If it Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems
by Brian P. Cleary, Illustrated by Andy Rowland
Summary: This book is split up into two sections. The first section focuses on haiku. It starts out
by telling the reader what a haiku is and how to write one. It also contains many examples of
haiku with a wide range of topics. Some are serious while others are very silly. The second
section talks about lantern poems. It follows the same pattern as the first section, explaining how
to write a lantern poem, and then giving lots of good examples. Each poem has a colorful
illustration to help the reader better understand its meaning.
Author website: http://www.brianpcleary.com/
Illustrator website: http://andrewrowlandchildrensillustrator.blogspot.com/
Discussion Questions
Before reading:
1. What is a haiku?
2. What is a lantern poem?
3. Why is poetry important?
While reading:
1. Why did the author choose to include illustrations?
2. How many lines does a haiku have?
3. How do you write a lantern poem?
After reading:
1. What poem sticks out to you and why?
2. What makes a great poet?
3. Where can you find inspiration for poetry?
Activities
1. Reading/ Oral Language:
Students will each choose a poem and read in in front of the class.
2. Writing:
Students will choose between writing a lantern poem or a haiku. They will follow the
rules that are described in the book and use their imagination to write a creative poem.
3. Math:
I will write some examples of poems on the board. Students will count the number of
lines and syllables and tell me if they are true haiku or not.
4. Science:
Traditional haiku are written about nature so the class will go outside and write down
things that they observe, such as plants, animals and bugs. We will then come inside and
they will choose something that they observed outside and research it further online.
They will then write a haiku or lantern poem about what they observed, using the facts
that they found online.
5. Social Studies:
Haiku and lantern poems originated in Japan so we could study the Japanese culture and
find out how these poems became so popular.
http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/explore_famous_haiku_background.html
This website has lots of interesting information about how haiku originated.
6. Art:
Students will take the haiku or lantern poems that they wrote and draw illustrations for
them. I will use the book as an example of how illustrations can help the reader
understand the meaning of the poem more clearly.
7. Drama:
Students will choose one of the poems from the book. They will then act it out in front of
the class and the class will try to guess which poem it is.
8. Cooking:
The title of the book is If it Rains Pancakes, so we could have a pancake poetry breakfast.
I could do a demonstration and show students how pancakes are made. Then as we are
eating our breakfast I would ask each student to share their favorite poem. This would be
a fun activity inspired by a great book.
9. Technology:
The author, Brian P. Cleary, has a great interactive website for kids. It has a poetry
section with games and quizzes. I would let the students go to the website once they have
finished assignments. It is fun and educational.
10. Music:
Lantern poems and haiku are not the best for singing, but lots of poems go great with
music. www.poemhunter.com has a list of poems that you can sing. You can easily
choose one to sing with the class, and the website even has a recording of it being sung so
you would not have to write the music to go with it.
Related Books:
1. If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos,
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
2. It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles by Jack Prelutsky, Illustrated by James Stevenson
3. Kids Pick the Funniest Poems by Bruce Lansky, Illustrated by Stephen Carpenter
Other Books by Brian P. Cleary
1. Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What is an Adverb?
2. To Root, to Toot, to Parachute: What is a Verb?
3. Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes: A Very Silly Alphabet Book
4. Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective?
5. How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear: What are Homonyms and Homophones?
6. How Long or How Wide: A Measuring Guide
And many more!
Other Books Illustrated by Andy Rowland
1. My Friends a Gris-Kwok by Malorie Blackman
2. Dog’s Dinner by Lou Kuenzler
3. Superfly Pest by Lou Kuenzler
4. Little Nelly’s Big Book by Pippa Goodhart
5. The Great Soup Mystery by Clare De Marco
6. My First Pet Dragon by Professor Georgie Blink
Related Websites
http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/haiku.htm
This website explains what a haiku is and gives helpful hints to help students remember. It also
has printable worksheets.
http://www.educational-freeware.com/news/haiku-poems.aspx
This website has three educational haiku games that students can play. It helps to make poetry
fun.
http://www.wartgames.com/themes/poetry.html
This website provides a wide selection of poetry games that students can play to become more
familiar with poem and its forms.