17 syllables capture a lot of mommy wit

"Haiku Mama"

Kari Anne Roy

Quirk Books, $12.95

"Haiku Mama" had two barriers to overcome: One, it's a small gift book and two, it's a book of poetry about motherhood, both of which tend to be overly precious.

But the brief odes to puddles, toys, baby pools, sippy cups and playdates are charming, pointed and funny, a perfect un-sentimental Mother's Day gift for new moms, who, as the book subtitle notes, only have time to read 17 syllables anyway.

Moms do tend to read in short bursts (the author suggests leaving the book by the rocking chair or breast pump). In her collection of 100 poems, Kari Anne Roy manages to share universal experiences with motherhood and early childhood in a very concise, unique way.

Roy wanted to document the cute — and weird — things her baby did, "but finding time to fill out a baby book was impossible," she notes in her introduction. "Instead, I jotted down haiku. Seventeen syllables to describe my kiddo's latest rainbow-colored diaper deposit — perfect!"

A selection of her poems:

"When she was my mom/she said no sweets before lunch/Hypocrite grandma."

"Other playgroup moms,/so svelte in their yoga pants/while I eat cupcake."

"Hot Story Time Mom/has cute hair, handbag. Yet has/Children of the Corn."

Stephanie Dunnewind: 206-464-2091 or sdunnewind@seattletimes.com