When Cherry Blossoms Fall

Gr 1-3–Yuna impatiently waits for the sakura tree to sprout its bright pink blossoms. When she inquires how long it will take to finally bloom, her hībāchan (great-grandmother) replies, “We wait for so long for the blossoms to appear, but then they fall so quickly. Mono-no-aware, ne?” When Yuna inquires what mono-no-aware means, she is told, “When you look at sakura in full bloom, it feels like they are already behind you. They become more beautiful because you know they will soon be gone.” Although Yuna doesn’t understand what her great-grandmother means, she accepts it. As the winter thaws and spring arrives, Yuna and Hībāchan peer up at the sakura as the tiny buds appear, but by the time they have fully opened, Hībāchan has passed. Yuna now watches the flowers with appreciation and finally understands what her hībāchan meant. Exceptionally beautiful gouache and watercolor illustrations make full use of every spread. The rich colors capture the bright hues of the cherry blossoms, in contrast to the browns and greens in the bark. All characters are cued Japanese. An author’s note gives further details about the Japanese concept of mono-no-aware, as well as how Japan celebrates the cherry blossoms during hanami festivals.