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Hi, Koo!
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2014)Caldecott Honoree and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author/artist Jon J Muth takes a fresh and exciting new look at the four seasons!
Eating warm cookies
on a cold day
is easy
water catches
every thrown stone
skip skip splash
With a featherlight touch and disarming charm, Jon J Muth--and his delightful little panda bear, Koo--challenge readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with twenty-six haikus about the four seasons.
Eating warm cookies
on a cold day
is easy
water catches
every thrown stone
skip skip splash
With a featherlight touch and disarming charm, Jon J Muth--and his delightful little panda bear, Koo--challenge readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with twenty-six haikus about the four seasons.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2014
27 people are currently reading
2581 people want to read
About the author
Jon J. Muth
142 books343 followersJon J. Muth is an American comic artist. His works include J. M. DeMatteis' graphic novel Moonshadow, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: The Wake (along with Michael Zulli, Charles Vess), Mike Carey's Lucifer: Nirvana and Swamp Thing: Roots. Muth has gone on to an award-winning career as a children's book writer and illustrator. He received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators for his illustrations in Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse.
He has also created a version of the Stone soup fable set in China.
He has also created a version of the Stone soup fable set in China.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
February 7, 2014
I have a colleague who is mighty careful when it comes to haiku. She’s Japanese-American herself, and one thing she simply cannot stand is when someone takes a set of words, slaps them into five/seven/five syllable lines, and then calls the result “a haiku”. Traditional haiku focuses on nature and how we, as humans, relate to it. So what happens when 5/7/5 gets taken out of the equation entirely? Author/illustrator Jon J. Muth is no stranger to children’s picture books that challenge the reader. And though he’s written many a book touching on the concept of “Zen”, straight up poetry has rarely been his bag. All that changes with the publication of Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons. Gutsy in its quiet, contemplative way, Muth doesn’t follow the same old, same old poetry model. Maybe that’s part of the reason I like it so very much.
Twenty-six haikus spotlight four different seasons. In the book, a panda cub named Koo and two human siblings explore fall, winter, spring and autumn in a myriad of different ways. From a snowball on a stop sign (“are we in trouble?”) to act of accidentally killing a bug (“afterward / feeling alone and Sad”) the haikus do double duty as both poems and, depending on which word is capitalized, a tour of the alphabet. Inspired by his own young twins, Muth, with seeming effortlessness, brings to young readers a fellow traveler.
Poetry is dead. I’m sorry. That sounds a bit bleak. Allow me to rephrase that sentence. Poetry for children is dead. Nope . . . nope that still sounds bleak, doesn’t it? Well it’s not true anyway . . . yet. But you see I’ve been watching the number of works of poetry published for kids the last few years and I swear that each season we get fewer and fewer and fewer. I believe a combination of different factors is to blame. On the one hand, poetry doesn’t hold a spot of honor in some curriculum anymore and it’s not every school that has their kids memorize a whole poem these days. Add in the fact that the American Library Association presents no official award for a work of children’s poetry and the fact that a GOOD book of poetry is insanely hard to write and you’ve a decrease in the number being published every year. So imagine my relief when I discovered that Muth had thrown his hat in the ring. Haiku? I’ll take it! Whatever you’ve got, man. Lay it on me.
Not that I was initially on board with the come-as-you-are attitude towards syllables in this book. Not at first. It took a careful reading of Muth’s Author’s Note (which thankfully is the first thing you read in the book) before I truly understood what was going on. As he explains, the original Japanese haiku is made of seventeen sound parts called “on”. But English syllables and “on” aren’t equivalent to one another. “Over time, haiku has evolved, so that many modern poets no longer adhere so rigidly to this structure.” Taking his cue, Muth strives to capture sensory images in his poems. “At its best, a haiku embodies a moment of emotion that reminds us that our own human nature is not separate from all of nature.” And heck, it’s not even as if Muth is the first guy in the world to ignore the now standard English syllabic scheme. Poet Harold G. Henderson went so far as to make his haikus rhyme. How’s that for originality?
Does that mean that the book will have limited use in schools? Yeah, well maybe, but enterprising teachers will still find it to be amongst the best there are. Plus, as I say, it’s not like poetry’s getting as much play as it deserves these days. If the teacher insists on 5/7/5, there are lots of other books out there to choose from. And there may be objections even still from folks who adhere to the original definition of what a Haiku constitutes. For some, Haiku is a kind of basis for mediation as it applies to Zen philosophy. Yet even there, Muth tips his hat. Note the final page. There, in the dying twilight of a summer night, seated on a tree branch with a cardinal’s nest perched on his head, we hear Koo’s final poem. “becoming so quiet / Zero sound / only breath.” As Haikus for kids go, this is as Zen as it gets.
So let’s ask the million-dollar question here. If Muth knows his Haiku history, does he follow its form? Which is to say, does each poem that he writes discuss nature or the seasons and how they relate to kids? Well, yes and no. With a regular cast of characters, these haikus tell a story together. One such poem reads, “Friend, is that you / knocking at the door? / TWO!” Look at the image and you see two heavily bundled kiddos standing outside Koo’s door, eager for him to play with them in the wintery white. Can an illustration play a part in conveying a seasonal aspect of a poem when the words in the poem itself do not? No idea, but if so then Muth's in the clear.
Though it’s beautiful from start to finish, I think I should probably point out that this is a really fun, funny, amusing, infinitely readable book as well. My own copy was sitting on my dining room table when my two-year-old spotted it and started insisting I read her “the picture book”. I did and she got a real kick out of it (though the image of eyes gone square from too much TV kind of gave her the jim jams). As someone who purchases books for my library system it made me a little sad that I’ll be cataloging this book in the poetry section and not the picture book section. Sitting next to fellow Muth creations Zen Ties, Zen Shorts and Zen Ghosts I’d be able to guarantee its circulation. In poetry it’ll be a harder sell, but I’m willing to put it there if it lures Muth fans to the world of poem and verse.
When a form of poetry is also a form of philosophy, you are naturally going to have some folks a bit peeved by its appropriation. By the same token, appropriation is the nature of art in America. I think perhaps it will be more likely that certain gatekeepers (teachers, parents, librarians, etc.) will find Muth’s refusal to toe the line and go 5/7/5 with his syllables far more of an annoyance. Consider the man’s justifications and ask yourself what truly is more important in a haiku. Is it form or is it feeling? April is Poetry Month and in an era of blackout poems, spine poetry, reversos, and whatever it is Bob Raczka was doing in Lemonade (is there even a term for it?) we can afford to shake things up for our kids a little. Give haiku back its gravitas, and give your kids a book that also happens to be really fun (not to mention beautiful) as well.
For ages 4-8.
Twenty-six haikus spotlight four different seasons. In the book, a panda cub named Koo and two human siblings explore fall, winter, spring and autumn in a myriad of different ways. From a snowball on a stop sign (“are we in trouble?”) to act of accidentally killing a bug (“afterward / feeling alone and Sad”) the haikus do double duty as both poems and, depending on which word is capitalized, a tour of the alphabet. Inspired by his own young twins, Muth, with seeming effortlessness, brings to young readers a fellow traveler.
Poetry is dead. I’m sorry. That sounds a bit bleak. Allow me to rephrase that sentence. Poetry for children is dead. Nope . . . nope that still sounds bleak, doesn’t it? Well it’s not true anyway . . . yet. But you see I’ve been watching the number of works of poetry published for kids the last few years and I swear that each season we get fewer and fewer and fewer. I believe a combination of different factors is to blame. On the one hand, poetry doesn’t hold a spot of honor in some curriculum anymore and it’s not every school that has their kids memorize a whole poem these days. Add in the fact that the American Library Association presents no official award for a work of children’s poetry and the fact that a GOOD book of poetry is insanely hard to write and you’ve a decrease in the number being published every year. So imagine my relief when I discovered that Muth had thrown his hat in the ring. Haiku? I’ll take it! Whatever you’ve got, man. Lay it on me.
Not that I was initially on board with the come-as-you-are attitude towards syllables in this book. Not at first. It took a careful reading of Muth’s Author’s Note (which thankfully is the first thing you read in the book) before I truly understood what was going on. As he explains, the original Japanese haiku is made of seventeen sound parts called “on”. But English syllables and “on” aren’t equivalent to one another. “Over time, haiku has evolved, so that many modern poets no longer adhere so rigidly to this structure.” Taking his cue, Muth strives to capture sensory images in his poems. “At its best, a haiku embodies a moment of emotion that reminds us that our own human nature is not separate from all of nature.” And heck, it’s not even as if Muth is the first guy in the world to ignore the now standard English syllabic scheme. Poet Harold G. Henderson went so far as to make his haikus rhyme. How’s that for originality?
Does that mean that the book will have limited use in schools? Yeah, well maybe, but enterprising teachers will still find it to be amongst the best there are. Plus, as I say, it’s not like poetry’s getting as much play as it deserves these days. If the teacher insists on 5/7/5, there are lots of other books out there to choose from. And there may be objections even still from folks who adhere to the original definition of what a Haiku constitutes. For some, Haiku is a kind of basis for mediation as it applies to Zen philosophy. Yet even there, Muth tips his hat. Note the final page. There, in the dying twilight of a summer night, seated on a tree branch with a cardinal’s nest perched on his head, we hear Koo’s final poem. “becoming so quiet / Zero sound / only breath.” As Haikus for kids go, this is as Zen as it gets.
So let’s ask the million-dollar question here. If Muth knows his Haiku history, does he follow its form? Which is to say, does each poem that he writes discuss nature or the seasons and how they relate to kids? Well, yes and no. With a regular cast of characters, these haikus tell a story together. One such poem reads, “Friend, is that you / knocking at the door? / TWO!” Look at the image and you see two heavily bundled kiddos standing outside Koo’s door, eager for him to play with them in the wintery white. Can an illustration play a part in conveying a seasonal aspect of a poem when the words in the poem itself do not? No idea, but if so then Muth's in the clear.
Though it’s beautiful from start to finish, I think I should probably point out that this is a really fun, funny, amusing, infinitely readable book as well. My own copy was sitting on my dining room table when my two-year-old spotted it and started insisting I read her “the picture book”. I did and she got a real kick out of it (though the image of eyes gone square from too much TV kind of gave her the jim jams). As someone who purchases books for my library system it made me a little sad that I’ll be cataloging this book in the poetry section and not the picture book section. Sitting next to fellow Muth creations Zen Ties, Zen Shorts and Zen Ghosts I’d be able to guarantee its circulation. In poetry it’ll be a harder sell, but I’m willing to put it there if it lures Muth fans to the world of poem and verse.
When a form of poetry is also a form of philosophy, you are naturally going to have some folks a bit peeved by its appropriation. By the same token, appropriation is the nature of art in America. I think perhaps it will be more likely that certain gatekeepers (teachers, parents, librarians, etc.) will find Muth’s refusal to toe the line and go 5/7/5 with his syllables far more of an annoyance. Consider the man’s justifications and ask yourself what truly is more important in a haiku. Is it form or is it feeling? April is Poetry Month and in an era of blackout poems, spine poetry, reversos, and whatever it is Bob Raczka was doing in Lemonade (is there even a term for it?) we can afford to shake things up for our kids a little. Give haiku back its gravitas, and give your kids a book that also happens to be really fun (not to mention beautiful) as well.
For ages 4-8.
November 25, 2014
Hi, Koo! (geddit?) is a highly-acclaimed picture book, but the somewhat fey Author’s Note makes it clear it’s not for kids, but adults who fancy they could interest a child in a classic art form.
My 4-year-old granddaughter is the inhaler par excellence of all books. "Read me a story!" is heard more often than “I’m hungry!”, so I did give this one a go. Now reading a bunch of disconnected haikus does require a bit of inventiveness to make them come alive:
King! /my crown a gift / from a snowy branch“Look!” I said, “snow fell on Koo’s head! It made a funny hat! Is he going to, um, shake it off?” But it was no good; her attention had wandered to something unspeakably white-bread like Dr Seuss.
Call me a philistine low-brow, but great kids’ poems need 3 R’s –rhyme, rhythm and repetition. These haikus are just static words (exquisitely beautiful, says the blurb) printed on admittedly quite nice watercolour illustrations. And free from the straitjacket of traditional 5-7-5 metre (solemnly informs the Author’s Note). It reminds me of that limerick with no rhyme, scansion or punch-line ...
There was a young man of Tobermory / Who always ate peas off a knife / When we asked him why / He gave this answer / I can’t get them to stay on the fork.‘nuff said?
April 3, 2019
While I guess that I do to a certain extent somewhat understand and appreciate that Jon J. Muth does not (and as is stated in his author's note for Hi, Koo!) want to adhere too slavishly to the mechanics of the traditional haiku form, and namely to the five-seven-five syllable pattern, I also do have to admit that I have not at ALL enjoyed the author's featured and presented seasonal haikus (finding the majority of Muth's verses unlyrical, uninspired and simply much too mundane and everyday, too common-place, and really not all that specifically seasonal anyhow and therefore not all that magical either, with really only two of the featured haikus, the icicles that are depicted as dripping fingers in one of the late winter offerings and the summer haiku of fireflies appearing like stars in any manner managing to tickle my poetic fancy).
And considering that I was seriously hoping for Jon J. Muth to feature with Hi, Koo! a truly classical, sweet and imaginative, poetic haiku celebration of the four seasons (and primarily of the natural beauty of spring, summer, fall and winter), that both Jon J, Muth's text and his images are really too human-being and everyday based and themed for my lyric and aesthetic tastes (and even though I bet that many readers will probably much enjoy and even love Hi, Koo!), personally I just have not at all been able to even mildly appreciate Jon J. Muth's verses (and have also found the accompanying pictures of Hi, Koo! while brightly colourful also rather boring and generally, and for the most part much too focused on pandas and children, and certainly not nearly enough on nature and on the actual physical attributes of the climate and weather of the four seasons).
And considering that I was seriously hoping for Jon J. Muth to feature with Hi, Koo! a truly classical, sweet and imaginative, poetic haiku celebration of the four seasons (and primarily of the natural beauty of spring, summer, fall and winter), that both Jon J, Muth's text and his images are really too human-being and everyday based and themed for my lyric and aesthetic tastes (and even though I bet that many readers will probably much enjoy and even love Hi, Koo!), personally I just have not at all been able to even mildly appreciate Jon J. Muth's verses (and have also found the accompanying pictures of Hi, Koo! while brightly colourful also rather boring and generally, and for the most part much too focused on pandas and children, and certainly not nearly enough on nature and on the actual physical attributes of the climate and weather of the four seasons).
April 29, 2015
This is okay, I guess.
A panda and some children live through a year with four seasons.
Each page is a haiku. But not really, because Muth has decided that he doesn't have to adhere to the 5-7-5 rule.
I didn't really like it.
killing a bug
afterward
feeling alone and Sad
Really?
Friend, is that you
knocking at the door?
TWO!
Come on. o.O
too much TV this winter
my eyes are square
let's go Out and play
Sigh. Spare me the preaching, please.
Some are enjoyable:
Dance through cold rain
then go home
to hot soup
or
Eating warm cookies
on a cold day
is easy
The panda, named Koo, is cute. Children who are fans of KUNG-FU PANDA will probably get an extra kick out of this book.
A panda and some children live through a year with four seasons.
Each page is a haiku. But not really, because Muth has decided that he doesn't have to adhere to the 5-7-5 rule.
I didn't really like it.
killing a bug
afterward
feeling alone and Sad
Really?
Friend, is that you
knocking at the door?
TWO!
Come on. o.O
too much TV this winter
my eyes are square
let's go Out and play
Sigh. Spare me the preaching, please.
Some are enjoyable:
Dance through cold rain
then go home
to hot soup
or
Eating warm cookies
on a cold day
is easy
The panda, named Koo, is cute. Children who are fans of KUNG-FU PANDA will probably get an extra kick out of this book.
September 1, 2016
Jon J Muth is the one and only auto-buy picture book author in my reading world. His Zen Shorts is one of my all-time favorites. All it took was one look from across the room at the colors, flowers and panda on the cover to know and whisper, “THAT is a new Muth book.” Haha…Ran right to it, scooped it up, and made a beeline to the register without even a peek inside. I wanted to be home, curled up in my favorite reading spot to experience Muth’s magic.
"flashlights
sparkle in Puddles
shadows climbing trees”
Koo, the most adorable panda ever, guides us through the seasons with haiku and humor. From the cover to the author’s note to the art on every page—this book is pure magic. Little snippets in time and nature that utterly captivated my imagination. Muth always makes me feel so welcome in his worlds with soft colors and warm light. Wind, rain, cold, and comfort are exhibited in small, beautiful details. Things we tend to miss in life if we don’t slow down, stop, and really experience the day and season. Every ray of light, shadow, puddle, and icicle comes to life on the page.
"Icicles.
reach down with dripping fingers
will they touch the ground?”
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons will put a smile on your face and peace in your heart. I found myself looking to the night sky, walking in the snow to hear the crunch, and turning my face up to the sun to feel the warmth on my cheeks. A story that inspires readers to see and enjoy the season in the little things.
Highly recommended.
p.s. This is my favorite part of his author’s note: “For me, haiku is like an instant captured in words – using sensory images. At its best, a haiku embodies a moment of emotion that reminds us that our own human nature is not separate from all of nature.”
November 3, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
The pictures in this book were adorable, and I loved the look at the four seasons. I never figured out who Koo was supposed to be (I think the panda, but it was never stated, which could be confusing for young children). The departure from traditional Haiku was a huge disappointment to me. I was excited to read the five-seven-five-syllable setup, which is something I learned about in the fifth grade and have fond memories of. This book doesn't follow the tradition at all, but rather made an excuse to step away from it. Another thing that bothered me was the random capitalization. Most beginnings of sentences were lowercased, while random words in the middle of sentences were capitalized. That will make it confusing for children who read this book and later try to learn correct grammar. I prefer books for young readers to promote correct grammar so there won't be such confusion down the road.
I was not compensated for my honest review.
The pictures in this book were adorable, and I loved the look at the four seasons. I never figured out who Koo was supposed to be (I think the panda, but it was never stated, which could be confusing for young children). The departure from traditional Haiku was a huge disappointment to me. I was excited to read the five-seven-five-syllable setup, which is something I learned about in the fifth grade and have fond memories of. This book doesn't follow the tradition at all, but rather made an excuse to step away from it. Another thing that bothered me was the random capitalization. Most beginnings of sentences were lowercased, while random words in the middle of sentences were capitalized. That will make it confusing for children who read this book and later try to learn correct grammar. I prefer books for young readers to promote correct grammar so there won't be such confusion down the road.
I was not compensated for my honest review.
February 23, 2014
The art was pretty but the rest of the book left me cold and I really can't see a child enjoying this without lots of help and explanation from an adult. This to me negates what a good picture books is supposed to do,IMO!
April 25, 2014
A children's alphabet book of haiku through the seasons, with lovely illustrations.
I understand and respect the author's decision not to adhere to the traditional 17-syllable haiku structure, but I regret it. I think it's worth it for poets to make the extra effort to satisfy a constraint, however artificial. When we don't allow ourselves to use the first words that come to mind, we open the door to unexpected beauty.
[But yes, I do know that structure isn't everything.]
I understand and respect the author's decision not to adhere to the traditional 17-syllable haiku structure, but I regret it. I think it's worth it for poets to make the extra effort to satisfy a constraint, however artificial. When we don't allow ourselves to use the first words that come to mind, we open the door to unexpected beauty.
[But yes, I do know that structure isn't everything.]
March 3, 2019
I think I like Stillwater better than Koo. His size creates a frisson of fear, until of course I remember he is a panda and a scholar of Zen. But Koo is the perfect little panda to give us 26 "instant[s] captured in words--using sensory images."
And the 5/7/5 structure is just a bit too rigid, esp. in English and even more in translation, Muth explains. Giving it up means we get:
New leaves
new grass new sky
spring!
Beautiful art, of course.
Good book to use as a mentor text.
4.5 stars because, while I highly recommend it, I don't think it's quite worthy of being pushed on everyone... esp. compared to some others by Muth.
And the 5/7/5 structure is just a bit too rigid, esp. in English and even more in translation, Muth explains. Giving it up means we get:
New leaves
new grass new sky
spring!
Beautiful art, of course.
Good book to use as a mentor text.
4.5 stars because, while I highly recommend it, I don't think it's quite worthy of being pushed on everyone... esp. compared to some others by Muth.
February 12, 2017
Lovely and charming 26 three-lined verse poems, some of them in a five-seven-five syllable haiku format, are smile- igniting, eye- delighting, and heart- warming beautiful little drops of light that will bring joy to any child and to any adult who loves poems or has the curiosity to open the book and start reading it. Little panda bear Koo is so adorable!
“Autumn,
are you dreaming
of new clothes?”
"“King!
my crown a gift
from a snowy branch”
"Icicles
reach down with dripping fingers
will they touch the ground?"
“Autumn,
are you dreaming
of new clothes?”
"“King!
my crown a gift
from a snowy branch”
"Icicles
reach down with dripping fingers
will they touch the ground?"
April 30, 2014
What attracted me to this book was the clever title and the beautiful, whimsical illustrations done in water color. And the panda. I love pandas. Jon J. Muth included an author's note to explain the poetic form of Haiku. He goes on to say that many modern poets no longer abide by the strict structure of Haiku. In this story Jon, himself, does not follow the 5-7-5 syllable pattern, which I find personally disappointing because I wanted to see it demonstrated in Hi, Koo!
This picture book takes the readers on a sensory journey through the four seasons. Jon also managed to incorporate an alphabet thread that weaves the Haiku together. While unique, I did not feel like it added to the story or had any meaning to it.
I really wanted to love this book, but felt it fell short. The story did not flow as well as it should. It felt somewhat disjointed from one page to another. Nevertheless, it is generally a lovely book that can be studied in the classroom for grades learning about poetic forms and seasons.
This picture book takes the readers on a sensory journey through the four seasons. Jon also managed to incorporate an alphabet thread that weaves the Haiku together. While unique, I did not feel like it added to the story or had any meaning to it.
I really wanted to love this book, but felt it fell short. The story did not flow as well as it should. It felt somewhat disjointed from one page to another. Nevertheless, it is generally a lovely book that can be studied in the classroom for grades learning about poetic forms and seasons.
January 2, 2014
This book is simply beautiful. Both in it's words and illustrations. Author Jon J Muth does a brilliant job at introducing readers to Haiku, a poetic form that originated in Japan, to tell his story. I've not read a book written in Haiku, and I have to say I loved it. I worked perfect for Koo's story. We loved the illustrations and the telling of the different seasons. I felt like Jon captured the essence of what each of the four seasons brings and encompasses perfectly with Koo's story. My little girl loves this book! This one will be picking up when it hits book store shelves.
Fans of Koo's will love picking this book up. If you've not yet met Koo, the lovable Panda Bear, you're missing out. I'm going to be shocked if this book isn't up for an award this year.
Fans of Koo's will love picking this book up. If you've not yet met Koo, the lovable Panda Bear, you're missing out. I'm going to be shocked if this book isn't up for an award this year.
November 20, 2014
A rare children's poetry book (in my experience, at least!) so you gotta support that, and this is a comics guy who also does haiku, so you gotta like that! The watercolor art is lovely and the panda Koo is pretty cute, but the haiku are not that memorable or impact-ful, really, or at least weren't for me. Goodreads nominated Picture book, 2014.
December 5, 2020
A moment, an image, a feeling captured in a haiku. Reading this book feels like a meditation and renewal.
April 27, 2014
Whenever a new book about bears is published, especially those that are about pandas or polar bears, my friends all send me messages about it. They all know I tend to gush over bears and if I had a bucket list, playing with a panda would definitely be one it.
So, naturally, when Hi, Koo! came out, I had a flutter of email and Facebook activity. But I was one step ahead of everyone on this one and already had a copy. Hi, Koo! is a wonderful, gentle poetic journey through the four seasons in the company Koo. Well versed in haiku, Koo is the enchantingly delightful nephew of Stillwater, a giant but gentle, Zen wise Panda first introduced to young readers in Zen Shorts (Scholastic, 2005). We met Koo in 2008 when he visited he uncle in Zen Ties.
In Hi, Koo!, Jon Muth first explains the Japanese haiku and why the line pattern of five, seven, five sound parts won't work in English. He then tells us that for him, a haiku is an "instant captured in words...using sensory images" that capture an emotion.
And so, with Koo's help, Muth takes us through the four season in twenty six different haiku's, and thrown in for good measure is the alphabet, each letter disguised within the haiku in its capital form.
There are 6 haiku dedicated to Fall, seven to Winter, six to Spring and seven to Summer. Each one with its own beautiful watercolor and ink illustration featuring Koo, and sometimes a little black kitten friend.
I love the idea of introducing young readers to the beauty and expressiveness of poetry and this book goes far in achieving that goal. Muth has captured some emotional instants we have all felt at one time or another.
If your young readers are already familiar with Koo, they will certainly enjoy Hi, Koo! and if they haven't met this roly-poly panda yet, they are in for a real treat. This is a book they will want to return to again and again, especially as the seasons change. And what a wonderful read aloud book for quiet moments like bedtime.
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
So, naturally, when Hi, Koo! came out, I had a flutter of email and Facebook activity. But I was one step ahead of everyone on this one and already had a copy. Hi, Koo! is a wonderful, gentle poetic journey through the four seasons in the company Koo. Well versed in haiku, Koo is the enchantingly delightful nephew of Stillwater, a giant but gentle, Zen wise Panda first introduced to young readers in Zen Shorts (Scholastic, 2005). We met Koo in 2008 when he visited he uncle in Zen Ties.
In Hi, Koo!, Jon Muth first explains the Japanese haiku and why the line pattern of five, seven, five sound parts won't work in English. He then tells us that for him, a haiku is an "instant captured in words...using sensory images" that capture an emotion.
And so, with Koo's help, Muth takes us through the four season in twenty six different haiku's, and thrown in for good measure is the alphabet, each letter disguised within the haiku in its capital form.
There are 6 haiku dedicated to Fall, seven to Winter, six to Spring and seven to Summer. Each one with its own beautiful watercolor and ink illustration featuring Koo, and sometimes a little black kitten friend.
I love the idea of introducing young readers to the beauty and expressiveness of poetry and this book goes far in achieving that goal. Muth has captured some emotional instants we have all felt at one time or another.
If your young readers are already familiar with Koo, they will certainly enjoy Hi, Koo! and if they haven't met this roly-poly panda yet, they are in for a real treat. This is a book they will want to return to again and again, especially as the seasons change. And what a wonderful read aloud book for quiet moments like bedtime.
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was purchased for my personal library
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
March 3, 2014
Poetry forms usually don’t translate from one language to another nor from one culture to another. The form, haiku, is a form of poetry that doesn’t rhyme. It is Japanese in origin and form. Based on a word/line pattern. It is a bit terse.
The children’s picture book Hi, Koo! Is a lovely picture book that traverses the seasons. Written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth, Koo the little Panda frolics across the pages in delightful form. Each page and verse of haiku focuses on a letter of the alphabet (A-Z in the English language.
I see the use of this book as entertaining. Each page is a delight simply for the illustrations alone. The words are added value. The alphabet thrown in for each verse another plus. The thoughts are simple but can be contemplated as parent and child together examine the pictures and focus a bit on the words. Example:
Winter
snowfall
Gathers my footprints
I do a powdery stomp
The illustration shows Koo stomping around in the snow. The snowman stands to the side with “hands” perched on his hips. Boy and girl are nearly hip-deep in the snow, and boy is pulling the little girl up because she has fallen. I see the snowman representing the patient parent off to the side. The friendship of boy and girl as assistance is given. And little Koo is off in his own world of enjoying his “stomp” through the snow.
The illustrations are sweet, joyful, and simply lovely.
DISCLOSURE: A copy was won as a giveaway prize through the Goodreads.com program.
The children’s picture book Hi, Koo! Is a lovely picture book that traverses the seasons. Written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth, Koo the little Panda frolics across the pages in delightful form. Each page and verse of haiku focuses on a letter of the alphabet (A-Z in the English language.
I see the use of this book as entertaining. Each page is a delight simply for the illustrations alone. The words are added value. The alphabet thrown in for each verse another plus. The thoughts are simple but can be contemplated as parent and child together examine the pictures and focus a bit on the words. Example:
Winter
snowfall
Gathers my footprints
I do a powdery stomp
The illustration shows Koo stomping around in the snow. The snowman stands to the side with “hands” perched on his hips. Boy and girl are nearly hip-deep in the snow, and boy is pulling the little girl up because she has fallen. I see the snowman representing the patient parent off to the side. The friendship of boy and girl as assistance is given. And little Koo is off in his own world of enjoying his “stomp” through the snow.
The illustrations are sweet, joyful, and simply lovely.
DISCLOSURE: A copy was won as a giveaway prize through the Goodreads.com program.
April 16, 2014
Koo joyously celebrates the seasons in haiku form. While not strictly adhering to the number count of traditional haiku, this modern version retains its essence by taking snapshots of time with a primary emphasis on nature. Each segment is a delicate piece of written art, simple, yet emotionally evocative. Koo and his friends are adorable as they play in both silly scenes, and awe-inspiring settings. With every moment enjoyed to the fullest.
Watercolours grace these pages with their soft touch, painting life into nature. The seasons progress from fall through to summer, building towards a more colourful palette. At its climax, the author ends with the most beautiful portrait of all. This final image stops what would be a never-ending cycle of seasons. Its final message on the "quiet" time, brings a sense of closure to us readers who were floating higher and higher on its words.
Like any haiku, these require reflection to understand them to their fullest. While the images will easily please younger children, they may find difficulty in making sense of the unusual structure. However, older children will find great pleasure in this meaningful text that evokes memory. Muth captures both the beauty and joy that is found in each season, equally with his words and art.
Watercolours grace these pages with their soft touch, painting life into nature. The seasons progress from fall through to summer, building towards a more colourful palette. At its climax, the author ends with the most beautiful portrait of all. This final image stops what would be a never-ending cycle of seasons. Its final message on the "quiet" time, brings a sense of closure to us readers who were floating higher and higher on its words.
Like any haiku, these require reflection to understand them to their fullest. While the images will easily please younger children, they may find difficulty in making sense of the unusual structure. However, older children will find great pleasure in this meaningful text that evokes memory. Muth captures both the beauty and joy that is found in each season, equally with his words and art.
May 3, 2018
I hate to do this, but when you write a book of poems for children, a book of poems that is based around structure, and then you go and completely ignore that structure, you're going to get a 1 star review from me.
I teach Haikus to younger grade levels, usually K-2nd. It's a great way to go over syllables and a poem type that relies on structure rather than rhyming. So when I tell my students "5,7,5" they count with me and remember. Heck, even BrianpopJr has a video teaching kids the exact same thing .
I understand that a Haiku doesn't HAVE to be 5,7,5. But to teach kids how to write a Haiku, we follow these rules. So you can imagine how confusing it was for a group of 7 and 8 year olds when I started reading this book aloud to them and, at the same time, we're all thinking "wait, this isn't right!" I immediately abandoned the book and went back to one that followed the 5,7,5 rule. If you want to write a book of Haikus but take your liberty with them, then target them towards adults instead of kids. Sorry!
I teach Haikus to younger grade levels, usually K-2nd. It's a great way to go over syllables and a poem type that relies on structure rather than rhyming. So when I tell my students "5,7,5" they count with me and remember. Heck, even BrianpopJr has a video teaching kids the exact same thing .
I understand that a Haiku doesn't HAVE to be 5,7,5. But to teach kids how to write a Haiku, we follow these rules. So you can imagine how confusing it was for a group of 7 and 8 year olds when I started reading this book aloud to them and, at the same time, we're all thinking "wait, this isn't right!" I immediately abandoned the book and went back to one that followed the 5,7,5 rule. If you want to write a book of Haikus but take your liberty with them, then target them towards adults instead of kids. Sorry!
November 13, 2014
This poetry book was great. It is basically made up of a bunch of Haiku's that tell a story and show the seasons changing throughout the year. I also liked how the author played with the word "Haiku" and made the title "Hi, Koo!" Overall, the panda in the book experiences all the seasons and tells of stories and events that are involved with those seasons.
What I noticed was how you could see the seasons changing gradually throughout the book. It wasn't a drastic change that was abrupt with one page being fall and the next automatically switching to winter. It was like you were experiencing all of the seasons like they naturally occur, which I thought was great. I also enjoyed how the seasons were so easily conveyed through just three lines of words. This just shows how important word choice can really be and how sometimes you can convey a certain message with just one word.
What I noticed was how you could see the seasons changing gradually throughout the book. It wasn't a drastic change that was abrupt with one page being fall and the next automatically switching to winter. It was like you were experiencing all of the seasons like they naturally occur, which I thought was great. I also enjoyed how the seasons were so easily conveyed through just three lines of words. This just shows how important word choice can really be and how sometimes you can convey a certain message with just one word.
February 2, 2014
So many emotions to be surprised with in this collection of seasonal haiku, but I am most impressed with how well integrated the alphabet path is - so naturally woven in that I forgot to watch for it until around "TUV". The innocent humor in Muth's beautiful illustrations is enchanting, and a reason to revisit this one again and again.
February 25, 2014
killing a bug
afterward
feeling alone and Sad
Buy this title from Powell's Books.
April 28, 2014
Lovely, charming illustrations!
January 30, 2017
ADORED the panda illustrations, but I'm a traditionalist when it comes to haiku and the free verse pretty much ruined it for me.
November 8, 2023
Read with Kaylynn 8 nov 2023
This is a cute book with a pun for the title. Each succeeding haiku has the next capital letter of the alphabet, as Koo the panda explores nature and the changing seasons from Fall to Summer.
Beautiful watercolor drawings fill the pages with activity and fun.
This is a cute book with a pun for the title. Each succeeding haiku has the next capital letter of the alphabet, as Koo the panda explores nature and the changing seasons from Fall to Summer.
Beautiful watercolor drawings fill the pages with activity and fun.
May 7, 2018
So incredibly cute! I love this book!
December 4, 2023
We follow a sweet panda who explores a year of seasons through verse. The illustrations are beautiful.
October 18, 2021
I like the idea of the loose structure of Mr. Muth's haikus and the alphabetical flow through the four seasons.
October 15, 2014
Beyond the clever title of this book, it is an exceptional children's book on so many levels. The fact that the title is a play on words might be my favorite part, making a discrete connection between haiku poetry and a sweet little panda bear named "Koo." I find using only haiku poetry to compose an entire children's book so creative and entertaining! It is written in simple language using 26 Haiku poems that describe in detail the characteristics of the 4 seasons as seen by Koo. Games and activities that are relatable to all age groups of children are mentioned throughout (ex; tic-tac-toe, watching television, building a snow man.) One of the most magnificent things about this book is that it is extremely versatile. Not only is it appropriate for elementary school students of all grade levels, but it can be used to introduce many classroom topics. The figurative language used in the poems throughout accompanied by the soft and inviting watercolor artwork on each page is indisputably appealing to people of all ages.
The fairly simple language throughout the book makes it very accessible to very young learners. The book takes a journey through the 4 seasons, detailing characteristics of each season and the changes that take place over the course of fall, winter, spring and summer. It is thorough in teaching children about the changing seasons and the types of things that happen during each, and the book's illustrations do a great job of furthering this lesson. In addition to this, the book can be used as an introduction to Haiku poetry for older children. Each poem is chalk-full of examples of personification that can be used to teach a lesson about figurative language. For example, "snowfall GATHERS my footprints," "Icicles REACH down with dripping HANDS," and "Water CATCHES every thrown stone." I love the powerful images that these words paint for the reader. In short, this book has a very surface-level conceptual goal (to teach children about the 4 seasons) with such a successful underlying lesson about haiku poetry and its origin.
There is no doubt in my mind that the illustrations were extremely well-thought-out, and this is why I think it deserves to be honored as the 2015 Caldecott Medal Winner. The soft, inviting watercolor images throughout the book are absolutely perfect for this story that depicts the slow and gradual shift from season to season. The images are not too vibrant or overwhelming and they compliment the poems absolutely perfectly. The pictures on each page vary, just as the 4 seasons vary, and there are so many details for the reader to notice.
My very favorite aspect of the illustrations is this: Since haiku poetry is a Japanese form of poetry, I think that the images for this book were chosen in a very deliberate and somewhat culturally accurate way. In Asian cultures the panda bear serves as somewhat of a symbolic and treasured mascot, and the use of a panda bear as the main character is not a coincidence. The cover art depicts Koo the panda bear sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree, a tree that is native to Japan. The soft watercolor paint chosen for the images in this book have a striking resemblance to traditional Asian silk paintings, which is another reason I find the choice of illustrations in this book brilliant.
The book is very accurate in following the general guidelines for haiku poetry, and I think that the images chosen for each page mirror that. Traditional Haiku poems usually describe the juxtaposition of 2 images and generally have nature as their subject. The subject of each image in the book is nature and the changing of the seasons, which I find extremely fitting for a book made up of haiku poems with nature as their subject as well. You could even go as far as to say that the color of Koo's black and white fur is juxtaposed by the soft colors used to depict everything else in the illustrations, mirroring another guideline of traditional haiku poetry.
In short, this book is a perfect candidate for the Caldecott Medal. The poems that make up "Hi, Koo!" are simple and smart, just like the illustrations that accompany them.
The fairly simple language throughout the book makes it very accessible to very young learners. The book takes a journey through the 4 seasons, detailing characteristics of each season and the changes that take place over the course of fall, winter, spring and summer. It is thorough in teaching children about the changing seasons and the types of things that happen during each, and the book's illustrations do a great job of furthering this lesson. In addition to this, the book can be used as an introduction to Haiku poetry for older children. Each poem is chalk-full of examples of personification that can be used to teach a lesson about figurative language. For example, "snowfall GATHERS my footprints," "Icicles REACH down with dripping HANDS," and "Water CATCHES every thrown stone." I love the powerful images that these words paint for the reader. In short, this book has a very surface-level conceptual goal (to teach children about the 4 seasons) with such a successful underlying lesson about haiku poetry and its origin.
There is no doubt in my mind that the illustrations were extremely well-thought-out, and this is why I think it deserves to be honored as the 2015 Caldecott Medal Winner. The soft, inviting watercolor images throughout the book are absolutely perfect for this story that depicts the slow and gradual shift from season to season. The images are not too vibrant or overwhelming and they compliment the poems absolutely perfectly. The pictures on each page vary, just as the 4 seasons vary, and there are so many details for the reader to notice.
My very favorite aspect of the illustrations is this: Since haiku poetry is a Japanese form of poetry, I think that the images for this book were chosen in a very deliberate and somewhat culturally accurate way. In Asian cultures the panda bear serves as somewhat of a symbolic and treasured mascot, and the use of a panda bear as the main character is not a coincidence. The cover art depicts Koo the panda bear sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree, a tree that is native to Japan. The soft watercolor paint chosen for the images in this book have a striking resemblance to traditional Asian silk paintings, which is another reason I find the choice of illustrations in this book brilliant.
The book is very accurate in following the general guidelines for haiku poetry, and I think that the images chosen for each page mirror that. Traditional Haiku poems usually describe the juxtaposition of 2 images and generally have nature as their subject. The subject of each image in the book is nature and the changing of the seasons, which I find extremely fitting for a book made up of haiku poems with nature as their subject as well. You could even go as far as to say that the color of Koo's black and white fur is juxtaposed by the soft colors used to depict everything else in the illustrations, mirroring another guideline of traditional haiku poetry.
In short, this book is a perfect candidate for the Caldecott Medal. The poems that make up "Hi, Koo!" are simple and smart, just like the illustrations that accompany them.
October 2, 2015
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons: Such a clever title for a poetry book that follows a lovable panda bear named Koo as he leads us through the ever-changing seasons by way of haiku. The seasons change, as do Koo’s outdoor activities and adorable wardrobe. He meets two children along the way and they continue on the year long journey with Koo, as he shows them all the fun to be had during each season. This is a wonderful message for students to learn that there are many more activities to do than watch television or play video games, no matter what the weather. The delightful watercolor illustrations spark curiosity and excitement of what Koo will do next!
John J. Muth, is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, and also a Caldecott Honoree. In the Author’s Note Muth explains that he did not want to be restricted in expressing himself through the traditional Japanese haiku 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Instead, he wrote straight from emotion with words that appeal to the senses. I find it interesting and admirable that Muth chose to stray from tradition and did not find myself missing it all. Although, this may not be a book to use when teaching students how to compose haiku poetry for the first time. Muth cleverly uses an “alphabetic path” as we embark on Koo’s journey. This could be used as inspiration for classroom activities involving the letters of the alphabet and the seasons.
I would recommend this charming picture book of haikus for grades K-3, but poetry lovers of all ages will enjoy reading about Koo’s adventures. This book might also be useful when teaching poetry to older students to demonstrate how modern poetry is changing and growing.
John J. Muth, is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, and also a Caldecott Honoree. In the Author’s Note Muth explains that he did not want to be restricted in expressing himself through the traditional Japanese haiku 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Instead, he wrote straight from emotion with words that appeal to the senses. I find it interesting and admirable that Muth chose to stray from tradition and did not find myself missing it all. Although, this may not be a book to use when teaching students how to compose haiku poetry for the first time. Muth cleverly uses an “alphabetic path” as we embark on Koo’s journey. This could be used as inspiration for classroom activities involving the letters of the alphabet and the seasons.
I would recommend this charming picture book of haikus for grades K-3, but poetry lovers of all ages will enjoy reading about Koo’s adventures. This book might also be useful when teaching poetry to older students to demonstrate how modern poetry is changing and growing.
August 11, 2016
Text-to-Self: This book reminds me of when I first started to write poems in elementary school. I could not tell you why I was so interested in Haiku poems more than any other kind, but I was. I was so excited to find this book that I could not pass it up. At the beginning of the book, the author explains that they do not follow the american way of Haiku writing but the Japanese way. However, they explain that it does not have the traditional syllable count that we all know because in Japan it does not translate well. They wrote each haiku in order to promote a "moment" in that season. I used to write about nature in my haiku's all the time when I was younger and I wish this book was around when I was learning about Haiku's.
Text-to-Text: I do not have another book to compare this one to because it is so original. It is very different from other children's books (especially ones written in poems) because it does not have an actual plot. Rather, it has a different emotion on each page that correlates to the seasons. I have never seen a book like this and it would be a great read for a beginner reader or even a reader learning about Haiku's.
Text-to-World: The book is about seasons and what kinds of activities and feeling you getting during those seasons. Since many children around the world experience seasons, they could relate to this book no matter where they are.
Text-to-Text: I do not have another book to compare this one to because it is so original. It is very different from other children's books (especially ones written in poems) because it does not have an actual plot. Rather, it has a different emotion on each page that correlates to the seasons. I have never seen a book like this and it would be a great read for a beginner reader or even a reader learning about Haiku's.
Text-to-World: The book is about seasons and what kinds of activities and feeling you getting during those seasons. Since many children around the world experience seasons, they could relate to this book no matter where they are.
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