Waiting for Hanami

One glorious day, Sai and her loved ones rise early to find a picnic spot for hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing, and to join an enormous family reunion. Sai “feels a tiny bit like a stranger” in the big group until she spies another child, Avi. At the heart of this sensitively written story by Takahashi are the discoveries the children exchange about their distinctive ways of delving into creativity. Helping at her parents’ kimono shop, Sai asks customers questions that help her choose the right garment. Avi, an artist, captures fantasies and emotions with a notebook and ink. Billowy digital spreads give the story a sense of lightness as HifuMiyo renders the kimono store sequence in shades of peach, while Avi’s drawings are rendered in deep indigo tints. They discover that their extended family contains many surprises as they take pleasure in seasonal clouds of cherry blossoms. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)