Waiting for Hanami - by J P Takahashi (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

J. P. Takahashi and HifuMiyo deliver a moving story about two cousins who have eagerly awaited their big mixed-family reunion at the cherry blossom festival. But when nerves strike on the day, they help each other learn more about their family tree, and together they watch new bonds blossom.

Spring has finally come.

Sai has been waiting all year for the trees' green buds to turn pink. For the cherry blossoms to finally burst open. For her big family reunion at the sakura festival.

Relatives from far and wide are gathering at last, but there are some family members she recognizes only from video screens and phone calls. Among the crowd, Sai seems to shrink down. . . .

Until she meets her cousin Avi. It's an instant click. And together, they dream up a special way to dive deep into their family history--and honor the blooming of new connections.

Waiting for Hanami is a celebration of merging cultural traditions that perfectly reflects the cousin's Japanese American and African American extended family. An ideal next read for multicultural families everywhere!

Review Quotes

"Takahashi's expressive storytelling and HifuMiyo's digitally textured silkscreen print patterns bloom with delight in this picture book, which follows a mixed Black-Japanese family celebrating the annual Japanese tradition of Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. When [two cousins] seek solace from one another, they learn and listen to the depth of their family's stories. The motifs of flowering trees and falling petals symbolize life's fleeting moments with loved ones, reminding readers to cherish the beauty of being present." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"On an early spring morning, when cherry blossoms are in peak bloom, a young girl and her parents head to the park for hanami, the Japanese tradition of admiring the fleeting, flowering sakura season. Sai waits eagerly all year for this spectacular viewing event that is combined with a big reunion of her Japanese American and African American extended family. When she meets her cousin Avi, the kindred spirits use their creative talents to record "all the journeys their history contains." Elegantly told, this picture book is a joyful appreciation of the beauty of being present in the moment." -- Booklist

"At the heart of this sensitively written story by Takahashi are the discoveries the children exchange about their distinctive ways of delving into creativity. [Sai and Avi] discover that their extended family contains many surprises as they take pleasure in seasonal clouds of cherry blossoms." -- Publishers Weekly

"Avi, who uses his pen to tell stories, is an artist just like Sai, who helps her parents connect customers with the perfect kimono fabric in their shop. They draw strength from each other and use their shared talent to uncover and depict their family's stories in a creative family tree.... The narrative is pervaded by a sense of warmth and love, while the illustrations effectively immerse readers in this flowery world, with the relatives varying in skin tone and facial features. An affectionately drawn tale of family." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A tribute to love and growth, Waiting for Hanami is more than just a children's book; it honors the cultural richness that shapes our identities. It invites readers to reflect on the power of collecting memories and experiences, celebrating the moments that bring us closer together." -- Gary R. Gray, Jr., Author of I'M FROM

"We couldn't be more proud of Waiting for Hanami, a story that brings everyone together in celebration of cherry blossoms. I hope everyone who opens this book feels the same excitement and warmth of this special season meaningful to all of us in the U.S.-Japan space." -- Joshua W. Walker, Ph.D., President & CEO, Japan Society