Whoo-Ku Haiku: A Great Horned Owl Story by Maria Gianferrari

 Title: Whoo-Ku Haiku A Great Horned Owl Story

Genre: Poetry

Author: Maria Gianferrari

Illustrator: Jonathan Ross

Major awards: N/A

Age group: PreK-3rd

Summary: 

This book tells the story of the upbringing of Great Horned Owls. The poem is told in a haiku format. In the beginning, the mother and father owl prepare their nest/home for their owlets. The poem describes the life of the owls in the forest. Along the way, they experience the dangers and beauty of the wild. In the end, the owls grow up and finally leave the nest. 

Why would I use this book in the classroom: 

As a future educator, I'd use this book in my classroom to teach students the haiku poetry form. I could lead a lesson on haikus and use this book as a fun introduction. It will cross with science, which I think is neat. Students will be able to see how owls live and grow. This would be a cool perspective to share with students about the wild and the animals that live there. 

Appropriate grade level:

I think an appropriate grade level for this book is 1st-3rd grade. The books shares life journey on owls. There are some instances in the book that I think would be better suited for this age group. An owl egg does not survive. I also think the vocabulary is a bit advanced. 

Ideas for unit of study to include the book in and how you might use the book in the classroom:

• Language Arts/Science: I would use this book to teach students about organisms/birds. Owls are an important part of the ecosystem. I'd take students bird watching, where they could journal their thoughts on the birds they see. I'd then have them create a haiku of their own.