I love a quiet walk in the woods. There are so many things to see but sometimes we miss the best things because they are hidden.

Guess Who in the Woods, written by Jody Haley and illustrated by Lu Ann Widergren is a book of Haiku poetry for children but also for all of us who love the hidden things of the forest. Each haiku is written in the traditional style of 17 syllables, 5 on the first line, then 7, and the last line is 5 syllables which hints at a surprise. When the page is turned the beautiful illustrations reveal the hidden description. The haikus begin in the morning but continue exploring throughout the day to the night sounds of the owls.

I think children will love this book because of the illustrations and the opportunity to guess what the haiku is revealing. It will engage children in poetry, perhaps inspiring them to try some guessing poetry of their own. The illustrations are large and vivid. The poetry is simple. It will naturally draw the reader into the woods around them to find the secrets of the hidden world of Creation.

Here are a few ways I would use this book depending on the age of the child. It’s a book that I would revisit year after year to encourage so many learning opportunities as the child matures.

• Just for the giggles as the youngest children try to guess who’s in the woods.
• Encourage children to use their 5 senses as they explore nature.
• Encourage children to draw/write about their own experiences.
• Help children listen for syllables in words.
• Help children to learn to spell.
• To introduce children to Haiku and its various ways of describing.

Of course, there are always opportunities to help children see the goodness of the Lord when out exploring. Perhaps memorizing the twenty-third Psalm with its descriptions of nature might also be another opportunity to help children see the Lord has, is, and always will be there for us.

Out exploring, Gail Cartee

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