Poetry, philosophy, wisdom, a chance to learn from various cultures as well as science… That’s what these deceivingly simple picturebooks do. Use them with young readers or much older ones to foster a love of language and a sense of wonder!
A Pond, A Poet and Three Pests by Caroline Adderson, with art by Lauren Tamaki is an absolute gem of a picturebook. Skillfully written with different poetic tools – alliteration, a little touch of rhyme and carefully crafted haiku’s – this story is both the biography of the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho. It’s a great picturebook to use with students of all ages, especially those in middle school, when crafting haiku’s in class. Historic backmatter is included.
Groundwood Books, ISBN 978-1-77306-893-0
Wabi Sabi, written by Mark Reibstein and illustrated by Ed Young, is a gorgeously illustrated picturebook. Wabi Sai is a Japanese way of seeing beauty and harmony in the world. It is also the cat in this story who searches for the meaning of her name. But everyone she asks, tell her it is complicated. Throughout her search she learns more. The luscious art is a collage of interesting textures: bamboo, reeds, fabric. The text answers the cat’s questions in ancient Japanese poetry formats: both haibun and haiku. This is a book that works with young children as well as with older ones studying forms of poetry and art.
ISBN 978-0-316-11825-5, Little, Brown & Co
The Story and Science of Hope, by Andrea Curtis, with illustrations by Ana Suárez is a thought-provoking picturebook about what, exactly, is hope? It is not the same as a wish. The text explains how hope can be turned into deeds that can make a difference, how a person can turn hope into action. But it delves much deeper than that. Using science, the author looks at the difference in people with and without hope, how your brain is effected and how each one of us can learn to let hope guide us into making ourselves and the world a better place. An excellent picturebook for middle grade and highschool students.
Groundwood, ISBN 978-1-77306-731-5
Margriet Ruurs conducts author visits to international schools. Her titles include picturebooks about children in many countries, books about refugees, nature and libraries around the world.