Unwrapping
Natsumi’s Song of Summer
By ROBERT PAUL WESTON
Illustrated by MISA SABURI
* Grade Level: PS-2
* Hardcover: 40 pages
* Publisher: Tundra Books
* Pub. Date: May 12, 2020
* Language: English
Unwrapping Some Lovely Illustrations for You to Enjoy
The Book
This charming tale features two cousins. Natsumi lives in Japan and Jill resides in America. It is summertime and soon Jill and her family will travel from the USA to Japan. They will to stay for the summer holidays. It is an extra special visit because Jill's family will be arriving in time for Natsumi's birthday.
Although they are related the two girls have never met. Natsumi is excited, nervous and concerned. She wonders what Jill will be like. She worries that they may not have much in common, that their language may be a barrier and if they will become friends. She has no way of knowing until she can finally meet Jill and spend some time with her.
When they meet at the airport Jill's first words are:
"Show me everything!" "Everything there is!"
"Everything!" asks Natsumi. Where would she even begin.
Natsumi assumes the role of travel guide and takes her cousin to the beach, to the obon festival, and to the fireworks display by the river just to name a few.
Jill becomes curious about the buzzing sounds that are emitted from the nearby trees and asks Natsumi what is causing the loud sounds? Once again Natsumi finds that she is anxious to respond to Jill's question. She fears if she tells Jill that thousands of cicadas are singing their music of the summertime, Jill may become frightened. She introduces her cousin to the the cicadas and to her delight Jill is just as much enamoured and she is.
This gentle, tender story celebrates the coming together of a family and the joy they share when they spend time together and get to know each other well. It celebrates family, a new found friend, and the mystery and love of nature. The book is written in series of tanka poems. This is a form of traditional, Japanese poetry that has five lines with thirty-one syllables. The first three lines look like a haiku (5-7-5), but it has two additional lines, each with seven syllables. The book gives instructions on how to write your own tanka poem. The author further provides information about the importance of the cicadas in Japanese culture at the end of the book. The illustrations are extremely well done and expressive. I highly recommend this book.
Jill becomes curious about the buzzing sounds that are emitted from the nearby trees and asks Natsumi what is causing the loud sounds? Once again Natsumi finds that she is anxious to respond to Jill's question. She fears if she tells Jill that thousands of cicadas are singing their music of the summertime, Jill may become frightened. She introduces her cousin to the the cicadas and to her delight Jill is just as much enamoured and she is.
This gentle, tender story celebrates the coming together of a family and the joy they share when they spend time together and get to know each other well. It celebrates family, a new found friend, and the mystery and love of nature. The book is written in series of tanka poems. This is a form of traditional, Japanese poetry that has five lines with thirty-one syllables. The first three lines look like a haiku (5-7-5), but it has two additional lines, each with seven syllables. The book gives instructions on how to write your own tanka poem. The author further provides information about the importance of the cicadas in Japanese culture at the end of the book. The illustrations are extremely well done and expressive. I highly recommend this book.
Storywraps Rating - 5 +++ HUGS!
Memories...
Meet the Author
Robert Paul Weston is the author of several internationally award-winning books for children and young adults, including Zorgamazoo, Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff, The Creature Department, and Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms. He lives in London, England and can be found on Twitter @rpWeston or at his website, www.RobertPaulWeston.com.
The Illustrator
MISA SABURI was born in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She is the illustrator of a series of board books -- Rapunzel, Snow White and Cinderella -- as well as Bearnard's Book and Monster Trucks. As well, she is the illustrator of Sakura's Cherry Blossoms.
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