Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers by Gloria Whelan
illustrated by Yan Nascimbene
We read this book along with our brief study of Japan in world history. It would also be a good addition to a study of haiku with young children. I enjoy reading it merely for its own sake.
Yuki and her family are required to make the 300 mile journey between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Her teacher requires a haiku for each day of the journey. It's full of information about ancient Japan seen through the eyes of a young child. The illustrations are beautiful, large, colorful, evocative. They make me want to visit Japan (which doesn't take much).
It's a book of poetry in words and art, a delight.
