A unique new picture book combines haiku and clever art to introduce early learning words to children in a distinctive way.
Painting With Words gives a new take on introducing words to children by using cleverly arranged illustrations along with non-rhyming poetry to engage young readers with word puzzles to decipher and visual brain teasers to solve.
Each spread features a haiku riddle which is accompanied by a graphic art that is composed of a series and pattern of words that construct the image. A cat illustration is entirely produced by related words such as meow, purr, and hiss-a delight for children to pore over. Encouraging early creativity and self-expression, Painting With Words is a fun story that teaches basic word concepts and reiterates recognition with related words.
Cole says, "I created this picture book because I am passionate about poetry and art. Haiku is a poetic form that is very fun and accessible for children." In Painting With Numbers, readers will encounter riddles about numbers from one to twenty, accompanied by artwork that depicts each number through a clever contortion or shaping of a numeral image.

Children's book author and illustrator Joshua James Cole has always enjoyed telling stories, even making up tales with his younger brother as a child. But when he was in the fifth grade and one of his stories was chosen as "story of the week," he knew writing books was in his future.Joshua was further inspired by his daughters, wanting to create learning stories that were fun and engaging. With his picture book series, "Painting With..." and an ABCs book series that promotes healthy eating habits and helps children identify big feelings, Joshua aims to bring stories to his daughters and all children that are amusing, creative, and educational and that stay with them long after the book is closed. A published author of adult fiction under a pen name, when Joshua isn't creating vibrant and unique children's books, he likes going for walks, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with his family where they live on the seacoast of New Hampshire. He can often be found reading stories to his children using a brilliant British accent.