#blogbookaday: Sakura's Cherry Blossoms

Summary:  “When Sakura’s father gets a new job, she and her parents leave their home in Japan. In America, Sakura misses the blossoming cherry tree where she and her grandmother would play and picnic. How will she feel at home in this new and unfamiliar place? What if she forgets the beloved grandmother she left behind? Making friends with her neighbour helps Sakura feel more settled and when springtime finally arrives, a gorgeous and fateful surprise awaits her.

Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms captures the beauty of the healing power of friendship through Weston’s Japanese poetry-inspired text and Saburi’s breathtaking illustrations. ” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: This is a beautiful story of the power of friendship as Sakura learns that saying good-bye is not easy. Sakura’s family leaves Japan for America for her father’s job leaving her beloved grandmother behind. Learning a new language, going to a new school and meeting new friends is difficult for Sakura. A surprise in the spring helps Sakura to understand that it’s never easy to say goodbye, but it’s also important to say hello.

Personal Reaction: This little book packs a huge punch talking about the immigrant experience, making new friends, the death of a family member and sharing in the beauty that surrounds you are all done equally well – told in tanka poetry (similar to haiku but with a few more lines). The illustrations show the relationship between Sakura and her grandmother and how much the cherry blossoms mean to the little girl. This was a beautifully done story – perfect for a young elementary age audience who will grasp the concepts well.

Title: Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms
Author: Robert Paul Weston
Illustrator: Mis Saburi
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date: February 20, 2018

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!