Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

Wardlaw, Lee. 2011. Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku. Ill. by Eugene Yelchin. New York: Henry Holt & Company.  ISBN 9780805089950

(Image obtained from amazon.com)

Summary

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku is the adoption story of a cat told through a series of haiku poems.  Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku is intended for children in pre-school through third grade. 

Quality and Appeal

Wardlaw manages to craft some very clever haiku poems which really capture the personality and essence of a cat.  Cat owners refer to this as “catitude” and sharing it with children will certainly incite some giggles!  While some children won’t grasp this ingenuity, it makes it a fun read for adults, also.  Yelchin’s Asian-inspired illustrations are arguably simplistic but allow for focus on Won Ton and what he is doing rather than serving as a distraction.

Sometimes the haiku is a bit of a stretch – Wardlaw breaks up lines midsentence to ensure the words still fit within the 5-7-5 syllable count characteristic of haiku which is somewhat cheating.  Nonetheless, the haiku will still serve as an appropriate introduction to the form of haiku.

Spotlight Poem

Your tummy, soft as

warm dough.  I knead and knead, then

bake it with a nap. 

Educators can introduce this type of poetry by inviting students to craft a simple haiku about their family pet.  It’s often an enjoyable topic for children in the target age-level.

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