Sijo poems in a small, square trim size are inviting and amusing.

Front matter "about sijo"
Back matter: author's note, tips on writing your own sijo, further reading, historical background

"Wish"

For someone to read a poem
again, and again, and then,

having lifted it from page
to brain - the easy part -

cradle it on the longer trek
from brain all the way to heart. ( )

Sijo are a type of Korean poetry that is formatted following the number of syllables emphasized in a line, similar to Japanese haiku. These sijo cover fun and relatable topics for school-aged children, like school lunch, division, tooth brushing, and dreaming. The illustrations are done digitally and are delightfully adept at picking up the humorous tone of the sijo. ( )

I liked the book because it explored many different topics about to write poems about. However, I did not see much cultural expression through the poems even though other reviews said it reflected Korean culture. I enjoyed the illustrations that accompanied the poems because they varied on use of color. Although the poems were only a few lines, they were very powerful and descriptive. I enjoyed the specific adjectives that were used, such as grumbling, because it allowed the reader to be able to picture what the author was depicting. ( )

The last Linda Sue Park book I read, Long Walk to Water, made me weep. This one made me laugh! These poems are cute and clever, and I have never heard of Haiku's Korean cousin, Sijo. The quirky, brave and lighthearted tone of the poems makes me curious to read the real thing- Korean Sijo. They also remind me of the way the poet Kay Ryan always leaves a twist, or change of direction, at the end of her (bittersweet) poems. Well, these poems are just sweet, no bitterness. I especially love the image in "Long Division", which describes the number having a wall and ceiling until they get torn down by other numbers. The illustrations by Istvan Banyai match the fantasy and delight of the highly descriptive words employed. A great read. ( )

This is an interesting collection of poems or Sijo. Sijo is similar to Haikus but different. They usually have a surprise ending and usually have humor to them. They originated in Korea and are sometimes presented in song. I like the humor part of the Sijo. These were about things that you would encounter in everyday living. Many hyphens and continuing periods are used to give a pause and leave imagination for the reader. ( )