Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems)

Sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end. Like haiku, sijo are brief and accessible. The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected aspects of the everyday-of breakfast, houseplants, tennis, freshly washed socks. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an invitation to experiment with an unfamiliar poetic form. Istvan Banyai's giddy illustrations add a one-of-a-kind luster to a book that is truly a gem.