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Won Ton
Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Picture Books (2011)Nice place they got here.
Bed. Bowl. Blankie. Just like home!
Or so I've been told.
Visiting hours!
Yawn. I pretend not to care.
Yet -- I sneak a peek.
So begins this beguiling tale of a wary shelter cat and the boy who takes him home.
Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, this adoption story, told entirely in haiku, is unforgettable.
Bed. Bowl. Blankie. Just like home!
Or so I've been told.
Visiting hours!
Yawn. I pretend not to care.
Yet -- I sneak a peek.
So begins this beguiling tale of a wary shelter cat and the boy who takes him home.
Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, this adoption story, told entirely in haiku, is unforgettable.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2011
About the author
Lee Wardlaw
31 books67 followersLee Wardlaw swears that her first spoken word was 'kitty'. Since then, she's shared her life with 30 cats (not all at the same time!) and published 30 award-winning books for young readers, selling more than one million copies world wide.
Lee's books include Won Ton - A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Children's Poetry Award and the Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award (among others); Won Ton and Chopstick, an NCTE Notable Poetry Book; and 101 Ways to Bug Your Friends and Enemies, recipient of the 2012 Forward National Literature Award for Humor.
Lee has a B.A. in Education, an AMI-Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego, and is finishing her M.Ed.
A former teacher, Lee continues to keep up-to-date with children, tweens, and teens by presenting frequently at schools, libraries, bookstores, and conferences. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA, with two dog-disdaining cats.
Lee's books include Won Ton - A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Children's Poetry Award and the Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award (among others); Won Ton and Chopstick, an NCTE Notable Poetry Book; and 101 Ways to Bug Your Friends and Enemies, recipient of the 2012 Forward National Literature Award for Humor.
Lee has a B.A. in Education, an AMI-Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego, and is finishing her M.Ed.
A former teacher, Lee continues to keep up-to-date with children, tweens, and teens by presenting frequently at schools, libraries, bookstores, and conferences. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA, with two dog-disdaining cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
November 23, 2013
Full disclosure here, the author of this book sent me a copy as a gift. This isn't an uncommon occurrence, but I feel obliged to mention that.
I'll be honest, the fact that the story was told entirely in Haiku was *not* a selling point for me when I picked it up. In fact, I was more than slightly skeptical of the fact. I have definite opinions about poetry, and Haiku in my opinion is an oft abused poetic form....
But I brought it home and read it to my boy and really enjoyed it. Oot is 4 years old now, and he's got a smashing good vocabulary. He's read a ton of books and he's smart enough that at times it's slightly creepy.
What's interesting is that this book had something new to offer. All of the action wasn't made explicit by the text. The word limits of the haiku form combined with the overall style of the story made most of the action in the book *implicit* instead.
Which means that to understand what's going on, you have to really think about it. It forces the reader to engage in a very different way. It turns the book into a bit of a puzzle to figure out.
Also, because there isn't as many opportunities for context clues, Oot asked me what certain words mean more often than he usually does. "What's 'conflict'?" "What does 'foe' mean?" So that was fun too.
All in all, a good book for many reasons, even if you're not a cat person, and even if you're not particularly into haiku....
I'll be honest, the fact that the story was told entirely in Haiku was *not* a selling point for me when I picked it up. In fact, I was more than slightly skeptical of the fact. I have definite opinions about poetry, and Haiku in my opinion is an oft abused poetic form....
But I brought it home and read it to my boy and really enjoyed it. Oot is 4 years old now, and he's got a smashing good vocabulary. He's read a ton of books and he's smart enough that at times it's slightly creepy.
What's interesting is that this book had something new to offer. All of the action wasn't made explicit by the text. The word limits of the haiku form combined with the overall style of the story made most of the action in the book *implicit* instead.
Which means that to understand what's going on, you have to really think about it. It forces the reader to engage in a very different way. It turns the book into a bit of a puzzle to figure out.
Also, because there isn't as many opportunities for context clues, Oot asked me what certain words mean more often than he usually does. "What's 'conflict'?" "What does 'foe' mean?" So that was fun too.
All in all, a good book for many reasons, even if you're not a cat person, and even if you're not particularly into haiku....
October 22, 2019
A cat's adoption told in haiku. While I loved the adoption of Won Ton from a shelter to a home, unfortunately, I was not remotely impressed with the cat poetry.
April 28, 2011
Won-Ton is the story of a shelter cat who finds a home with a boy. The story is told in haiku, and the ways Won-Ton comes to adjust to his new family is by turns humorous and touching as both cat and boy learn from one another. Ultimately, it is a testament to the love waiting in the hearts of shelter animals and of the blessings they bestow in the lives of those who adopt them.
July 29, 2016
A substitute teacher came up to my reference desk seeking, “Fun haiku books” to turn into lesson plans with their kids. That’s the sort of open-ended question that can render your brain blank for a moment or two. Suddenly every haiku book for kids you’ve ever encountered flees from your brain. You’re left gaping like a fish, desperately scanning your poetry shelves for one, just ONE, haiku book that will help. Then, if you’re really in trouble, you start thinking of books that are so new to your library system that it’s no good to remember them anyway. For instance, the last time this happened I found myself thinking of Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku. A spirited little story that couldn’t be simpler, the first person narrative of a feline in a new home is told entirely in haikus. With plenty of things to love for poetry and cat lovers alike, Won Ton takes an old form and renders it furry.
Split into little unnumbered chapters (“The Shelter”, “The Choosing”, etc.) we hear the tale of a cat named Won Ton (though that’s not his “real” name, mind). A shelter kitty, Won Ton is adopted by a nice boy and goes off to start a new life. For a cat there are plenty of things to explore and figure out. There’s the couch that makes for an excellent scratching post and the moths that make for “a dusty snack”. In the end, Won Ton makes it clear that he’s not his boy’s cat. The boy is his boy. And finally, “ ‘Good night, Won Ton,’ you / whisper. Boy it’s time you knew: / My name is Haiku.”
It’s interesting that right off the bat the Author’s Note makes it clear that the book isn’t told in haiku at all but rather senryu. Actually, I’m being facetious. Senryu, which focuses on “the foibles of human nature – or in this case, cat nature” appears to have been developed from haiku itself. This would make it an ideal book for classroom study, then. We hear about kids that have to write their own haikus all the time. How many have to write senryus, eh?
I liked that in the Dedication we learn that the author has cats named Mai Tai, Papaya, and Koloa. Won Ton isn’t all that kooky a name in comparison. As for the haikus themselves, they’re definitely less evocative and more driven by a deep and abiding knowledge of cat personalities. The repeated joke throughout the book are the haikus that go, “Letmeoutletme / outletmeoutletmeout. / Wait – let me back in!” These occur periodically throughout the book. Of course, I wondered how well this kind of poetry would read aloud. Often Wardlaw has to break apart a line mid-sentence with varying degrees of success. Some poems don’t require the continuous flow of a sentence from one line to another. Others get a bit confusing when the lines aren’t next to one another. In one long line, “Naptime! Begone, oh / fancy pad. I prefer these / socks. They smell of you” looks fine. Broken up it’s a little hard to read. For the most part, though, everything is fairly smooth.
Eugene Yelchin is the illustrator paired with Ms. Wardlaw for this book and he’s an artist I’ve not seen much of before. Yelchin for this book has taken graphite and gouache to watercolor paper to create these images. His style is an elongated series of stretched lines, something akin to an artist like Jules Feiffer, though Yelchin reigns himself in a bit more. I particularly enjoyed his backgrounds. When Won Ton is in the shelter the background switches from plain white to gray or gray-blue or gray-pink. Then when the family returns home with their new cat, the artist takes a moment to render a landscape heavily influenced by older Japanese prints of mountainous backgrounds. Inside the home the colors brighten. Yellows and oranges and maybe a light blue. Patterned carpets and backyard scenes allow for more tips of the hat to Japanese prints, but not so much you’re taken out of the reading. Yelchin’s humans pretty much stay out of the picture, seen only in body parts until the boy’s face appears at the end as a kind of reward. As for Won Ton himself, the artist has clearly studied cats, and how much you take to it may depend on how much of a cat person you are. Yelchin’s hero is almost all outline. The shading is done well enough, but when you think back on the art, it’s the black outlines that remain in your mind. That seems to be the style that’s primarily at work here.
When we think of famous poetical kitties the first thing that tends to come to mind is Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Actually, this book pairs pretty well with Old Possum, particularly when it comes to the naming of cats. Won Ton isn’t particularly fond of his human-bestowed name, and little wonder since he has a name of his own already. Much like the Jellicle Cats of Eliot’s world, this cat is the master of his moniker. The book also brought to mind one of my favorite feline poetry titles A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco. Some of Won Ton’s habits here are replicated perfectly in Ms. Franco’s book. The two would read well together, I should think. As it stands, of course, Won Ton has no difficulty standing on its own. A cheery ode to a boy and his cat, this is one of the books to grab the next time someone asks you for “fun haiku”. Or really, any poetry in general.
For ages 4-8.
Split into little unnumbered chapters (“The Shelter”, “The Choosing”, etc.) we hear the tale of a cat named Won Ton (though that’s not his “real” name, mind). A shelter kitty, Won Ton is adopted by a nice boy and goes off to start a new life. For a cat there are plenty of things to explore and figure out. There’s the couch that makes for an excellent scratching post and the moths that make for “a dusty snack”. In the end, Won Ton makes it clear that he’s not his boy’s cat. The boy is his boy. And finally, “ ‘Good night, Won Ton,’ you / whisper. Boy it’s time you knew: / My name is Haiku.”
It’s interesting that right off the bat the Author’s Note makes it clear that the book isn’t told in haiku at all but rather senryu. Actually, I’m being facetious. Senryu, which focuses on “the foibles of human nature – or in this case, cat nature” appears to have been developed from haiku itself. This would make it an ideal book for classroom study, then. We hear about kids that have to write their own haikus all the time. How many have to write senryus, eh?
I liked that in the Dedication we learn that the author has cats named Mai Tai, Papaya, and Koloa. Won Ton isn’t all that kooky a name in comparison. As for the haikus themselves, they’re definitely less evocative and more driven by a deep and abiding knowledge of cat personalities. The repeated joke throughout the book are the haikus that go, “Letmeoutletme / outletmeoutletmeout. / Wait – let me back in!” These occur periodically throughout the book. Of course, I wondered how well this kind of poetry would read aloud. Often Wardlaw has to break apart a line mid-sentence with varying degrees of success. Some poems don’t require the continuous flow of a sentence from one line to another. Others get a bit confusing when the lines aren’t next to one another. In one long line, “Naptime! Begone, oh / fancy pad. I prefer these / socks. They smell of you” looks fine. Broken up it’s a little hard to read. For the most part, though, everything is fairly smooth.
Eugene Yelchin is the illustrator paired with Ms. Wardlaw for this book and he’s an artist I’ve not seen much of before. Yelchin for this book has taken graphite and gouache to watercolor paper to create these images. His style is an elongated series of stretched lines, something akin to an artist like Jules Feiffer, though Yelchin reigns himself in a bit more. I particularly enjoyed his backgrounds. When Won Ton is in the shelter the background switches from plain white to gray or gray-blue or gray-pink. Then when the family returns home with their new cat, the artist takes a moment to render a landscape heavily influenced by older Japanese prints of mountainous backgrounds. Inside the home the colors brighten. Yellows and oranges and maybe a light blue. Patterned carpets and backyard scenes allow for more tips of the hat to Japanese prints, but not so much you’re taken out of the reading. Yelchin’s humans pretty much stay out of the picture, seen only in body parts until the boy’s face appears at the end as a kind of reward. As for Won Ton himself, the artist has clearly studied cats, and how much you take to it may depend on how much of a cat person you are. Yelchin’s hero is almost all outline. The shading is done well enough, but when you think back on the art, it’s the black outlines that remain in your mind. That seems to be the style that’s primarily at work here.
When we think of famous poetical kitties the first thing that tends to come to mind is Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Actually, this book pairs pretty well with Old Possum, particularly when it comes to the naming of cats. Won Ton isn’t particularly fond of his human-bestowed name, and little wonder since he has a name of his own already. Much like the Jellicle Cats of Eliot’s world, this cat is the master of his moniker. The book also brought to mind one of my favorite feline poetry titles A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco. Some of Won Ton’s habits here are replicated perfectly in Ms. Franco’s book. The two would read well together, I should think. As it stands, of course, Won Ton has no difficulty standing on its own. A cheery ode to a boy and his cat, this is one of the books to grab the next time someone asks you for “fun haiku”. Or really, any poetry in general.
For ages 4-8.
July 27, 2011
I’ve had this book at home for awhile and I finally made myself pick it up and read it because it’s rated so highly, including among readers I often agree with re picture books. But, the cover illustration completely turns me off; I hated it. I hate it a bit less now that I’ve read this utterly delightful story.
For me the illustrations are cute and fit the story, but they’re not my favorite, though I like virtually all of them better than the cover illustration.
the senryu haiku-like poetry story is so good. It perfectly captures the essence of cats, and it’s a heartwarming story about a cat adoption and a cat and boy bonding. Parts of it are hilarious, parts emotionally powerful, and all is spot on; the author obviously knows cats. The poem, and particularly its ending, is very clever.
So, I’m very grateful I could get past the hideous (to me) cover picture and dive into the wonderful story and cute pictures inside.
For me the illustrations are cute and fit the story, but they’re not my favorite, though I like virtually all of them better than the cover illustration.
the senryu haiku-like poetry story is so good. It perfectly captures the essence of cats, and it’s a heartwarming story about a cat adoption and a cat and boy bonding. Parts of it are hilarious, parts emotionally powerful, and all is spot on; the author obviously knows cats. The poem, and particularly its ending, is very clever.
So, I’m very grateful I could get past the hideous (to me) cover picture and dive into the wonderful story and cute pictures inside.
February 15, 2012
Okay confession time—I tried for over an hour to come up with a cute haiku poem for this review and failed miserably! Hehe…My grade school teachers would be horrified!
But I will say that this cat’s journey from the shelter to a home will warm your heart and make you smile and “awww”! The pages capture a cat’s day with fun, adventure, mischief, a bit of snobbiness, and snuggles! Big, beautiful, clear, solid illustrations bring this cat to life with stretches, yawns, hisses, and curious eyes.
Makes me want to just curl up in a warm spot and purrrr! :)
2/14/12
But I will say that this cat’s journey from the shelter to a home will warm your heart and make you smile and “awww”! The pages capture a cat’s day with fun, adventure, mischief, a bit of snobbiness, and snuggles! Big, beautiful, clear, solid illustrations bring this cat to life with stretches, yawns, hisses, and curious eyes.
Makes me want to just curl up in a warm spot and purrrr! :)
2/14/12
February 19, 2011
As posted on Outside of a Dog
Won Ton is actually a tale told in senryu, a variation of haiku of deals with human nature, or as the Wardlaw points out, cat nature. Here is the story of a cautious shelter cat who is chosen by a boy who can "rub my chin just right". The cat may act cool, but really wants to be taken home. He is named Won Ton, though he teases "Some day, I'll tell you my real name. Maybe." Won Ton learns about his new home, new food, new playtime and new naptime. Wardlow and Yelchin have cats down pat with this charming book. Clever phrases like "Letmeinletmeinletmeinletmein. Wait - let me back out!" and "I explained it loud and clear. What part of "meow" don't you understand?" are not only funny, but pure cat as well. And Yelchin's beautiful, ANGULAR illustrations perfectly express the attitude of Won Ton, captured in all his modes of cat-ness: yawning, stretching, sleeping, hissing, cleaning and the inevitable 'dressed-in-doll-clothes' look that every cat in a home with children must one day endure. This is a book I'm already planning on sharing for storytime, and one I can envision reading over and over again. The haiku structure has a timeless feel to it, and a quaintness, which I mean in the best possible way. It is not a book full of substance, but is light and uncomplicated, and downright lovely.
Won Ton is actually a tale told in senryu, a variation of haiku of deals with human nature, or as the Wardlaw points out, cat nature. Here is the story of a cautious shelter cat who is chosen by a boy who can "rub my chin just right". The cat may act cool, but really wants to be taken home. He is named Won Ton, though he teases "Some day, I'll tell you my real name. Maybe." Won Ton learns about his new home, new food, new playtime and new naptime. Wardlow and Yelchin have cats down pat with this charming book. Clever phrases like "Letmeinletmeinletmeinletmein. Wait - let me back out!" and "I explained it loud and clear. What part of "meow" don't you understand?" are not only funny, but pure cat as well. And Yelchin's beautiful, ANGULAR illustrations perfectly express the attitude of Won Ton, captured in all his modes of cat-ness: yawning, stretching, sleeping, hissing, cleaning and the inevitable 'dressed-in-doll-clothes' look that every cat in a home with children must one day endure. This is a book I'm already planning on sharing for storytime, and one I can envision reading over and over again. The haiku structure has a timeless feel to it, and a quaintness, which I mean in the best possible way. It is not a book full of substance, but is light and uncomplicated, and downright lovely.
April 28, 2011
This cute story about a kitty in a shelter looking for a home is told in senryu, which are haiku that focus on foibles of human, or in this case, cat, nature. Lee Wardlaw must have written this from experience, because she's got a cat's attitude down just right. My favorite poem is:
Your tummy, soft as
warm dough. I knead and knead, then
bake it with a nap.
I've been there! I've also experienced the tuna breath, the snubbing of the food in the bowl, the "squishy" in the shoe, and the naps on my dirty clothes. Cat lovers have got to read this one! I must have a copy of this for my personal cat book collection.
Your tummy, soft as
warm dough. I knead and knead, then
bake it with a nap.
I've been there! I've also experienced the tuna breath, the snubbing of the food in the bowl, the "squishy" in the shoe, and the naps on my dirty clothes. Cat lovers have got to read this one! I must have a copy of this for my personal cat book collection.
April 15, 2012
I do not like cats. They get under foot, pounce and claw when you least expect it, and make you sneeze. Give me a dog any day. BUT... a cat like Won Ton could probably change my mind. A few years back Andrew Clements gave us Dogku, a picture book told entirely in haiku, and one I enjoyed. Now Lee Wardlaw balances the dog versus cat scales with the remarkable Won Ton, taking the same concept with the opposite protagonist and doing it every bit as well, perhaps better. From the moment the stereotypical blase' shelter cat revealed his longing with
No rush. I've got plans.
Gnaw this paw. Nip that flea. And
wish: Please Boy, pick me.
I was suckered in. Anyone who has loved an animal will recognize the emotions and situations played out as boy and cat forge a tender bond. A must for poetry collections!
No rush. I've got plans.
Gnaw this paw. Nip that flea. And
wish: Please Boy, pick me.
I was suckered in. Anyone who has loved an animal will recognize the emotions and situations played out as boy and cat forge a tender bond. A must for poetry collections!
May 29, 2011
Awe! I love this book!!
"Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku" (which, once you've finished you'll appreciate this title even more!) is a story about a shelter cat (told from the perspective of the cat) who ends up getting adopted by a family with a little boy and a little girl.
It's obvious that author Wardlaw loves cats and understands them very well!
I was smiling all the way through. Everything from, at the shelter: "Visiting hours! Yawn. I pretend not to care. Yet—I sneak a peek." To: "Naptime! Begone, oh fancy pad. I prefer these socks. they smell of you." :-)
The illustrations are so incredibly adorable and full of personality.
This is just a joy!!! Highly highly highly recommended!!!
"Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku" (which, once you've finished you'll appreciate this title even more!) is a story about a shelter cat (told from the perspective of the cat) who ends up getting adopted by a family with a little boy and a little girl.
It's obvious that author Wardlaw loves cats and understands them very well!
I was smiling all the way through. Everything from, at the shelter: "Visiting hours! Yawn. I pretend not to care. Yet—I sneak a peek." To: "Naptime! Begone, oh fancy pad. I prefer these socks. they smell of you." :-)
The illustrations are so incredibly adorable and full of personality.
This is just a joy!!! Highly highly highly recommended!!!
July 3, 2011
This is a delight. I was going to copy my favorite senryu verse (haiku essentially, but with a different focus) but which one to choose? "Gypsy on my left./Pumpkin, my right. Together/we are all alone." What a perfect depictionof a shelter!
As someone else pointed out there is a joke running through this story familiar to anyone enslaved to a cat: "Letmeoutletme/outletmeout./Wait--let me back!".
Catitude is expressed perfectly in this senryu: "Eavesdropping, I hear:/"my cat." Great rats! Don't you know/yet that you're my boy? Well, what kind of cursing do you expect from a cat? Of course, great rats!
The illustrations are perfectly in tune with the story. I'm not artistic so refer you to Elizabeth Bird's review above.
This is being recommended to all my feline obsessed friends!
As someone else pointed out there is a joke running through this story familiar to anyone enslaved to a cat: "Letmeoutletme/outletmeout./Wait--let me back!".
Catitude is expressed perfectly in this senryu: "Eavesdropping, I hear:/"my cat." Great rats! Don't you know/yet that you're my boy? Well, what kind of cursing do you expect from a cat? Of course, great rats!
The illustrations are perfectly in tune with the story. I'm not artistic so refer you to Elizabeth Bird's review above.
This is being recommended to all my feline obsessed friends!
February 28, 2023
The whole story of a cat’s life, from his time in the animal shelter to his new home with a little boy, is in this book, all told in haiku. Wonderful pictures and fun text, in addition to satisfying the challenging task of writing in haiku.
“Sorry about the
squishy in your shoe. Must’ve
been something I ate.
Letmeoutletme
outletmeoutletmeout.
Wait---let me back in!”
“Sorry about the
squishy in your shoe. Must’ve
been something I ate.
Letmeoutletme
outletmeoutletmeout.
Wait---let me back in!”
January 16, 2012
I had passed this one by at the library based on its cover, but finally took it home because of its good reviews in journals. And now it's my kids' favorite of the year so far. They practically have it memorized, and still crack up at the "squishy in my shoe" part, and more. And I've grown to appreciate the interior illustrations, especially the garden scene.
March 16, 2011
Wonderful cat story told entirely in haiku. Clever and fun.
January 27, 2015
A children's book, told entirely in haiku? Yes, please, and thank you.
August 28, 2018
Great introduction to this beautiful form of poetry!
March 28, 2020
A shelter cat considers the world around him in this innovative picture-book, told entirely in senryu - a form of haiku that, according to the brief author's foreword, deals with human (or feline) foibles, rather than (as is customary with haiku) the beauties of nature. Each brief entry in his poetic account reveals the cat's distinctive personality, as well as his efforts to hold himself aloof in a world that can often prove dangerous or hurtful, for unwary felines. The process whereby he gradually opens up to his new life and family, after being adopted from the shelter, is documented in a sparse but poignant way.
Wardlaw obviously understands cats, and Won-Ton (or Haiku) comes across as a lovable feline indeed! I think my favorite, of the senryu presented here was the one in which our feline hero attempts to make himself understood - "I explained it loud / and clear. What part of 'meow' / don't you understand?" - as this reminded me strongly of many cats I have known and loved, who clearly had opinions on the denseness of their human beings. The artwork, done in graphite and gouache, is colorful and engaging, with plenty of slinky charm that suits its subject. All in all, a sweet little picture-book, one I recommend to young cat lovers, and to fans of the haiku form.
Wardlaw obviously understands cats, and Won-Ton (or Haiku) comes across as a lovable feline indeed! I think my favorite, of the senryu presented here was the one in which our feline hero attempts to make himself understood - "I explained it loud / and clear. What part of 'meow' / don't you understand?" - as this reminded me strongly of many cats I have known and loved, who clearly had opinions on the denseness of their human beings. The artwork, done in graphite and gouache, is colorful and engaging, with plenty of slinky charm that suits its subject. All in all, a sweet little picture-book, one I recommend to young cat lovers, and to fans of the haiku form.
November 8, 2011
Reader beware: this picture book will make you immediately want to go out and adopt a cat from an animal shelter. This is a story told from a cat’s point of view about being adopted from an animal shelter. It follows Won Ton’s time in the animal shelter, and his adjustment to being in a new home. The text of the story is told entirely in haiku, which makes this a fantastic model text. Children will easily be able to hear and understand the rhythm of haiku in this format. However, these haiku are good for mostly teaching about the form, they do no truly grasp the original concepts of haiku. The illustrations in this picture book are just beautiful. Won Ton looks like a scraggly stray, because the lines are not perfectly straight, which adds to his character. You can tell he is not a perfectly behaved cat, and likes to live life playfully. The color is a nice palate of muted, yet playful, colors, like pale yellow and blues, which helps readers to see the serious, yet playful, nature of the Won Ton. This picture book is highly recommended for readers K-2.
June 14, 2014
In a story told through haiku, we are introduced to an "oriental prince" of a cat living at a shelter, who is adopted by a family and taken to a new home, where he eventually adjusts and learns to love his new people.
Perhaps I'm biased due to my love of kitties, but I have to say, this is one of the best picture books I've encountered in a long time--it combines charming illustrations with a clever narrative device while teaching kids about haikus and the nature of cats. Not only that, but there are some genuinely poignant and thoughtful lines, such as when he's describing the shelter:
And when he's taken from the shelter, and "one claw/snags, cling to what's known."
Maybe not a classic, but certainly an endearing book.
Perhaps I'm biased due to my love of kitties, but I have to say, this is one of the best picture books I've encountered in a long time--it combines charming illustrations with a clever narrative device while teaching kids about haikus and the nature of cats. Not only that, but there are some genuinely poignant and thoughtful lines, such as when he's describing the shelter:
"Gypsy on my left
Pumpkin, my right. Together,
we are all alone."
And when he's taken from the shelter, and "one claw/snags, cling to what's known."
Maybe not a classic, but certainly an endearing book.
May 9, 2011
This book was very different, and I really liked that. My 4 year old son really enjoyed this book. How fun is it that this book is told in Haiku! I also like how it feels like a chapter book with the headings that help move the story along and inform the readers about what's going on.
In this book, a cat, nameless at first, is living in a shelter. He acts aloof, like he doesn't want to get adopted. Then, he does get adopted and is taken to the home of a little boy. The cat does adjust to his new home and the Haiku verse is incredibly well written and utilized throughout.
The end has a lovely and suprising moment when the cat reveals his real name, which is not the name given to him by the boy, Won Ton.
In this book, a cat, nameless at first, is living in a shelter. He acts aloof, like he doesn't want to get adopted. Then, he does get adopted and is taken to the home of a little boy. The cat does adjust to his new home and the Haiku verse is incredibly well written and utilized throughout.
The end has a lovely and suprising moment when the cat reveals his real name, which is not the name given to him by the boy, Won Ton.
December 14, 2016
Told entirely in senryu (Japanese poetic form same as haiku but about life foibles instead of nature). This is the story of a cat who is adopted from a shelter and adjusts to life with his new home/owner. Excellent resource for teaching haiku/senryu poetry. Also recommend for cat lovers. The sequel, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku, is even better. This is the cat version of Dogku, which was published several years prior to this picture book.
October 27, 2017
This is the charming tale of a cat rescued by The Boy, told entirely in haiku from said Cat's point of view.
For once, the words in a picture book were what attracted my attention. I loved the haiku. They perfectly expressed the cat's feelings. There is another book, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku Which looks to further explore the adventure of life with The Boy.
The illustrations are whimsical and surprising, but I really liked the haiku.
For once, the words in a picture book were what attracted my attention. I loved the haiku. They perfectly expressed the cat's feelings. There is another book, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku Which looks to further explore the adventure of life with The Boy.
The illustrations are whimsical and surprising, but I really liked the haiku.
March 7, 2011
Won Ton is a delicious blend of cattitude (for those unfortunates who are not feline-owned, this is a state or feeling of immense superiority, but not arrogance) and a form of Japanese poetry called senryu (similar to haiku). The illustrations have an Asian flair. This might work well with a creative writing class. Here’s a senryu inspired by my cat, Rufus:
Cat asleep in sun
Unbaked dough that has risen
Till it fills the pan
Cat asleep in sun
Unbaked dough that has risen
Till it fills the pan
September 4, 2017
I have to start this review with an admission - I just love cats. So my review might be a bit biased. I think this is a terrific book of senryu poems (similar to haiku, but focuses on the foibles of human nature) about a cat who needs a home.
The interaction between the kitty and his new adoptive family is very humorous and the illustrations are wonderful. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
The interaction between the kitty and his new adoptive family is very humorous and the illustrations are wonderful. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
May 17, 2011
I loved the elongated cat shapes, the colors, and the nod to Japanese art styles. Cat lovers will recognize these details! Linked Senryu (about human--well, cat--nature, not the natural world like haiku) poems.
July 5, 2017
This was one book that I found on GR as a result of looking at what other people have read who have read one of your books. Although I love cats and would cuddle with them all day if they would allow me I don't have my own so feed myself with books about them. And what attracted me the most to the Won-Ton series is the fact that books are suppose to be marked for children as an audience although presented in a haiku format, which is definitely a new concept.
Although it seems like it is suppose to be a children's book the book has more of a chapter book touch since each poem starts off with a title. Although in many circumstances I wouldn't like such an addition it actually helps the story along in this case since the story is based upon the witty haikus so there isn't much room given for description.
The other thing I enjoyed about this particular book is also the fact that the author describes to those who are interested that although haiku-style these poems may be there is also another name. This is definitely interesting for me as one who likes to know such information and be able to provide it possibly later for trivia.
And also the author most definitely catches the attitude of the cat in the right measurement so that the reader knows they are reading about a cat. All of these add to a beautiful collection of not just poetry but a wonderful story and if my niece snatching the books away from me tells anything it will be one that children should truly enjoy, especially if you want to add some movements to the book such as peeking around its spine or some animal sounds when presented.
Although it seems like it is suppose to be a children's book the book has more of a chapter book touch since each poem starts off with a title. Although in many circumstances I wouldn't like such an addition it actually helps the story along in this case since the story is based upon the witty haikus so there isn't much room given for description.
The other thing I enjoyed about this particular book is also the fact that the author describes to those who are interested that although haiku-style these poems may be there is also another name. This is definitely interesting for me as one who likes to know such information and be able to provide it possibly later for trivia.
And also the author most definitely catches the attitude of the cat in the right measurement so that the reader knows they are reading about a cat. All of these add to a beautiful collection of not just poetry but a wonderful story and if my niece snatching the books away from me tells anything it will be one that children should truly enjoy, especially if you want to add some movements to the book such as peeking around its spine or some animal sounds when presented.
October 6, 2013
This is an absolutely adorable book about a shelter cat finding his very own home told in the form of Haiku poetry. From a cage at the pound, waiting to get picked, to snuggling on top of his new little boy's tummy, Won Ton's tale is humorous, but there is no lack of tugging on the heartstrings, either.
The illustrations are pretty simple, yet appropriate. There is a lot of blank space on the pages, as the focus zooms in on the lead cat's actions and emotions.
This is a great book to add to any classroom library, but particularly for the younger grades (Pre-K to 3), and I think it's a fun book to hook kids on poetry. Obviously, the writing style is fresh and original, and I think this would be an excellent way to introduce students to Haiku and other nontraditional forms of poetry. Those that know me also know that I am passionate about animal rescue and adoption. Given the current state of our homeless pet population in the United States, I'd say it's a great topic to approach with the nation's youth. This could also be a great book to discuss character development -- we meet Won Ton in the shelter, and bit by bit learn more and more about him, which helps readers not only sympathize with the little guy, but also adore him.
I'm giving this book 4.5 stars, and I'm not even a cat person. ;) I'd have to say little Won Ton won me over... just a little bit.
The illustrations are pretty simple, yet appropriate. There is a lot of blank space on the pages, as the focus zooms in on the lead cat's actions and emotions.
This is a great book to add to any classroom library, but particularly for the younger grades (Pre-K to 3), and I think it's a fun book to hook kids on poetry. Obviously, the writing style is fresh and original, and I think this would be an excellent way to introduce students to Haiku and other nontraditional forms of poetry. Those that know me also know that I am passionate about animal rescue and adoption. Given the current state of our homeless pet population in the United States, I'd say it's a great topic to approach with the nation's youth. This could also be a great book to discuss character development -- we meet Won Ton in the shelter, and bit by bit learn more and more about him, which helps readers not only sympathize with the little guy, but also adore him.
I'm giving this book 4.5 stars, and I'm not even a cat person. ;) I'd have to say little Won Ton won me over... just a little bit.
February 1, 2011
This picture book is told in a series of haiku poems. The poems form the only text in the book, charmingly telling the tale of Won Ton, a cat saved from the animal shelter by a boy and his family. Once rescued, Won Ton demonstrates that he is pure cat. His aloof yet cozy manner is captured to perfection here in the poems. The book is in turns touching, beautiful, wistful and very funny.
Wardlaw’s haiku read as if they were effortlessly written. In a few words and syllables, he captures the life of a cat and the humor of life. It is a book that celebrates poetry, making it approachable and understandable for children. At the same time, he speaks to the power and connection in animal adoption.
Yelchin has illustrated the book with a playful flair. The graphite and gouache illustrations are bright and large, making them well suited to sharing with a group. Anyone with a cat in their lives will recognize the poses, the reactions and the attitude that Won Ton displays.
A perfect book to share in a poetry unit, this book is appropriate for ages 5-8.
Wardlaw’s haiku read as if they were effortlessly written. In a few words and syllables, he captures the life of a cat and the humor of life. It is a book that celebrates poetry, making it approachable and understandable for children. At the same time, he speaks to the power and connection in animal adoption.
Yelchin has illustrated the book with a playful flair. The graphite and gouache illustrations are bright and large, making them well suited to sharing with a group. Anyone with a cat in their lives will recognize the poses, the reactions and the attitude that Won Ton displays.
A perfect book to share in a poetry unit, this book is appropriate for ages 5-8.
May 20, 2011
Genius. Seriously. Not sure how he did it, exactly, but Lee Wardlaw has obviously transmogrified into the body of a shelter cat. Otherwise, he couldn't know so perfectly what that cat would be thinking, and be able to put those thoughts into such lovely, comical, heartbreaking haiku.
Each one is absolutely perfect. Maybe it's that with haiku words must be economical, which gives them extra punch. Two of my (many) favorites:
Dogs have hair. Cats, fur.
Dogs whine, yip, howl, bark. Cats purrr.
I say: No contest.
No rush. I've got plans.
Gnaw this paw. Nip that flea. And
wish: Please, Boy, pick me.
Curriculum Connection: Haiku, obviously, but use with Dogku by Andrew Clements and Tim Bowers.
Each one is absolutely perfect. Maybe it's that with haiku words must be economical, which gives them extra punch. Two of my (many) favorites:
Dogs have hair. Cats, fur.
Dogs whine, yip, howl, bark. Cats purrr.
I say: No contest.
No rush. I've got plans.
Gnaw this paw. Nip that flea. And
wish: Please, Boy, pick me.
Curriculum Connection: Haiku, obviously, but use with Dogku by Andrew Clements and Tim Bowers.
June 6, 2019
Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...
This book touched my heart. Anyone who is a cat person will connect immediately with Won Ton and love him instantly and the way his story was told through haikus was touching and brilliant. Wardlaw obviously knows her cats because each poem is reminiscent of cats' personalities.
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/...
This book touched my heart. Anyone who is a cat person will connect immediately with Won Ton and love him instantly and the way his story was told through haikus was touching and brilliant. Wardlaw obviously knows her cats because each poem is reminiscent of cats' personalities.
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