“Through Freeman Ng's inspired haiku and Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem's dreamlike, poetic paintings, we learn about Basho's solitary pilgrimage and his quest to be one with nature. Young readers will gain a sense of 17th century Japan and its geography, and come to know one of Japan's finest poets. What a wonderful companion Basho's Haiku Journeys will be to a collection of his poetry!”
Tracy Gallup, illustrator of My First Book of Haiku Poems
“The centuries vanish as readers turn the pages on a luminous journey through 17th century Japan. There they meet the most famous haiku poet of all and discover the vibrant beauty of the natural world. Children will be writing haiku of their own — and parents, too — as they follow the famous sage.”
Clark Strand, author of Seeds From a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey and haiku columnist for Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
“This book is a must-purchase for children's librarians, language arts teachers, and parents and guardians who want their children to be curious and creative citizens of the world.”
The Voracious Bibliophile (full review)
“From encouraging reflection — ‘The oddest feeling/swirled around him like the wind./Was it happiness?’ to eliciting chuckles — ‘A rose of Sharon/that blooms for only one day/of its short, sweet Spring...In all its glory/at one moment. In the next,/devoured by his horse!’ — Ng's haiku will inspire young poets.”
Sally M. Walker, author of Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh and Earth Verse: Haiku From the Ground Up
“Haiku is an exquisite poetic art form from Japan, rich in nature's imagery and layered in life's discoveries. Poet and author Freeman Ng has turned his love for writing haiku into a beautiful picture book biography about Matsuo Basho, Japan's most famous poet of haiku. Written in Ng's inviting haiku style and colorfully illustrated by Cassandra Rockwood Ghanem, Basho's Haiku Journeys will entrance young readers. No doubt, these young readers want to start writing haiku themselves!”
Caren Stelson, author of Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story and A Bowl Full of Peace
“A glimpse into the life of a legendary poet...Whimsical haiku are paired with landscapes, rendered in bold colors that deftly blend together to invoke the feeling of misty mountains and grassy fields.”
