A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests

Written by Caroline Adderson

Illustrated by Lauren Tamaki

Groundwood Books

978-1-773068930

32 pp.

Ages 3–7

October 2025

 

In the 1600s,  the Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō wrote a poem titled, "The Old Pond." This is Caroline Adderson's charming imagining of how that haiku may have been created on the spot. And with Lauren Tamaki's acrylic ink illustrations, readers will be transported to a Japan of contemplative art to hear and smell and see that which is memorable at the pond.

From A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests, written by Caroline Adderson, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki

One evening, the poet Bashō goes for a walk and rests by a pond. A carp, a lily, and a mosquito are all attracted to the poet who closes his eyes to quiet thought. One by one, these living organisms attempt to get the poet's attention, hopeful that he might include them in the poem he was sure to be bringing to life in his mind.

 

First, the carp dances and flutters her tail, determined that her loveliness in the moonlight might be noticed by Bashō. But even calling out, "O Bashō! Look at me!" does not trigger the poet to open his eyes.

From A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests, written by Caroline Adderson, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki

The water lily first notices the antics of the carp and then the poet sitting on the bank of the pond. Wondering if he might be immortalized somehow, the lily concentrates his efforts to send the perfume of his flower to grab Bashō's attention. Still Bashō does not react, though a mosquito does notice the scent of the lily. Convinced that her life could fill a book of poetry, the mosquito also attempts to captivate the poet.

 

Finally, a frog who is preparing for his midnight swim decides not to be discouraged by the "Flashing fish, lavish lily, megalomaniacal mosquito, pensive poet" and jumps in, giving Bashō the inspiration for his famous haiku.

 

And so, a six-word haiku is born. Though the frog is the star of Bashō's poem, Caroline Adderson's story is more about the exhibitionism of the carp, the lily, and the mosquito that attempt to grab Bashō's attention. They get most of the story just as attention-seeking individuals usually demand most of the consideration through their efforts. The frog, on the other hand, is unconcerned with anything but its own business, and as such becomes immortalized in the poem of elegance and ordinariness. Caroline Adderson gives us a big story for a very simple poem and reminds all those who are Look-At-Me people—you know the ones that always demand attention and recognition—that fame doesn't have to come from the ego but rather from the lack thereof. The natural beauty of that frog just going about its business is far more notable than the extreme actions of some other self-absorbed organisms.

From A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests, written by Caroline Adderson, illustrated by Lauren Tamaki

Artist Lauren Tamaki—yes, she is related to graphic novel artist Jillian Tamaki—has the perfect subtlety of style and medium to help tell the story of a poet and his inspiration. And with a Japanese backdrop, Lauren Tamaki gives Caroline Adderson's A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests the essence of traditional sumi-e (black ink painting) but with loads of colour. Still, with the ink on watercolour paper (I presume), the art evokes a dynamic essence to the landscape, so in keeping with the textures and fluidity of a pond.

 

If I was still a teacher, I would love to use A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests as a wonderful introduction to haiku and to finding inspiration for writing poetry. (For older kids, I'd definitely let them recreate scenarios for inspiring other poems.) But I'd also sneak in a discussion about attention-grabbing behaviour and the need for fame as character education never goes amiss. Even without its teachable potential, A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests will provide a beautiful and evocative rendering of how the natural world can hearten us with contemplation, beauty, and inspiration.

Zevi Takes the Spotlight (Orca Currents)

Written by Carol Matas

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-459838826

128 pp.

Ages 9–12

RL 2.7

April 2024

 

Some gift! Unlike other gifts, this one is not returnable. (p. 2)

Zevi's gift? He's psychic. Sometimes he can see into the future, or dream about something that is going happen, hear someone's thoughts, or even talk to the dead. When he dreams of the location of a missing 5-year-old girl, he helps the police find the child unharmed. But, for a Grade 7 boy who wants to be an actor, he doesn't appreciate the celebrity, both good and bad, that comes with this good deed.

Now Zevi's family is getting dragged into the filming of a movie starring Robert Lemon when their glass-and-steel home is selected as a location for the futuristic movie. Problem is that Zevi keeps sensing a dark cloud associated with the star and the boy is worried that Mr. Lemon is in danger. When repeated accidents occur on set, i.e., at their house, Zevi, his best friend Nir, and Zevi's family use their proximity to the movie to do some sleuthing to discover who might want to hurt Robert Lemon.

 

Zevi Takes the Spotlight is another fast-moving hi-lo book in the Orca Currents series, which are high-interest books written at a lower vocabulary and reading level, here at 2.7. (RL 2.7 is associated with readers in the seventh month of Grade 2.) Carol Matas, a prolific writer of everything from picture books to historical fiction, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi, capably writes a compelling mystery for middle-grade readers at a less challenging level. She weaves a story of real characters, kids who want to try new things or don't, who want to be famous or don't, and who want to connect with others. And they've got a mystery to solve. They may have a few tricks to help them out, like Zevi's psychic ability, but that "gift" is both beneficial and an obstacle, as Zevi learns. 

 

Zevi may want to be an actor when he is older but he's learning early what fame can mean when he gets a taste of it. Still, it doesn't stop him from doing good for others or learning how to deal with it. His brush with celebrity may put him in the spotlight but he's now seeing beyond that attention to a path that will allow him to be both who he is and who he wants to be.