Red Dragonfly on My Shoulder

Here are 13 traditional Japanese haiku illustrated by artwork that is both striking and original. The verse adheres to the 17-syllable form, the language is concrete, and the images have vitality. Japanese haiku has been translated for children before. In fact, the 13 poems were drawn from the

translators' somewhat larger collection, Birds, Frogs, and Moonlight, which appeared in 1967. What's new here is Bang's artwork, interpreting the verse not with the usual brushed ink or watercolor paintings, but with unusual collages combining paper, hardware, and found objects in a series of illustrations as arresting as the poems themselves. After enjoying the book, children will be fascinated to read the artist's notes and her list of materials for each picture: "I wanted the pictures to have the same ease and playfulness as haiku, and the same spareness. Using pieces of ordinary life to make something special seemed appropriate." Her materials include cookies, saw blades, corn chips, a yam, and aluminium foil. A natural lead-in to collage activities in the classroom, Bang's artwork illustrates the traditional verse in a manner that's both respectful and imaginative. Category: For the Young. 1992, HarperCollins, $15 and $14.89. Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Starred Review.
Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, Jan. 15, 1992 (Vol. 88, No. 10)) Won: Notable Books for Children, 1992

Show Less