Laura Purdie Salas

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Poetry Friday: Won Ton (Lee Wardlaw)

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I feel like I missed a bunch of poetry books in 2011. Luckily, Sylvia Vardell, Diane Mayr, Rebecca Davis, and Lee Bennett Hopkins put together a year-end poetry book roundup for PACYA–check it out!?One book on that list that had somehow not been on my radar was Won Ton:?A Cat Tale Told in Haiku (Henry Holt and Company), by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin.

What a charming, clever story. I love Won Ton–of course, I’m a cat lover, anyway. But even if I weren’t, his mixture of snark and vulnerability would win me over. Here are a few of my favorite haiku:

Gypsy on my left.

Pumpkin, my right. Together,

we are all alone.

*???? *???? *

Visiting hours!

Yawn. I pretend not to care.

Yet–I sneak a peek.

*???? *???? *

Fine. If you insist.

I’ll try Just. One. Nibble. But–

I won’t enjoy it.

–Lee Wardlaw, all rights reserved

Aren’t they wonderful??Won Ton and BookSpeak (along with books by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Shel Silverstein, and Bob Raczka) are both on the list of Poetry Nerdies winners, and I couldn’t be prouder to be listed alongside Lee and the others!

Dori at Dori Reads has the Poetry Friday Roundup today!

P.S. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Sweet Solstice, and best wishes for however you are celebrating during this joyous and busy season. I’m glad you took a minute to come by!

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Comments

  1. Congratulations again on your nerdie book award. This Won Ton book is a treasure too, & I actually just love the title. I have a daughter with 4 cats who would appreciate the personality! Happy holiday to you!

  2. Congratulations again on your nerdie book award. This Won Ton book is a treasure too, & I actually just love the title. I have a daughter with 4 cats who would appreciate the personality! Happy holiday to you!

  3. Laura,

    Congratulations! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

    “Won Ton” was one of my favorite children’s poetry books of 2011.

    • Thanks, Elaine, and same to you and yours!

      Stories told in haiku have not traditionally been favorites of mine. I love haiku, but narrative arcs have often fallen flat for me. But not this one!

  4. Laura,

    Congratulations! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

    “Won Ton” was one of my favorite children’s poetry books of 2011.

    • Thanks, Elaine, and same to you and yours!

      Stories told in haiku have not traditionally been favorites of mine. I love haiku, but narrative arcs have often fallen flat for me. But not this one!

    • It’s a great cover, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed the haiku. Thanks for hosting! I’ll be back over to read your post in the next few days…

    • It’s a great cover, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed the haiku. Thanks for hosting! I’ll be back over to read your post in the next few days…

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