Cool Melons-Turn to Frogs!: The Life and Poems of Issa

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)

For hundreds of years, school children in Japan have been introduced to poetry through the work of Issa.

For hundreds of years, school children in Japan have been introduced to poetry through the work of Issa. Born in 1763 on a farm in central Japan, Issa began writing poetry as a young child, inspired by his deep love for the natural world. Later in his boyhood and throughout his life, poetry was also Issa's refuge in times of joy and in times of suffering.

Matthew Gollub's poignant rendering of Issa's life and over thirty of his best-loved poems, along with Kazuko Stone's sensitive and humorous watercolor paintings, make Cool Melons a classic introduction to Issa's work for readers of all ages. With authentic Japanese calligraphy, a detailed Afterword, and exhaustive research by both author and illustrator, this is also an inspirational book about haiku, writing, nature, and life.

Matthew Gollub is a multi-talented children's book author and speaker. He has produced more than twenty picture books, including his award-winning Jazz Fly series with audio. A dynamic drummer and bilingual (English / Spanish) presenter, he has also performed at over 1,000 elementary schools, across the US and abroad, inspiring students and families to read for fun. He lives with his family in Northern California. Visit him online at matthewgollub.com.

Kazuko G. Stone was born in Tokyo, Japan, and immigrated to the United States in 1974. She lived in New York City for nearly 50 years and wrote and illustrated more than 30 children's books during that time. Her books have been published in six languages and distributed all over the world. Cool Melons Turn to Frogs, a book of haiku that Kazuko illustrated, won numerous awards and distinctions including two starred reviews and an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. She passed away in 2022. You can learn more about Kazuko at kazukogstone.com.