Lion of the Sky

Lion of the Sky: Haiku for all Seasons
by Laura Purdie Salas; illustrated by Mercé López

Lion of the Sky invites readers to explore the seasons through the perspective of the plants, animals, objects, and phenomena that are unique to their time of year. Each riddle takes the form of a haiku (dubbed a riddle-ku by the author) which interact with the beautiful illustrations to keep readers looking, listening, and guessing. Back matter includes a note from the author, suggestions for further reading about haiku, riddle poems, and seasons, and an answer key in case you get stumped.

Listen to the story

Displayed with the permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. “Lion of the Sky” by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Merce Lopez. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

How-To Video for Paper Craft

Do a craft!

Haiku for all Seasons takes us on a tour of the seasons. What do the four seasons look like to you?
Take-and-Make Four Seasons paper craft kits can be picked up curbside starting on January 5th.
Call or email the library at 426-3581 or [email protected] to schedule a pickup.

If you joined the program late and missed the craft pick-up,
you can still do the craft at home using the instructions found here.

Big Ideas & enduring Understanding

Mystery and adventure surround us.
Use your senses and examine features with many viewpoints to expand understanding.
Stay curious.

Dig a little Deeper

Beyond the Book: Ideas, Questions, Projects and Connections:

Watch Laura Purdie Salas talk about the book in a video specially created for Vermont students.

Learn more about the Japanese art form of haiku and its history. https://www.britannica.com/art/haiku
Take a nature walk in your neighborhood and look for an object you might write a riddle-ku about. Did you find a pebble, a feather, an insect? Remember that a haiku has a five-seven-five pattern of syllables. How could you share your riddle poem with other people out walking? Consider sidewalk chalk, or even paint a yard sign!
Start a sketchbook and/or series of watercolors to pair with poems you write this year.
Mercé López's (illustrator) series, sketchbook, and posters are captivating (please view prior to sharing with children: http://www.mercelopez.com/illustration/series/ )

Talk about haiku as a poetry form. What do you notice about the number of syllables in each line of a haiku? Do any of the haiku have a title? How about the capitalization?

Can you imagine yourself as a non-living thing?
What makes something poetic?
Which of your five senses do you rely on most to describe the world?
Why do you think the author started the book with the Spring?
Do you find the keys to solving to the riddles using the illustrations or the text or in combination?
What do you notice about the colors in the illustrations as the four seasons are changing?

shhh! here's my secret:
soft petals hide inside me
coming soon - a BLOOM

Listen to a But Why podcast all about POETRY and be inspired!

Answer Key

SPRING
kite
umbrella
nest
flower bed
earthworm
puddle

SUMMER
dandelion
mosquito
sandcastle
baeball
fireflies
fireworks

FALL
school
pencil
apple
leaf pile
jack-o'-lantern
squirrel

WINTER
mittens
snow
ice skates
snow angel
star
snoozing bear