Watch Me Bloom: A Bouquet of Haiku Poems for Budding Naturalists

K-Gr 4–This colorful collection of haiku that pays homage to flowers is sure to brighten readers’ days. Each page contains a haiku devoted to a different flower variety and an illustration that shows people interacting with one another in natural settings that depict the flower from the poem. The haiku are presented in seasonally appropriate order, starting with flowers associated with early winter months, like snowdrops and roses for Valentine’s Day, and progressing all the way to orchids and poinsettias, perfect for end-of-year holiday gift giving. People depicted in the illustrations are diverse in age, race, and gender. Illustrations are bright and inviting, resembling a papercut style that works well with the cheery floral poetry. A “Floral Fun Facts” section at the end of the text includes interesting tidbits about each of the flowers reflected in the poems. There is also a final note that each entry in the book highlights one or more of the “five ways to wellbeing,” which help improve mental health. Educators teaching about haiku will find this collection helpful to illustrate how versatile the form can be.