WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Climbing the Volcano by Curtis Manley & Jennifer K. Mann

 

CLIMBING THE VOLCANO

A Journey in Haiku

written by Curtis Manley, pictures by Jennifer K. Mann

Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024

ISBN: 978-0-8234-5166-1

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Through haiku, a young boy narrates his family’s invigorating hike to the peak of Oregon’s South Sister volcano. For centuries, haiku has offered meditation on the grace and majesty of nature. In Climbing the Volcano, old meets new as a young protagonist uses the poetic form to voice his wonder. Trekking uphill, the family encounters tiny toads, colorful butterflies, soaring birds of prey, and so much more to see, do, and feel, dormant volcano—but at sunrise each day it blazes. Climbing the Volcano is a call to adventure in the natural world, and a wonderful introduction to poetic forms. Young readers will be inspired to summit their own peaks and to find their own voices to share what they discover there. Whether you live in the shadow of a volcano, amid sprawling flatlands, or anywhere in between, Climbing the Volcano invites you to get out there and explore. Jennifer K. Mann’s breezy, childlike artwork harmonizes with Curtis Manley’s poetry to detail this mesmerizing Pacific Northwest journey. 

REVIEW

The combination of several different mediums presents readers with a panoramic view of the South Sister volcano that the young hero climbs with his family. The use of printmaking, pencil drawing, and digital collage and paint creates a lovely collection of images of both the natural world and the wonder of the boy.  In its brief moments, the haiku highlights the simple moments that make up the family's journey up the mountain. From

"how do you 

climb a mountain?

one step at a time"

to

"trying to sleep--

what mountain will I climb

next?"

Manley takes readers on an awe-inspiring trip up a mountain. I could almost breathe in the chilly, fresh air as I read. The variety of different sized illustrations differentiates between the huge, stunning views of the mountains and the small natural wonders such as mosquitoes and paw prints in the snow. A wonderful book perfect for sharing before a trip into nature or for inspiring young listeners into sharing their own journeys.