms of haiku and that they are well on their way to becoming a haiku master (which is defined as having successfully written 10 haiku).
Five Stars
Lynne Marie,
Director, Rate Your Story
Reviewer, Peek-a-boo Reviews
Available in Hardcover, Paperback and e-Book
Whether or not you think you know how to haiku, this book is for you! It’s a comprehensive exploration of this diverse poetry form which includes a step-by-Step guide to writing haiku, published examples from both traditional and modern poets, inspiring quotes, templates, etymology, biographies and more.
Smith starts off with her definition of a poet, which is clear and accessible to the child reader. But don’t be fooled – this book will work for haiku writers and masters of all ages! Smith’s structured approach to haiku will surely inspire children to express themselves and their emotions through poetry. And as a bonus for parents and teachers, it’s a fun exercise in perception, learning the seasons, following directions and accepting a small challenge!
For those who rise to the challenge, Smith provides a strong foundation to understanding the genre, as well as the tools to write one. And, as yet another added bonus, she inspires the child to take a ginko – a quiet walk through nature to observe and consider the world that surrounds them. Step by step, she leads the reader to find inspiration, capture a moment in time, count syllables, navigate the differences in form, and review their work with a helpful checklist.
But there’s more –
Smith shares fun facts - did you know that haiku started as a party game over 700 years ago?
She includes forms that can be copied for readers to write both traditional forms of haiku (saijiki, renga, kuhi, haibun, senryu, haiga – just to name a few) and also modern forms, including comic haiku, catku and other engaging options.
And there’s crafts and travel games, as well!
Once the reader completes this multi-level book, they will have an Aha! Moment! They’re realize they can understand, read and write many forms of haiku and that they are well on their way to becoming a haiku master (which is defined as having successfully written 10 haiku).
Five Stars
Lynne Marie,
Director, Rate Your Story
Reviewer, Peek-a-boo Reviews
September 8, 2023
Poetry is an art form that allows us to express ourselves and concisely share feelings. However, the characteristics of poetry vary based on its place of origin. In Japan, for instance, we encounter Haiku, a seventeen-syllable poem with a unique structure and composition. The Haiku aims to draw us out of our daily routine, encouraging us to pause and appreciate nature as if we were capturing a special moment in a photograph. In this context, Danna Smith introduces us to How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates. This guide showcases Haiku's meditative aspects and highlights its ability to explore the dramatic and the amusing. Thus, Danna Smith leads us through the fundamentals of Haiku efficiently and engagingly, providing instructions, examples, and tips.
Danna Smith discusses how the Haiku sparks imagination and shifts our perception of our surroundings. But she goes even further. She shares vocabulary and explains how to find dynamic words to maintain a solid structure. One of my favorite parts was the Haiku's history, as it offers insight into using poetry as a means of expression. Furthermore, the book presents clear explanations, and the numerous examples are enjoyable. Another aspect I appreciated is Danna Smith's addition of translations and explanations for the Japanese terms she uses, enhancing our understanding of Japanese culture.
Writing poetry might initially seem complex, especially in Haiku, where space is limited. Nevertheless, Danna Smith does an outstanding job motivating us to give it a try. While more examples of Haiku would have been helpful to complement the emphasis on technical aspects, overall, the information is well-explained, and there's ample material to inspire us.
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates is an exceptional children's book to help educate and inspire children and adults. This guide is excellent for beginners, serving as a helpful tool to learn how to perceive the world through the lens of poetry and practice the art of Haiku.
Danna Smith discusses how the Haiku sparks imagination and shifts our perception of our surroundings. But she goes even further. She shares vocabulary and explains how to find dynamic words to maintain a solid structure. One of my favorite parts was the Haiku's history, as it offers insight into using poetry as a means of expression. Furthermore, the book presents clear explanations, and the numerous examples are enjoyable. Another aspect I appreciated is Danna Smith's addition of translations and explanations for the Japanese terms she uses, enhancing our understanding of Japanese culture.
Writing poetry might initially seem complex, especially in Haiku, where space is limited. Nevertheless, Danna Smith does an outstanding job motivating us to give it a try. While more examples of Haiku would have been helpful to complement the emphasis on technical aspects, overall, the information is well-explained, and there's ample material to inspire us.
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates is an exceptional children's book to help educate and inspire children and adults. This guide is excellent for beginners, serving as a helpful tool to learn how to perceive the world through the lens of poetry and practice the art of Haiku.
March 18, 2024
How Do You Haiku? is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about haiku and learn how to write the different forms of haiku. This book is filled with easy-to-understand background information, wonderful examples of the different types of haiku, and tons of encouragement for young and old writers. I love the quick read chapters and templates to use as inspiration. I would have loved to have this as a resource for my classroom! Personally, I can't wait to try my hand at the different types of haiku. After reading How Do You Haiku? I feel like I have a good introduction to the haiku masters and many talented modern haiku writers. Two thumbs up!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews