Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys

By Bob Raczka and Peter H. Reynolds

Boy-centric haiku about outdoor fun throughout the seasons, with illustrations by the New York Times bestselling creator Peter Reynolds.

The wind and I play
tug-of-war with my new kite.
The wind is winning.

When you’re a guy, nature is one big playground—no matter what the season. There are puddles to splash through in the spring, pine trees to climb in the summer, maple seeds to catch in the fall, and icicles to sword fight with in the winter. 

Nature also has a way of making a guy appreciate important stuff—like how many rocks it takes to dam up a stream, or how much snow equals a day off from school.

So what kind of poetry best captures these special moments, at a length that lets guys get right back to tree climbing and kite flying? Why, guyku, of course!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9780547769455

Bob Raczka

Bob Raczka is a children's author and poet whose books include Niko Draws a Feeling, illustrated by Simone Shin, Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word, illustrated by Nancy Doniger, and many others. He lives with his wife, sons, daughter, and dog, Rufus, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Visit him at bobraczka.com.

Book preview

Reviews for Guyku

[shakelawilliams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I also really liked “Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys” by Bob Raczka. This book is filled with minimalistic poems directed towards a young male audience. Each haiku is about nature and playing outside which directly targets young boys between the ages of five and eight. I think that the simplicity of the language engages the reader without overwhelming them. For example, “ The wind and I play/ tug-of-war with my new kite/ the wind is winning.” The language is really transparent so the reader can really see the structure of haiku poems, as well as relate to the topic of playing with a kite. I also believe that the illustrations are an essential aspect of the story and why I enjoy it. Each picture is drawn with a grassy green and blackish brown tint. I think that the use of these colors targets a male audience. Also, the boys in each picture are diverse; any young boy who reads these poems will see at least one character they can relate to. I think it’s important for young readers to find characters they connect to because it can really impact your views on yourself and the world. The main message of this book is to motivate young boys to read by connecting to their interests.

[rachel.seltz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ages 4-10Author Raczka and and illustrator Reynolds perfectly understand one another. While the tone of this book is tongue-in-cheek, playful, and carefree, the author/illustrator team sincerely value the power of outdoor play and boys’ involvement in the arts. The result: a gorgeous nature poetry book by guys, for guys, and of guys.Haiku is a brilliant medium to engage and enchant, but never bore, rambunctious minds. With only three lines of 5-7-5 syllables on each page, the effervescent words roll off the tongue. A diverse group of boys drawn in pen and ink illuminates each poem’s subject, from skipping stones to throwing cattail wisps into the wind.The four sections of the book are divided by season. The poems and illustrations harmonize to showcase the very best joys and wonders of each. The effect is so potent that when you come to a new section, readers and listeners will want to magically jump ahead in the calendar to start enjoying that season’s specialties.Guyku is a gentle book that may not interest every boy; however, many boys will find this book captivating. After reading, they’ll jump off the couch to start a new adventure of their own. Highly recommended.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cool idea that's well-executed. Boy-friendly haikus with appealing illustrations.

[lnbrns · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I always hated trying to write haikus in school. I am impressed that not only do these all make sense, they tell a story. This is a fun read, but would also make a great example in a classroom.

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Haikus and illustrations about a year in a guy's life, the poems flow with activities and guys stuff throughout the seasons of the year. "How many million/ flakes will it take to make a/ snow day tomorrow?" I find myself wondering that too on snowy winter days! A super quick read. Good for exploring the haiku form.

[mzzcolby · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enthusiastic seasonal romp, this collection of haiku poetry inspired by nature’s playground, gleefully describes the outdoor joys a boy could experience if he wasn’t indoors playing video games. An encouraging introduction to poetry, Guyku (rhymes with haiku) will appeal to playful readers from Kindergarten to third grade. Raczka’s inviting text, set in a childish font, is reminiscent of handwriting spiritedly drawn in the sand or snow with a stick. Reynolds’ enticing pen and ink drawings subtly change colors as they rollick through the seasons. The segregating subtitle unwittingly does a disservice to the book though. It is a poetry book for all children who can relate to or hope to experience the pleasures of the great outdoors. Destined to be passed over on the shelf by girls who will be dissuaded by the cover, this winsome picture book should be a featured read aloud book in storytimes focusing on poetry, nature, or just good clean (and messy) fun.

[bkpietz · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, I was annoyed that the book is "for boys" which insinuates that girls cannot enjoy the book and/or cannot enjoy or participate in the activities that the haikus are about. I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book and thought that they fit the poetry wonderfully! Of all types of poetry, haiku is one that I actually enjoy reading, so even though I was a bit miffed with the concept, I was glad I read this book.

[eangers_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys is the 2011 winner of the Claudia Lewis Award. The book is a short collection of haiku adventures focusing on activities young boys enjoy throughout the seasons. The book is divided into four sections and are illustrated beautifully with a single colour for each season. This really helps tie the activities mentioned in the book together as being a 'spring' or 'winter' activity, depending on the accent colour mentioned. This book speaks from experience of the type of activities that preoccupy a juvenile boy's time. There are many observations of nature, as well as the inner turmoil of having too much time, and quite a bit of mischief to get into. Fresh, honest and observant, this book of haiku's is the perfect medium to introduce young boys to poetry. As the author Bob Raczka notes in the dust jacket, Guyku is the "kind of poetry that best captures these special moments, at a length that lets guys get right back to tree climbing..."Guyku is a fun book that makes poetry appealing, in a straightforward method that really tries to reach out to the target audience.

[pjw1173 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a book that I had in my classroom library. I will likely buy another copy of it at some point. The book is a book of haiku poems that deal with what boys do throughout the course of a year. The haikus are seperated into sections based on the four seasons. The haikus have great illustrations that accompany the haikus.

[allaboutliteracy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Winter must be here. Every time I open my mouth, a cloud comes out." These haikus describe the adventures of boys as they frolic through the seasons. Each verse describes a familiar childhood experience and reminds not just boys, but everyone, about the simple joys of youth.