Fire Flowers - by Kyo Maclear (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this intimate, beautifully illustrated picture book from the creators of the Caldecott Honoree Noodles on a Bicycle, a young girl spends her last summer night in Japan lighting delicate Senko Hanabi fireworks with her cousins.

On a quiet late-summer evening in Japan, a young girl gathers with her cousins to light Senko Hanabi, delicate handheld fireworks that glow, crackle, and fade all too quickly. Tomorrow, she will fly home leaving behind cousins and a place that feels both familiar and far away. But for now, the children play, make wishes, and share a night of fireworks, each brief spark becoming a precious memory the girl will carry with her, even an ocean away.

From Caldecott Award honorees Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang, this tender, stunningly-illustrated picture book is a loving depiction of summer traditions and the experience of calling more than one place home.

About the Author

Kyo Maclear is a critically acclaimed author whose books have received starred reviews, appeared on numerous "Best of" lists, and been published in multiple languages around the world. She is the author of the Caldecott Honor-winner and Charlotte Zolotow Honoree Noodles on a Bicycle and The Big Bath House, which received five starred reviews and landed on many best of the year lists. Her other picture books include Virginia Wolf, which has been adapted for the stage, and Julia, Child, which is currently being adapted into an animated television series. Visti her online at kyomaclearkids.com.

Gracey Zhang received the Caldecott Honor for Noodles on a Bicycle. She also received the Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award for her debut picture book, Lala's Words. Gracey illustrated The Big Bath House, which received five starred reviews; Nigel and The Moon, a Jumpstart Read for the Record selection; and The Upside Down Hat, which was a The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2022. She is a renowned illustrator, author, and animator with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. Visit her online at graceyzhang.com.