Cool Melons- Turn to Frogs!

The Life and Poems of Issa
By Matthew Gollub, Kazuko Stone
Paperback: $12.95

For hundreds of years, school children in Japan have been introduced to poetry through the work of Issa.

Description

Born in 1763 on a farm in central Japan, Issa began writing poetry as a young child, inspired by his deep love for the natural world. Later in his boyhood and throughout his life, poetry was also Issa’s refuge in times of joy and in times of suffering.

Matthew Gollub’s poignant rendering of Issa’s life and over thirty of his best-loved poems, along with Kazuko Stone’s sensitive and humorous watercolor paintings, make Cool Melons a classic introduction to Issa’s work for readers of all ages. With authentic Japanese calligraphy, a detailed Afterword, and exhaustive research by both author and illustrator, this is also an inspirational book about haiku, writing, nature, and life.

About the Creators

Matthew Gollub

Matthew Gollub is a multi-talented children's book author and speaker. He has produced more than twenty picture books, including his award-winning Jazz Fly series with audio. A dynamic drummer and bilingual (English / Spanish) presenter, he has also performed at over 1,000 elementary schools, across the US and abroad, inspiring students and families to read for fun. He lives with his family in Northern California. Visit him online at matthewgollub.com.

Kazuko Stone

Kazuko G. Stone was born in Tokyo, Japan, and immigrated to the United States in 1974. She lived in New York City for nearly 50 years and wrote and illustrated more than 30 children's books during that time. Her books have been published in six languages and distributed all over the world. Cool Melons Turn to Frogs, a book of haiku that Kazuko illustrated, won numerous awards and distinctions including two starred reviews and an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. She passed away in 2022. You can learn more about Kazuko at kazukogstone.com.

Awards

  • Best Children's Books of the Year Outstanding

    Bank Street College of Education

  • Notable Books for a Global Society

    International Literacy Association (ILA)

  • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

    Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)

  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

    National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

  • Notable Books in the Language Arts

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

  • Horn Book Fanfare

    The Horn Book

Reviews

  • * "This superb homage to the 18th-century Japanese haiku master is as elegant and spare as the poet's form... Readers would be hard-pressed to find a more eloquent, concise and inspiring approach to understanding (and writing) this deceptively simple art form."

    - Publishers Weekly
  • * "This introduction to an eighteenth-century Japanese writer of haiku is as restrained, graceful, and concise as the art form it honors."

    - The Horn Book

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781584302414
  • Publication Date Apr 01, 2013
  • Trim Size 10.25 × 8.25 × 0.11 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Word Count 1438
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781880000717
  • Publication Date Sep 01, 1998
  • Trim Size 10.5 × 9.75 × 0.5 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Word Count 1438
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Poetry / General
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Science & Nature / General (see also headings underAnimalsorTechnology)
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Biography / Memoir, Earth / Sun / Moon System, Empathy / Compassion, Environment / Nature, Gratitude, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Water
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 11
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 6
  • Guided Reading P
  • ATOS Book Level 4.4
  • DRA 38
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 6
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 860
  • Reading Level 3
  • SRC 4.6
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 93
      Nonfiction Grades 3-6
      Collection of 93 books: $1,224.35

      Horse Song

      Ted and Betsy Lewin's illustrated travelogue story of their trip to Mongolia to watch young boy and girl jockeys race horses in the traditional Naadam summer festival.

      Land of Morning Calm

      Take a journey to both ancient and modern Korea, where you will find a rich world of history and traditions that will capture your imagination and whet your appetite for learning more about this fascinating culture.

      Growing Peace

      This stunning photo-essay for children is a story of coexistence, focusing on Jewish, Muslim, and Christian families in a Ugandan village who created a Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative and learned to live and work together peacefully.

      Game, Set, Match Champion Arthur Ashe

      A picture book biography of tennis player Arthur Ashe, who began his career playing tennis as a child on the segregated courts as a child in Virginia and went on to become the top tennis player in the world.

      The School the Aztec Eagles Built

      A photo-illustrated book about the Aztec Eagles, Mexico's World War II Air Force squadron interwoven with the story of Sergeant Angel Bocanegra, whose service was rewarded with the building of a school in his village.

      ¡Olé! Flamenco

      A photo-essay about flamenco, a centuries-old living art form, originating in southern Spain, that incorporates traditional dance, song, and music.

      Honda

      The life story of Soichiro Honda, pioneering Japanese businessman and innovative motorcycle and car manufacturer.

      Honoring Our Ancestors

      Through stories, art, and photographs, Honoring Our Ancestors will inspire children and their families to gain strength from the past as they ask themselves, "Who do I honor?"

      On My Block

      Fifteen fine artists portray, in words and pictures, the places and spaces most special to them.

      I See the Rhythm

      i see the rhythmis an inspiring celebration of African American music and the far-reaching impact it has had on the world.

      Elephant Quest

      The Lewins are on a quest through Botswana to see the majestic African elephants in this picture book travelogue.

      Balarama

      Ted and Betsy Lewin's illustrated travelogue of their trip to southern India, where they meet Balarama, the lead Royal Elephant who will make his debut in the traditional parade that concludes the celebration of Dasara in the city of Mysore.

      Summoning the Phoenix

      A collection of original poems about children learning to play traditional Chinese instruments in preparation for a performance, accompanied by factual information about each instrument.

      Puffling Patrol

      Ted and Betsy Lewin travel to Iceland to learn about the "Puffling Patrol," a group of children who rescue lost puffins and return them to sea.

      Top to Bottom

      In this continuation of the Adventures Around the World series, the Lewins come face to face with Australia's wildest animals, from dingoes to crocodiles and more.

      Gorilla Walk

      In this delightful nonfiction travelogue, the Lewins trek through southern Uganda to visit mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

      Capoeira

      A photo-essay about the history and practice of Capoeira, a centuries-old Brazilian martial art incorporating traditional movements and rhythmic music, that is popular today as an energetic game played throughout the United States and around the world.

      The East-West House

      A biography of biracial sculptor/designer/landscape architect Isamu Noguchi, focusing on his childhood in Japan and the building of an "east-west" house that gave shape to his lifelong creative approach.

      Seeds of Change

      A picture book biography of scientist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman--and first environmentalist--to win a Nobel Peace Prize (in 2004) for her work planting trees in her native Kenya.

      Parrots Over Puerto Rico

      A nonfiction picture book about the history of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican parrot, which was brought back from the brink of extinction. Also available in Spanish.

      It Jes' Happened

      The inspiring biography of self-taught (outsider) artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of eighty-five began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life in Alabama.

      Hiromi's Hands

      The true story of Hiromi Suzuki, a Japanese American girl who defied tradition to train at her family's restaurant, and who became one of the first female sushi chefs in New York.

      Brothers in Hope

      Based on heartbreaking yet inspirational true events in the lives of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Brothers in Hope is a story of remarkable courage, and an amazing testament to the unyielding power of the human spirit.

      A Song for Cambodia

      The true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, Cambodian American musician and human rights activist, who as a young boy survived Khmer Rouge work camps by learning to play a musical instrument.

      The Lion Queens of India

      Award-winning photojournalist Jan Reynolds offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the world of the endangered Asiatic lions and the female forest rangers who fight to save them.

      Be Water, My Friend

      The true story of the formative years of Bruce Lee's early life growing up in Hong Kong in the 1940s and 1950s, before he became an international film star.

      Butterfly for a King

      The fascinating true story of a beautiful native Hawaiian butterfly, a great Hawaiian warrior king, and current-day efforts by scientists and citizens to restore the butterfly's declining population.

      The Story of Civil Rights Hero John Lewis

      This new entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies focuses on John Lewis, a leader in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and a revered Congressman today.

      The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku

      This entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Duke Kahanamoku, the six-time Olympic swimming champion and a legendary surfer who popularized surfing around the world.

      The Story of Movie Star Anna May Wong

      This entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Anna May Wong, whose trail-blazing career in Hollywood broke new ground for future generations of Asian American actors.

      The Story of Environmentalist Wangari Maathai

      This inspiring entry in the "Story of" line of chapter-book biographies features Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

      The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee

      This compelling entry in the "Story of" line of chapter-book biographies features Sammy Lee, a Korean American diver who became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal.

      The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls

      This exciting entry in the "Story of" line of chapter-book biographies introduces readers to Robert Smalls, an enslaved steamboat wheelman who commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and escaped with his family and crew to freedom.

      The Story of Banker of the People Muhammad Yunus

      This new entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who revolutionized global antipoverty efforts by developing the innovative economic concept of micro-lending.

      The Story of All-Star Athlete Jim Thorpe

      This entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Jim Thorpe, an exceptional athlete with natural talent and the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States.

      The Story of Trailblazing Actor Ira Aldridge

      This new entry in the innovative "Story" line of chapter-book biographies features Ira Aldridge, an African American actor considered one of the greatest Shakespearean performers of the nineteenth century, and an outspoken advocate for the abolitionist movement in the United States.

      Life of a Genius

      A tribute to the spirited life of one of China's greatest literary and historical heroes--poet, scholar, and statesman Su Dongpo.

      Todos Iguales / All Equal

      The empowering true story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, in which Mexican families in southern California won the first Mexican American school desegregation case in US history.

      Baby Flo

      This spirited biography introduces young readers to the early life of Florence "Baby Flo" Mills, an internationally renowned entertainer of the Harlem Renaissance era who began her career as a child.

      Shining Star

      The true story of Chinese American film star Anna May Wong, whose trail-blazing career in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s broke new ground for future generations of Asian American actors.

      The Mangrove Tree

      The fascinating story of Dr. Gordon Sato, who helped a small African village become self-sustaining by planting a forest of mangrove trees to reshape the community's ecosystem.

      Twenty-two Cents

      A biography of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who revolutionized global antipoverty efforts by developing the innovative economic concept of micro-lending.

      Silent Star

      The biography of William Ellsworth Hoy, the first deaf player to have a successful career in professional and Major League baseball.

      The Story of World War II Hero Irena Sendler

      The "Story" chapter-book line debuts with this beautiful celebration of the life of Irena Sendler, a social worker who helped save nearly 2500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

      The Story of Car Engineer Soichiro Honda

      The "Story" chapter-book line debuts with this compelling biography of Soichiro Honda, the innovative motorcycle and car manufacturer and Japanese business pioneer.

      The Story of Tennis Champion Arthur Ashe

      The "Story" chapter-book line debuts with this action-packed tribute to Arthur Ashe, one of the most compelling athletes and humanitarians of the twentieth century.

      Step Right Up

      A biography of William "Doc" Key, a formerly enslaved man and self-trained veterinarian who taught his horse, Jim, to read, write, and do math, and who together with Jim became a famous traveling performance act and proponent for the humane treatment of animals around the turn of the twentieth century.

      Howard Thurman's Great Hope

      Born in segregated Daytona, Florida, in 1899, Howard Thurman grew up dreaming of a better life--a life where his mother and grandmother would not have to cook and clean for other people; a life where he could become a college man, honoring his late father's wishes and his own dreams.

      Richard Wright and the Library Card

      This is the true story of the renowned African American author Richard Wright and his determination to borrow books from the public library that turned him away because of his color.

      Ray Charles

      A beautiful new edition of the award-winning biography of world-famous musician Ray Charles.

      Rattlesnake Mesa

      A true account of a spirited Native American girl's experiences growing up on a reservation and attending Phoenix Indian School in the 1920s, written in an engaging, unconventional style and accompanied by 38 dramatic photographs.

      Louis Sockalexis

      A biography of Louis Sockalexis, Penobscot Indian and the first Native American to play professional baseball, focusing on his formative years and culminating in an historic game at New York's Polo Grounds in 1897.

      Love to Langston

      This inspiring biography on Langston Hughes celebrates his life through poetry.

      John Lewis in the Lead

      A biography of John Lewis, one of the "Big Six" civil rights leaders of the 1960s, focusing on his involvement in Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, and the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

      Knockin' On Wood

      An inspirational biography of Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates (1907--1998), an African American man who overcame the hardship of losing a leg at age 12 and went on to become a world-renowned tap dancer.

      Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

      A biography of the legendary Native American Jim Thorpe (1888--1953), voted the Greatest Football Player and Greatest Athlete of the Half-Century by two AP polls, focusing on his early childhood and how school and sports shaped his future.

      In Her Hands

      A recreation of events from the childhood and early career of Augusta Savage, a pioneering female sculptor and major figure of the Harlem Renaissance.

      I and I Bob Marley

      A biography in verse of reggae legend Bob Marley, exploring the influences that shaped his life and music on his journey from rural Jamaican childhood to international superstardom.

      Drumbeat in Our Feet

      A journey into the deep-rooted traditions, artistry, and energetic spirit that make up the world of African dance, past and present.

      Sacred Mountain

      A photo-essay exploring the cultural, geological, and ecological history of Mount Everest, focusing on the indigenous Sherpa and their spiritual connection to the mountain, record-setting climbing expeditions, and the effects of tourism on the environment.

      How We Are Smart

      Musician Tito Puente. Ballerina Maria Tallchief. Explorer Matthew Henson. Congresswoman Patsy Mink. These are some of the people profiled in this book. They are well known for different reasons, but they also have something in common. They were all smart!

      Frederick Douglass

      The story of the African American abolitionist who, in one dramatic incident, discovered the meaning of freedom.

      Everglades Forever

      A photo-essay about the Florida Everglades, its unique ecosystem, and the efforts currently underway to restore this "Wetland of International Importance," told within the framework of a class study project and visit to the Everglades.

      Dia's Story Cloth

      A Hmong American tells of her people's search for freedom.

      Dear Mrs. Parks

      On a December day in 1955, Rosa Parks changed the course of history when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus.

      Cycle of Rice, Cycle of Life

      A photographic exploration of the cycles of traditional Balinese rice farming, a dynamic model of earth-friendly agriculture that connects a unique culture with the natural world.

      Crazy Horse's Vision

      The true story of the great Sioux warrior who, as a young boy, defies tradition and seeks a vision on his own in hopes of saving his people.

      Cool Melons- Turn to Frogs!

      For hundreds of years, school children in Japan have been introduced to poetry through the work of Issa.

      Coming to America

      A photo-essay of a Muslim family from Egypt; their experiences living in America; and the sacrifices they make to have a better life.

      Catching the Moon

      The spirited story of Marcenia Lyle, the African American girl who grew up to become "Toni Stone," the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

      Vanishing Cultures: Himalaya

      In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.

      Ira's Shakespeare Dream

      The inspiring biography of Ira Aldridge, a Black actor who overcame racism to become one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the nineteenth century.

      Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

      A biography of African American jazz virtuoso Melba Doretta Liston, a pioneering twentieth-century trombone player, composer, and music arranger at a time when few women, of any race, played brass instruments and were part of the jazz scene.

      Tiny Stitches

      The life story of Vivien Thomas, an African American surgical technician who developed the first procedure used to perform open-heart surgery on children.

      Prairie Dog Song

      Focusing on the role of prairie dogs as a keystone species, this book tells the connected histories of the North American grassland prairies and current efforts to preserve and recover the Janos grasslands in northern Mexico.

      Vanishing Cultures: Sahara

      In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.

      Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico! Americas' Sproutings

      A collection of haiku focusing on fourteen foods native to the Americas, celebrating the fun of the foods as well as their origins.

      ¡Béisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends

      In this fascinating and colorfully written collection of profiles, author/illustrator Jonah Winter gives us a guide to Latino heroes, including little known pioneers of the sport.

      Vanishing Cultures: Mongolia

      This photo essay explores the life of Dawa and Olana, two young cousins who come from a family of nomads on the grassy plains of Mongolia.