Celebrate Cuba's people, culture, and natural world in bilingual haikus written in Spanish and English! Celebra la gente, cultura y mundo natural de Cuba en haikus bilingües en español e inglés. Is it an island or a tiny ship floating upon the waters? HaiCuba/HaiKuba is a celebration of Cuba through bilingual haikus written in Spanish and English. Discover the red, white, and blue tocororo bird (whose feathers resemble the flag of Cuba), the crowded guagua, a Havana neighborhood, salsa music and dancing, and guayaberas, through poetry that captures the rhythm of life in Cuba. Co-authored by award-winning Cuban-American author Carlos Pintado and prolific bilingual author and translator Lawrence Schimel, HaiCuba/HaiKuba introduces the people, culture, and natural world of Cuba through these tropical verses and vibrant illustrations. Includes an introduction to the art of haikus as well as back matter on the topics covered in the book. New York Public Library Best New Book for Kids, 2024 Texas Star Reading List selection, 2025 Americas Award Commended Title, 2025 Campoy-Ada Award Honorable Mention - Children's Poetry, 2025 International Latino Book Awards - Silver Medal, 2025 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year in Spanish, 2025 Cuatrogatos Foundation recommended title, 2025 Eureka! Honor Book, 2024 ¿Es una isla o un barco flotando sobre las aguas? HaiCuba/HaiKuba es una celebración de Cuba en haikus bilingües en español e inglés. Descubre el tocororo con sus plumas rojas, blancas, y azules (igual que la bandera de Cuba), la guagua apretada, un barrio habanero, la salsa (su música y baile) y las guayabera, a través de poemas que capturan el ritmo de la vida en Cuba. Co escrito por el galardonado poeta cubano-americano Carlos Pintado y el prolífico escritor y traductor bilingüe Lawrence Schimel, HaiCuba/HaiKuba presenta la gente, cultura y mundo natural de Cuba en estos versos tropicales e ilustraciones coloridas. "In a bilingual way and through 13 haikus, the authors make a very complete exposition of the most outstanding aspects of the island of Cuba, its culture and its people. A final note expands the concepts presented with the brevity that a haiku requires. It has extraordinary illustrations." ― Premio Campoy-Ada Award "A worthwhile addition to libraries looking to add accessible poetry for young readers." ― School Library Journal "These bilingual haikus burst with cultural detail amid Juan José Colsa’s stunning full-page, full-color illustrations of Havana life. Written in the voice of two young friends, the poems make us pause and look closely at the details and their expressions. From busting some moves on the dance floor to catching fire beetles in the woods, from spotting butterflies reflected in the river Almendares to spying on lovers on the waterfront, from laundry swaying on the line to the feel of a freshly ironed guayabera shirt, it all makes for a vivid introduction to an island proud of its nature, its music, its food, its ethnic diversity and, above all, its ¡Cubanidad!" -- Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp ― Words Without Borders "This ingenious blend of cultural celebration and poetic artistry beautifully combines the essence of Cuba with traditional haiku, presenting a series of evocative poems that capture the spirit of the island. [. . .] A worthwhile book for children of Cuban ancestry, this is also a strong choice for introducing young readers to both Cuban culture and the art of haiku." ― Booklist ". . . the poetry is short but impactful. The pictures in the background are stunning, and add much to the poetry. The fact that the book is in both languages, allows children to read in one or the other or both." ― Children's Literature Carlos Pintado is a poet, playwright, essayist, and fiction writer born in Cuba in 1974, who now lives in Miami. The author of over a dozen books, he won the Paz Prize from the National Poetry Series for his book Nine Coins/Nueve monedas , the Sant Jordi International Poetry Prize for his collection Habitación a oscuras , and the Sundial House Book Translation Prize for Music for Bamboo Strings (translated by Lawrence Schimel). He has been published in the New York Times , World Literature Today , and Vogue , among other periodicals, and numerous composers and classical music groups have set to music and sung his poems. HaiCuba/HaiKuba is his debut work for younger readers. - Carlos Pintado es un poeta, dramaturgo y escritor de ensayos y de narrativa nacido en Cuba en 1974, que ahora vive en Miami. El autor de más de una docena de libros, ha ganado el Premio Paz del National Poetry Series para su poemario Nine Coins/Nueve monedas , el Premio Internacional de Poesía Sant Jordi para su poemario Habitación a oscuras y el Sundial House Book Translation Prize para Music for Bamboo Strings (traducido al inglés por Lawrence Schimel). Ha sido publicado en el New York