The Year Comes Round: Haiku Through the Seasons

K-Gr 3—This quietly contemplative collection offers a look at the wonders of nature over the course of a year. Each spread gives a glimpse into a different scene-thunderstorms, apples falling from trees, fireflies at dusk, birds feeding their babies, and other animals in their natural habitats in the different seasons. There are 13 haiku in all-one for each month (although they are not labeled, allowing readers to infer when each one takes place)-and a final one describing the Earth circling the sun as "spinning a tapestry of days, months, and seasons," bringing awe-inspiring perspective to children just learning about how vast the universe really is. Plume's understated yet cheerful artwork brings the selections to life and exemplifies the power and beauty of nature. Farrar gives an explanation of haiku in the back of the book and also discusses characteristics of the seasons and the "cycle of life"-how a year is measured and how the equator divides the world and affects the way seasons are experienced, etc. This charming book is a wonderful supplement for units on weather, seasons, animals, or poetry in general.—Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY