Review - Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons

Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons
by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Mercè López
Date: 2019
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated poetry collection
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

you gasp as I roar,
my mane exploding, sizzling--
lion of the sky!

Haiku meet riddles in this wonderful collection from Laura Purdie Salas. The poems celebrate the seasons and describe everything from an earthworm to a baseball to an apple to snow angels, alongside full-color illustrations.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. Books of poetry for kids don't always work. But after flipping through the first few poems and pictures, I was sold.

This book is comprised of what the author calls "riddle-ku". Basically, they're haiku that describe something, only it's not explicitly spelled out. The reader then has to figure out what each haiku is referring to. I think it would be great fun for a kid to sit down and try to figure these out. Some are easier than others (but if you do get stuck, there's an answer key at the back).

The illustrations are a perfect complement to the poems. Some of them would be beautiful as framed art pieces. I'm going to have to see if I can find more of the illustrator's work.

This is a beautiful book that introduces haiku to readers who might not be familiar with it. It's also a fun set of riddles. Evocative illustrations tie everything together. I highly recommend this one!

Quotable moment:

Thank you to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 5/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall Rating: 4.57 out of 5 ladybugs