HaiCuba/HaiKuba: Haikus about Cuba in Spanish and English

Gr 2 Up–Inky watercolors and simple haikus transplant readers to Cuba, the warm Caribbean island rich in culture and wildlife. Fourteen haikus highlight various forms of Cuba’s beauty; from its national bird (“Tocororo”) to its notable coastline (“Malecón”), this book tries to encompass a bit of everything. The beautiful illustrations are bright, look a bit like watercolor and ink, and range from more obscure to detailed. A boy with brown skin and a girl with light skin reappear on several pages. The book is bilingual and displays Spanish text alongside English text. A basic introduction to haikus at the beginning includes a definition and example, and a summary at the end discusses the topics of the haikus, giving readers a more in-depth look at the culture and environment of Cuba. This book can be read a variety of ways, from learning more about Cuban culture and poetry to simply being enjoyed.