Gershator, Phillis. Sky Sweeper. Illustrated by Holly Meade.

New York: Melanie Kroupa Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.
With many thanks to Melanie Kroupa, and to Phillis Gershator.
Sky Sweeper is the story of Takeboki (say “tah-kay-bow-key” keeping the vowel sounds short and pure), a young man who takes up a simple job. As the Flower Keeper, he must sweep up the flowers that [...]

Read Full Post »

Issa. Today and Today. Edited and illustrated by G. Brian Karas.

New York: Scholastic Press, 2007.
With thanks to Michael Lustbader.
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828), of course, is one of Japan’s favorite haiku poets, and often the subject of works for children. What most people, in Japan and elsewhere, know about Issa is that many of his poems are about small creatures, and about the spirited way he made [...]

Read Full Post »