Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys is a collection of haikus written by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. This wonderful book of short poems combines the adventurous spirits of boys with the world of nature. Divided into the four seasons, each haiku has a simple message of playing in nature, whether it be through flying kites, building campfires, jumping in piles of leaves, or wishing for snow days. In his author’s note, Raczka mentions how each haiku is a piece of his own childhood, or that of his sons. He adds that he favors the haiku because it is an observation of nature, and the tangibility of a three-line poem make for ease of reading and writing. Paired with thoughtful illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds, this book would be a great mentor text in introducing the world of poetry, especially haiku. Although the title suggests that only boys might appreciate the sentiments, we firmly believe that any daring explorer would enjoy them. Guyku is an A+ book in our classroom library!