I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder

I Haiku You is a picture book written and illustrated by Betsy Snyder. I really love haikus and think it's a perfect form of poetry for a picture book, so I was really excited to pick this up. Snyder's drawings are really adorable and really make the cute, sweet haikus that accompany them. There are lots of little details and I really love the illustrations overall.

In terms of the writing, I am just okay about I Haiku You. Some of the haikus are nice, but there is a little too much reliance on things that expected and feel a bit cliche and boring to me, such as "you be my jelly, / i'll be your peanut butter--/let's stick together!" and even though it is a children's book I though that they could be a touch more original with the metaphors, something like peanut butter and jelly is quite expected.

I Haiku You would be an adorable bedtime book for a young child who is unlikely to have the same complaints I do regarding the writing and would instead just appreciate the sweet, simple words and the adorable drawings that match.

Release Date: December 26th 2012 Pages: 28  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Random House   Buy It: Book Depository

It's A Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree (Illustrated by Betsy Snyder)

  

It's a Firefly Night is written by Dianne Ochiltree and illustrated by Betsy Snyder. It depicts a young girl catching fireflies with her dad, only to let them free into the sky and watch them glow in the sky. So, first off, I'm immediately won over by any book with glitter on the cover, and I know that my five-year-old-self would be too–– but it's the contents both text and illustration-wise that ultimately stole my heart.

This is the kind of book that tells a simple story, but does it perfectly. The text is told in short rhyming stanzas of four lines, which occur once on every two page-spread. The only complaint I have about this book at all is that some of the rhymes aren't perfect. That said, the feeling it generated was so magical, I'm willing to forgive it. On the pages, the text is white, which contrasts nicely with the dark nighttime colours of the book, it's also large enough to be easy to read without overwhelming the drawings.

The story of It's a Firefly Night is easy to follow, with a sweet message about letting the fireflies go. There's also some facts at the back of the book about fireflies, which I thought was a fun addition and would make it more interesting to older readers. Finally, there's a tiny bit of counting in the book as the main character counts the fireflies, which I think is a nice component to have. 

Complimenting the lovely text by Dianne Ochiltree are gorgeous illustrations by Betsy Snyder. I adore these illustrations. They perfectly capture the magical feeling of the evening, and have some cute hidden details like a caterpillar hiding out on a leaf that would be fun for kids to notice. The way that the fireflies in the book glow is just so gorgeous, and I love the cute little dog that keeps the girl company.

Overall, It's a Firefly Night was a huge hit for me, both writing and illustration wise. I definitely hope these two collaborate again!

Release Date: May 14th, 2013  Pages: 32 Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository