Haiku Kaiju Ah-Choo!

In this comics-style tribute to two Japanese concepts and an onomatopoeic phrase, a blue kaiju wakes up feeling “yucky and too hot” in his dormant volcano home, and lets out a massive, tree-flattening sneeze. The all-haiku text draws laughs as the kaiju, who resembles an endearing cross between a stegosaurus and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, stomps into a city for help. (There, even a sign is written in haiku: “CONSTRUCTION WORKSITE/ BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED/ STAY AWAY FROM HERE.”) Everyone thinks the creature’s a menace, except for a child, touring his father’s office at Kaiju Central, who happens to be fluent in kaiju haiku: “This kaiju is sick—/ he’s not here to cause trouble./ He just needs our help.” The boy persuades his dad to train a robot squad not to attack but instead to deliver classic sick-kid comforts: soup, tissues, and a soft blanket. McClements (The Super Secret Adventure Club) kicks off this story with concise definitions of haiku kaiju, and ah-choo!, bringing readers on board right away and providing plenty of inspiration for making kaiju haiku of their own. Characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)