Haiku—seventeen-syllable poems that evoke worlds despite their brevity—have captivated Japanese readers since the seventeenth century. Today the form is practiced worldwide and is an established part of our common global heritage. This beautifully bound volume presents new English translations of classic poetry by the four great masters of Japanese haiku: Matsuo Bash, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki. The haiku are accompanied by both the original Japanese and a phonetic transcription.

These 26 delicious scenes retrieved from childhood help us, young and old, to revisit those times and to share them anew. Not the cookie-cutter haiku you'll find in similar books, Liz Crocket's work will introduce your child (and perhaps you!) to the way contemporary haiku has evolved over the past half-century, and perhaps inspire you to capture your own special moments in the same fashion. -- Jim Kacian, Editor-in-Chief, Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years Elizabeth Crocket has filled this book with happy stories from nature, lessons on life, great ideas for children to try, and lots of family love. The 26 haiku--as many as the letters in the alphabet--present fine examples of alliteration "birthday bat", expression "cutting teeth", suspense "suddenly..." and hinge questions, "do you love me?" Short and simple to read on 3-lines following the form of traditional Japanese poetry, these haiku can inspire children from as early as two to become creative writers too. - David McMurray (Asahi Haikuist columnist in Japan)

A guide to haiku uses examples from around the world to convey the importance of the seasons.