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.