Are you looking for a way to get your children excited about poetry? Perhaps a young person in your life is interested in nature and you want to help them build their awareness. Or, maybe you are a kid at heart and you are looking for some inspiration for your own haiku practice. If any of these is true, Dwight L. Roth’s Haiku for Kids may be just what you are looking for.
About the Author
Dwight L. Roth is a retired elementary school teacher and artist who lives in North Carolina. Roth has published several poetry eBooks and a children’s eBook on Alzheimer’s titled Grandpa Has Holes in His Head. Roth also maintains an active website where he publishes “Poetry from the Heart”. Roth considers poetry a therapeutic medium and hopes to use his words to encourage others to find their voice through poetry.
Let your poetry tell your story, not only for those who read it today, but for future generations who come after you. Poetry is the expression of who you are and what you see and experience in the world around you.
Dwight L. Roth
About Haiku for Kids
Haiku for Kids is a 24-page activity book with full color photos and instructions to help people learn the basics of haiku. The book begins with an introduction to the form of haiku and an explanation about the use of kigo (seasonal reference) and kireji (the twist).
Haiku for Kids then gives the reader an example of a haiku, a revision of that same haiku, and then a space for your own work.
Example:
Bug eyes watching me Floating in the summer breeze Posing for pictures
Example with Revision:
Bug eyes watching me Floating in the summer breeze Ready for take-off
No you try.
Bug eyes watching me Floating in the summer breeze ___________________________
Haiku for Kids continues to build off these basics instructions with a series of photos and writing prompts.
Each subsequent photo is paired with a set of instructions that encourages the writer to think about the world around them.
An example of this is paring can be seen below.
“Some Haiku describe what is happening in nature, such as the bolts rusting on this post at the beach. The ocean’s salty water reacts with the metal surfaces. Look at the boards and see their changes as well. The pier post and boards change over time and will not last forever. You may want to share that in your poem.” (pg. 9)
Near the end of this book, Roth encourages the writer to create several haikus from one photo. With this section, I believe Roth is encouraging the writer to engage their creative mind and broaden their observational skills. Yes, you can write a haiku about a cute puppy. But can you write three haikus about that cute puppy? How would your poems evolve? What might happen with your observations as you continue to write about one subject?
How to get Haiku for Kids
As Roth says. Haiku for Kids is “Great for kids from 9 to 90”. He is currently making this book available to teachers and individuals at no charge through his website. Go over to Roth Poetry to learn more. Don’t forget to let Dwight know that you learned about his book here at NaturalistWeekly.com.
This month on NaturalistWeekly, we are exploring technobiophila. Specifically, we are exploring how technobiophilic practices can contribute to our well-being, connect us to nature, and educate us about the natural world. Roth’s website and poetry book is an example of this type of practice. Through his book he is encouraging us to investigate the world around us.
- What do we notice?
- How does it make us feel?
- How can we express this to others so that they may be able to learn from us?
Roth uses poetry to convey his wonder with the natural world and he hopes to encourage others to do the same.
There is so much in nature to write about. You will never run out of subjects for your Haiku.
Dwight L. Roth
Do you have a nature connection practice that is supported by technology? I would like to hear about it. Please share in the comments below.
Resources:
Naturalist Weekly 
This is good. Poetry is good for children as well. At least they learn to be appreciative, and friendly to ecology from their formative years.
HI Eunice, Thanks for the comment! Yes, I agree with your statement. Encouraging kids to learn about the world around them is very helpful and poetry is one way to make this happen. Thanks again!
My pleasure.
Reblogged this on Solitary 4 Tomorrow and commented:
… or foe the child in you?
Wow! This is a really wonderful review of my book. Thank you so very much for you very generous review! Your presentation of my book is perfect!
Dwight
Thanks Dwight! I am glad you enjoyed this. It was a pleasure to be able review your work.
It is greatly appreciated! I reposted your post on my site today.
Thanks!
My niece is the one who introduced me to Haiku! She was in elementary school at the time. I found a little book with Haiku and sent it to her as a gift.
Hi Phil! Haiku is definitely a great way to get started in poetry. It is so nice to hear that you supported your nieces interest in the practice. Thanks for the comment.
What a fantastic review–and how generous of the author to offer it for free!
*the workbook (Sorry about the unclear pronoun antecedent.)
Hi Liz, Thanks for the comment and I agree that Dwight is amazingly generous. I think you can tell by the way he writes that his is an educator at heart. Thanks for visiting!
You’re welcome, Mark! Yes, I can tell that Dwight is an educator at heart.
Nature and poetry go together almost as good as chocolate and caramel in my opinion! I love encouraging kids to write! Not being able to volunteer at my son’s school has been one of the saddest parts of the pandemic for me.
Once when I was in the hallway I saw some poems that one of the other classes had shared out on a board. One was particularly outstanding in my opinion. I made a point to find the mom’s email address and let her know how much I enjoyed her daughter’s poetry. She shared my email with her daughter and said it meant a lot to her. It’s important at any age that we acknowledge the good works people do and not just the aspects that need to be improved upon.
That is such a good story about the school! Thanks for sharing that.
A lovely review, Mark.
Thanks Jeff!
Welcome, Mark!
[Inspired by the “Pier at Myrtle Beach, SC” prompt, in freestyle haiku.]
aging, fading . . .
changing with the tides
this weathered wood
:- )
Hi Bill, This is great! It is good to see a haiku inspired by one of the pictures in Roth’s book. Thanks for sharing!
I am a great admirer of Dwight’s poetry and art! A workbook like this is an excellent resource for parents and teachers. Thank you for this lovely review, which he richly deserves. All the best, Mark! 🙂
Hi Cheryl, Dwight’s work is great and I am more than happy to share. Thanks for visiting and the comment!