Cool Melons Turn to Frogs, was a very creative book that was interesting to read. I enjoyed how the book gave the reader some background history on Issa who is a young boy from Japan. We learn that Issa is very interested in Haiku poetry and enjoys writing poetry. Although, Issa does not have the best life I would say. He is an innocent boy that loses his mother by the age of three. He is left to live with his farther and newly stepmother after his dad remarries. The stepmother and Issa do not get along at all so Issa’s farther is left with an incredibly difficult decision to send his son away. This does not stop him from being the young determined boy that he is. Issa sets out on a journey making his way on his own. The book continues to make us feel very sad inside as we learn about the different tragedies that are happening to Issa throughout his life. Once his farther died it continued to get worst for him. Although Issa was going through a great amount of pain he found happiness in writing Haiku, “In all, he wrote over 20000 haiku poems.” This book flowed very well telling Issa’s story and making us feel what he must have felt during these times. ( )

This is a wonderful book about the popular Japanese Haiku poet, Issa. Readers get a fresh taste of Japanese culture. Japanese calligraphy is along the side of the page complementing well to the haiku and the biography itself. Issa started writing poetry young and kept that skill going throughout his life. ( )

This book is full of both simple and complex haiku's that are entertaining to children as well as adults. The majority of the poems content has to do with the harmony of nature, how humorous simple things can be, and how to look at objects through a different light.

I think this book would be beneficial in the classroom to open new doors and gain new insights and perspectives of nature and ordinary objects in the natural world. It's it can be a very silly book at times especially with its creative illustrations which is great because kids respond exceptionally well to humor. ( )

Cool Melons-Turn to Frogs!: The Life and Poems of Issa
by Matthew W. Gollub

The beauty, simplicity, and grace of haiku come alive in this biography of Issa. Issa was amazed at delicate blossoms, the crunch of snow, and the laughter of children. Encouraged by a teacher, who recognized his lonliness, Issa used verse to give voice to his thoughts of nature.

A wonderful way to expression one's feelings

Use when teaching poetry, haiku's and the Japanese culture.

School Library Journal

Beautifully written and illustrated book about the popular Japanese Haiku poet Kobayashi Yataro, better known as Issa. The biographical information is complemented by several of his haiku. Within the text is an English translation; the Japanese calligraphy is painted along the side margins. Readers also receive glimpses of Japanese culture in the late 1700's/early 1800's. Appendix includes information about haiku. ( )