Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku uses senryu poetry to tell the story of a shelter cat who gets adopted. The book pairs Eugene Yelchin's graphite and gouache illustrations with Lee Wardlaw's verses to capture feline behavior and personality. The narrative follows the cat's journey from life in the shelter to finding a new home. Through short poems, readers experience the cat's perspective on meeting potential families, adjusting to a new environment, and building trust with humans. This award-winning picture book earned the 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Poetry and the 2013 Beehive Poetry Book Award. The combination of accessible poetry and expressive illustrations creates an engaging reading experience for children and adults. The book explores universal themes of belonging, adaptation, and the special bond between pets and their human families. Through its unique format, it introduces young readers to poetry while celebrating the transformative power of adoption.

Readers connect with the story of a shelter cat's adoption and adjustment to a new home. The haiku format resonates with both children and adults, with many noting it works well for reading aloud. Readers appreciated: - Accurate portrayal of cat behavior and personality - Expressive illustrations that capture feline body language - Accessibility of haiku for young readers - Emotional depth while remaining lighthearted Common criticisms: - Some found the haiku structure loose/non-traditional - A few mentioned the story feels slight Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (1,089 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (82 ratings) Review quotes: "Captures the essence of cat perfectly" - School librarian on Goodreads "My first graders request this book weekly" - Teacher on Amazon "The illustrations alone tell the story" - Parent reviewer The book won the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and is included in several state reading lists.

Won Ton and Chopstick by Lee Wardlaw A cat adjusts to a new puppy in his home through linked haiku poems.

Hi, Koo! by Jon J. Muth A panda bear experiences the four seasons through twenty-six haiku poems.

Dogku by Andrew Clements A stray dog finds his forever home in this story narrated through haiku poems.

Dear Wandering Wildebeest by Irene Latham Animals of the African grasslands come to life through poems at a water hole.

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer Fairy tales unfold through reverso poems that can be read forward and backward.

🐱 The name "Won Ton" was inspired by a real shelter cat that author Lee Wardlaw met while volunteering at an animal shelter. 📚 Lee Wardlaw wrote her first book at age seven and has since published over 30 books for children and young adults. 🎨 The illustrator, Eugene Yelchin, later won a Newbery Honor for his own book "Breaking Stalin's Nose" in 2012. 🗣️ While haiku traditionally focuses on nature and seasons, senryu (the poetry form used in this book) specifically explores human nature and emotions with a touch of humor. 📖 The book spawned a successful sequel titled "Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku," continuing Won Ton's adventures with a new puppy companion.