If it rains Pancakes Haiku and Lantern poems by Brian P Cleary

I do enjoy reading Haiku. Haiku have three lines of 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 syllables.  Lantern poems form the shape of a lantern with one syllable in the first line (a noun), 2 syllables in the second line, 3 syllables in the third line, 4 syllables in the fourth line, 5 syllables in the fifth line and then back to one syllable.

Let's begin with the haiku in this book. Here are a couple I really like:

The Mind

Memory is like

a room where tiny boxes

hold our yesterdays.

What if?

If it rains pancakes

I'll need no umbrella,

just syrup, fork, and plate.

After this Haiku you could read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. 

Here are some lantern poems:

Dawn:

rise, shine.

Tomorrow

is already

here.

Bees-

flying,

hardworking

honey makers-

buzz.

Hug:

a gift

that is best

when you return

it.

Here is the Kirkus Star review.  Here are some ideas for writing Lantern poems. Here is video which explains haiku in a very simple way for younger students.