A Neal Porter book / Holiday House
Starred reviews from The Horn Book and Booklist
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection
Illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann.
dormant volcano—
but at sunrise each day
it blazes
On a bright summer day, a young boy and his family climb Oregon’s South Sister volcano. Trekking uphill, they encounter tiny toads, colorful butterflies, soaring birds of prey, and so much more to see, do, and feel.
Breezy, childlike artwork harmonizes with haiku poetry to chronicle this mesmerizing Pacific Northwest journey, a gentle call to adventure in the great outdoors.
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Reviews
“A collection of haiku in the voice of a child whose family summits a dormant volcano in the Pacific Northwest. … Fragments of beauty and knowledge echo the fleeting nature of encounters with life in the wild, and readers share the young hiker’s sense of triumph at having taken on an impressive expedition that feels well within the realm of the possible.” Publishers Weekly
“Fresh and vivid. … Starting out from a campground on a chilly morning, a child in a red hoodie, accompanied by parents and a younger sibling, walks to the summit of a dormant volcano… Along the way, the child takes note in haiku of bright blue skies and a still lake, of thinning trees, bobcat tracks in the snow, tiny toads on the path, and pesky mosquitoes! Glimpses of birds and other wildlife, too, especially butterflies catching updrafts at the very top of the trail, underscore the sublime character of the natural setting.” Kirkus
“Manley offers a child’s point of view of a day-long hike up a mountain… Each stage of the hike is described in a rich, telegraphic three-line haiku poem, beginning with a blazing sunrise. … The economy of words in the haiku form fits the way a child might think and particularly seems to suit the exercise of describing a demanding hike while actually in the midst of one. Mann’s mixed-media illustrations work effectively in tandem with the haiku narration, alternating perspectives—featuring the landscape and the views, or the child’s close observations, or the family on the move.” The Horn Book (starred review)
“A young boy and his family awaken at their campsite and prepare to hike Oregon’s South Sister, a dormant volcano. … The verses are succinct yet very effective in conveying a sense of the trip: “how to stay warm / in the forest shade: / swat mosquitoes” and “is this the trail? / a line of pawprints / from a bobcat.” Mann’s colorful mixed-media artwork captures … the essence of each haiku. Her double-page spreads depict wide vistas, while smaller close-ups portray intimate family moments. With generous back matter (geologic history, hiking necessities, haiku information, flora and fauna details, bibliography), this makes a great read-aloud or prelude to a family adventure.” Booklist (starred review)
“The combination of beautiful imagery in Curtis Manley’s poems (up here in the sky— / what everyone talks about / is butterflies) and gorgeous, muted illustrations (both in series of spots or grand sweeping vistas) take the reader on a special sensory climb up the mountain. Jennifer’s collography technique … allowed her to create amazing textures in the slopes, pumice, and boulders. … This would be a terrific book to use in a poetry unit for elementary to high school students, challenging the older students to write their own series of connected haiku. The meditative and sensory haiku pair beautifully with the textured mixed-media illustrations to create a wonderful read-aloud…” Maria Marshall, Perfect Picture Book Friday
Featured
Cover reveal and illustrator interview hosted by Mr. Schu, July 2023
Author and illustrator interview hosted by Maria Marshall, January 2024
Audio interview with author and illustrator hosted by Kansas Public Radio’s Dan Skinner, March 2024
Accolades
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection