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Use this berry printable to create a vine of vocabulary words, action verbs, figurative language...the possibilities are endless! Your classroom vine can grow, bloom, and burst into berries all year.

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Librarian's Quest review of Grandmother Thorn

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Librarian's Quest review of Grandmother Thorn

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Are we striving too hard for perfection?

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When you've grown up hearing anything worth doing is worth doing right it's hard not to strive toward perfection. You complete tasks over and over and over again, working toward the best possible outcome. There will come a time, hopefully sooner than later, when golden moments happen. In these instances it will dawn on you, whether it was planned or not, that you are standing in the midst of perfection.

For some the aim for perfection in one or more aspects of their lives becomes all-consuming. In her debut title, Grandmother Thorn ( Ripple Grove Press, August 29, 2017), Katey Howes addresses this desire for flawlessness. Her wise, warm, and original tale is enhanced through the art of Rebecca Hahn.

GRANDMOTHER THORN
lived in the very first house
on the very straight road
to Shizuka Village.
Day after day this woman worked in her gardens creating a visual masterpiece. Everything had a place and Grandmother Thorn made sure it remained. She tirelessly raked her paths in swirls, imitating the flow of water in a silent stream.

Grandmother Thorn valued peace and quiet and a supreme sense of order in her garden. If it was disturbed you could hear her voice rise in anger. The only person never to receive rebuke from her was her elderly friend, Ojiisan.

Regardless of the fact his body caused him to carry one shoulder lower and drag one foot as he walked, she only had a smile for this kind man. He often brought her sweet treats. After they spent time in quiet contentment in her garden, she re-raked her paths as he left.

During a particularly hot summer day, a traveling seller paused in the village. Ojiisan was thrilled with the taste of one particular item, insisting the last basket be taken to Grandmother Thorn. He did issue a warning for the young man to stand at her gate and not enter the garden.

The warning was ignored with disastrous results. Grandmother Thorn raced one way and the vendor raced the other way leaving the fruit scattered. This woman with meticulous intentions missed something.

Seasons passed and with them a struggle ensued between Grandmother Thorn and a strange prickly vine. It diminished her spirit. The return of spring revealed the work of a beloved friend and the marvelous resilience of a member of Mother Nature's family.

There are books you read when the connection is immediate. You know an author has put their heart on the pages. This is one of those books.

Katey Howes supplies us with intimate knowledge of Grandmother Thorn's personality. This is a wonderful piece of storytelling leading us to the friendship with Ojiisan and to the assault on the seedling she did not plant. In these contrasts Grandmother Thorn and readers can see the value in shifting perspective.

The dialogue woven into the narrative brings us deeper into its meaning. We get a true sense of the bond growing between Grandmother Thorn and Ojiisan. Here is a sample passage.

A week later, Ojiisan spotted his friend crouched in the same place.
"I must not have removed the entire root," she said, digging up the offending vine.
"I will certainly get it this time."
Each time Ojiisan visited, he found Grandmother Thorn more consumed by her battle
with the stubborn sprout. He began to worry.
At first glance our eyes are quickly drawn to the face of Grandmother Thorn on the opened dust jacket. We have questions about the expression on her face. What is she seeing? What is she hearing? What kind of woman is this Grandmother Thorn? A closer inspection reveals the array of patterned paper used and the tiny stitches on the branches. To the left, on the back, the tree extends over the spine and toward the top. Beneath the branches is the bench where she and Ojiisan sit and chat when he visits.

On the book case a third shade of teal, textured in appearance provides a canvas. On the front a hair comb worn by Grandmother Thorn near the conclusion is entwined with blossoms important to the story. The opening and closing endpapers are a series of rows of overlapping fan shapes. These shapes are a design theme throughout the title.

With a page turn a stunning panoramic, bird's eye view of the village with Grandmother Thorn's home supplies a place for the title page. Two cranes are flying from the left. The intricate and delicate details invite readers to stop and gaze in wonder.

Usually each image, painted, sewn and crafted by hand by Rebecca Hahn,each piece of art, spans two pages. Borders may frame one side in a scalloped edge or a series of panels to show the passage of time. You will be continuously amazed at the care taken in the stitching of certain elements. A muted, limited color palette is suggestive of gardens but also makes the use of red and some pink more effective. At the close of the book, the same picture for the title page is used for the dedication and publication information. Can you spot the difference?

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when Grandmother Thorn needs to heal. She is resting in the home of her eldest niece, wrapped in a blanket. Her back is to us. We are looking through several doors at a landscape with her home, mountains and cascading waterfalls in the near distance. Ojiisan is in her garden. Four small folded cranes (wishes for healing) move from the text. One rests on top of Grandmother Thorn. The sides and foreground of this picture are done in shades of teal. The scene outside the home is done in the complete color used by Rebecca Hahn in this book.

This is a quiet but powerful look at how we should welcome another viewpoint of "perfection". It also reminds us we should never stop learning, regardless of our age. Grandmother Thorn written by Katey Howes with art by Rebecca Hahn is enchanting with a timeless quality to the story and in the exquisite pictures. I highly recommend it for your personal and professional bookshelves.

To learn more about Katey Howes and Rebecca Hahn please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names. Katey Howes has links to educator's guides here. You can view details from a few illustrations at the publisher's blog. Katey Howes wrote a guest post at the Nerdy Book Club and atShe is interviewed on Karlin Gray's blog and at Writers' Rumpus. Rebecca Hahn is highlighted by author and teacher librarian Carter Higgins at Design of the Picture Book. Both Katey and Rebecca are interviewed at Let's Talk Picture Books.

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When you've grown up hearing anything worth doing is worth doing right it's hard not to strive toward perfection. You complete tasks over and over and over again, working toward the best possible outcome. There will come a time, hopefully sooner than later, when golden moments happen.

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Video Tutorial: Make Shiori Ningyo (Japanese Bookmark dolls) 

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Video Tutorial: Make Shiori Ningyo (Japanese Bookmark dolls) 

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Easy DIY Origami Japanese Bookmark Dolls "Shiori Ningyo"

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Create a charming Japanese Bookmark Doll to use as a bookmark, give as a gift, or let children enjoy pretend play. Simple, fun, and infused with so many uses!

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Grandmother Thorn Educator's Guide: lots of common core linked  resources for PreK to 3rd grade

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Grandmother Thorn Educator's Guide: lots of common core linked  resources for PreK to 3rd grade

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Science, social studies, art, language arts and more!

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Origami Japanese Doll Tutorial ♥︎ DIY ♥︎ Paper Kawaii

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Watch this video to learn how to make a pretty origami doll wearing a Kimono! This Japanese inspired origami doll is made with 3 sheets of square paper, no glue is required.

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Explore Asian Culture with Books and Activities

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Explore Asian Culture with Books and Activities

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Pragmatic Mom and Debbi Michiko Florence team up with lots of recommendations!

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I'm excited to announce a quarterly series with Debbi Michiko Florence, author of early chapter book series Jasmine Toguchi! We want to highlight Asian culture in a way that kids can relate to and that means ... hands-on activities, food they can help prepare and eat, and a book list!

We have crafted a series of six topics, one per quarter for the next year and a half, that explore Asian culture in a fun way: Asian New Year, Asian Drumming, Pink Flamingo Day, Picnic & Scavenger Hunt, Snow Statues and Sumo! We hope you will enjoy this series!

To kick of this series, we are also giving away two of Debbi Michiko Florence's Jasmine Toguchi books. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.

Asian Culture Series: Asian Crafts and Activities

November 2017: Asian New Year

We will be exploring and celebrating Asian New Year. Did you know that Japanese New Year and Korean New Year are celebrated on January 1st , but Chinese New Year and Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, is celebrated based on the lunar calendar? More Chinese New Year books here.

Recipe: Microwave Mochi
Activity: Make Chinese Red Envelopes
Japanese New Year:Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Chinese New Year: The Nian Monster by Andrea Andrea Wang, illustrated by Alina Chau

Vietnamese New Year: Ten Mice for Tet by Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrated by To Ngoc Trang

Korean New Year: New Clothes for New Year's Day by Hyun-joo Bae

February 2018: Asian Drumming

We will be making some noise in February with Asian drumming, learning about Japanese Taiko and the Chinese Lion Dance which also has drummers.

Recipe: Almond Cookies
Activities: Make an oatmeal box drum, make a hachi-maki (Japanese headband)
Taiko Drumming:Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Lion Dance: Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin

Lion Dance: Lion Dancer, Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Madeline Slovenz Low and Kate Waters, photographs by Martha Cooper

May 2018: Pink Flamingo Day

Pink Flamingo Day is coming up on June 23rd which celebrates the work of Don Featherstone, the creator of the plastic lawn flamingo!

Recipe: Pink Cupcakes (with a flamingo face!)
Activity: Pink Flamingo Paper Bag Puppet, Daruma Wishing Doll with paper plate
Pink Flamingos:Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Daruma Doll: Yoko-Chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village by Sunny Seki

August 2018: Picnic and Scavenger Hunt

It's summer so let's go outdoors. We will be celebrating by going on a nature scavenger hunt. Why not pack a picnic as well in a bento?

Recipe: Jasmine's Brownies without Nuts (to pack for the picnic)
Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt, Fold an Origami Doll
Scavenger Hunt:Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Scavenger Hunt:Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Bento: Little Bento: 32 Irresistable Bento Box Lunches for Kids by Michele Olivier

November 2018: Snow Statues

It might not be snowing where you live, but let's explore winter in Sapporo Japan where there's a snow festival called Yukimatsuri. Let's also take a look at ice sculptures in Boston, near where Debbi and I live.

Recipe: Tea Ceremony

Activity: Snow (or sand or dirt) Statues

Celebrating Snow: A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Celebrating Snow: Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara

Winter Adventure: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighorn George

February 2019: Sumo

My first picture book, Sumo Joe, is coming out in a few months, so I thought I'd explore sumo though it can be enjoyed year round since there are six big sumo tournaments every year that start in January and go through November.

Recipe: Sumo Rice Balls

Activity: Stomp Like a Sumo (Shiko Stomping), learn a few Japanese sumo words

Sumo: Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata (coming Spring 2019)

Sumo: Sumo Boy by Hirotaka Nakagawa, illustrated by Yoshifumi Hasegawa
a Rafflecopter giveaway To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book. I am an Amazon affiliate which means if you buy anything through my blog, I get a very small kickback at no cost to you. I use this money to pay for postage and handling for my giveaways.

Rice Balls: Simply Onigiri: Fun and Creative Recipes for Japanese Rice Balls by Sanae Inada

2 Book Jasmine Toguchi Book GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen and Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses. This book set will go to one winner!

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asian craft & activity series with debbi michiko florence

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asian culture series: asian crafts and activities with debbi michiko florence

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Asian Culture Series: Asian Crafts and Activities & 2 Book GIVEAWAY

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I'm excited to announce a quarterly series with Debbi Michiko Florence, author of early chapter book series Jasmine Toguchi! We want to highlight Asian culture in a way that kids can relate to and that means ... hands-on activities, food they can help prepare and eat, and a book list!

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Explore the art of Rebecca Hahn

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Process Post: How was the art for Grandmother Thorn made?

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Process Post: How was the art for Grandmother Thorn made?

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by Katey Howes and Rebecca Hahn ( Ripple Grove Press, 2017)

One of the best parts of the book world is its people, and the joy of celebrating their books' entrance to the world. The author of this book, Katey Howes, has been a friend for a long while, and we've both been fans of Rebecca's work. I had some questions for them both.

Meet Rebecca!
When, how, or why did you get into picture books?
As an artist, I have always had a few lofty goals - as most artists do. The ultimate achievements so to say. One of those has been to illustrate a children's book, I just didn't know when or how this would ever happen.

A few years after working as a Character Artist with Disney, I got the opportunity to freelance with Random House Publishing illustrating a few of the Pooh Adorable's board books. It wasn't using my own style but I still jumped at the chance. I had to match the Pooh Adorable's books already published and of course be on model with the Pooh Characters, but it was still a really fun experience. It was nice to work on a job that didn't have a super quick turn around and longer lasting power than magazine illustrations. The Pooh Adorable's books ran through their ideas after 5 books with me and the project was completed.

After working on the Pooh books, I continued to freelance, dipped my toe into making merchandise and moved on to showing my personal artwork in galleries. (Another of my lofty goals.) It wasn't until a few years after my son was born that I was introduced to Ripple Grove Press and given the chance to illustrate a book with my own imagery and style.
How did Grandmother Thorn come to you as a manuscript, and what were your first thoughts about the text?
My husband works for Laika and had heard that RPG was looking for an illustrator through the grapevine and the rest is history. Lucky for me, It was the right time and the right fit.

I thought Grandmother Thorn was a mature story, but that younger kids could still connect to the struggles of perfectionism and control. These issue seem to be important lessons through all of life's phases! I could also relate to those struggles personally and I felt a deep connection to Grandmother Thorn in this way.
Can you tell us about your process?
People tend to think that my illustrations are done on a computer. They are actually all done by hand. Hand sewn, painted, and pieced together.

First, I do a lot of research. I can not really draw something repeatedly and from different angles until I really know it. So I make a Pinterest board and do lots of sketching to just get a feel for the subject.

Next, I get to know my characters. This was a collaboration between the publisher, Rob Broder and myself. We went back and forth several times to get Grandmother Thorn and Ojiisan just right.

After finishing the page thumbnails, I work with layers and layers of tracing paper over my rough drawings to clean up the final drawings.

After the final drawings, I transfer the characters onto paper to paint and then cut out.

Then I pick out papers, colors, and textures that might go well with each page and start the process of piecing together.

The parts for each layout are sometimes cut out like pattern pieces for a quilt.

I plan out the stitches and pre-poke the holes for any sewing that will need to be done. The paper would tear and I would never be able to get a needle through the layers if I didn't.

From here, it's all just a trial and error process of creating my "puzzle pieces" as I go. I mostly use Yes Paste to combine the parts of my illustrations. It works the best with all of the different materials and thicknesses of papers.

For this final spread when we see Grandmother Thorn enjoying the beauty of her "imperfect" garden, I ended up having to color code the leaves so that I could keep track of all of the pieces when they were cut out! I thought that I might be truly crazy as I cut out each berry for that layout.

Sometimes all of this detailed work and late nights will make me a little crazy, but luckily I have a little studio buddy (and very vocal art director) to keep me connected to the here and now.
Who are some of your story heroes?
Johnny Boo books by James Kochalka, Hug Machine, XO, Ox, East Dragon West Dragon illustrated by Scott Cambell, The Sea Serpent and Me illustrator Catia Chien, comic book artist Chris Ware, Mouk, the Mr. Bud series by Carter Goodrich, and artist Souther Salazar.
What's your favorite piece of art in your house?
I have an unframed print of James Jean's called Chang'e. The arrows make me think about how changes can be painful but the figure looks so strong, that she can handle them. I also love the little gallery that has formed under my desk. My son and husband are the artists.
What's next for you?
My next project is still top secret. I can tell you that I'm working with the wonderful writer Kelly Thompson to create a picture book series. We have known each other for a long time and are very excited to get a chance to work on a project together.

I hope to find time to continue making my personal artwork and I plan on embellishing prints of my personal work with embroidery and other fun additions to make them unique and more accessible to a larger audience. I can never just work on one thing.

--

Isn't that incredible?

Grandmother Thorn is such a lovely book, and seeing how the art was made is so fascinating. I asked the author, a debut, what it was like to see text she'd written illustrated in this way, and what it felt like to see for the first time. Here's what Katey had to say:

Making picture books is such a collaborative journey, and it takes a lot of trust. Once your words are acquired by a publishing house, you have to have faith that your editor and publishing team have a vision that brings out the best in your story. I was blessed and lucky that Rob and Amanda Broder, at Ripple Grove Press, not only had a vision for Grandmother Thorn, but also that their vision was open enough to allow Rebecca's talent and creativity to really flow.

I had been inspired to write Grandmother Thorn by the nature in my own backyard, and by the woodblock art (or ukiyo-e) of the Japanese artist Hiroshige. Looking back, I think I hoped that the illustrations would somehow do justice to those influences. And I hoped for an illustrator who could make the garden appear as if it, too, was a character in the story. From the moment my editor sent me the first glimpses of Rebecca's work on the book, I knew she was capable of doing all these things and more. I was a little surprised by the style. But it was such a good surprise! If I had thought at all about the actual medium in which the book would be illustrated, I suppose I imagined watercolors. (I'm not sure why.) What Rebecca created with multimedia was so much better than the vague images in my mind - so layered, and detailed, and original. Her art elevated my words to a new level. I continue to be awed by how meticulous and beautiful her work is.

Picture books, you guys. They are something special.

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Grandmother Thorn + an interview with illustrator Rebecca Hahn

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by Katey Howes and Rebecca Hahn ( Ripple Grove Press, 2017) One of the best parts of the book world is its people, and the joy of celebrating their books' entrance to the world. The author of this book, Katey Howes, has been a friend for a long while, and we've both been fans of Rebecca's work.

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Learn more about the author.

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Katey Howes is a children's author writing picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels. She is represented by Essie White of Storm Literary Agency. You are invited to check out her client bio on the Storm site.

Katey's debut picture book, GRANDMOTHER THORN, will be released by Ripple Grove Press August 29, 2017. Grandmother Thorn is being beautifully illustrated by artist Rebecca Hahn. Details on pre-orders can be found on the Katey's Books page.

Katey's next picture book, MAGNOLIA MUDD AND THE SUPER JUMPTASTIC LAUNCHER DELUXE, illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti, releases January 2, 2018, with Sterling Children's Books. Find out more on the Katey's Books page.

Katey also writes a popular blog for parents, caregivers, teachers and book-lovers. In it, she discusses the day-to-day life of a book-loving family. Her highly topical #RaisingReaders posts give plenty of tips and advice on ways to engender a love of reading in children. She encourages families and communities to build a culture of reading in big ways and small. You can visit the kateywrites blog and get started raising readers using the tab at the top of the page, or by clicking here.

Katey is a team member at All The Wonders, a home for readers to discover new books and to experience the stories they love in wondrous ways.

You'll also find Katey at Picture the Books, a gallery of new picture book talent, where you can discover and connect with authors and illustrators whose debut picture books release in 2017.

Want to know more about Katey Howes? There's plenty of ways to get to know her better on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Or check this out: Can't Get Enough: More About Katey Howes.

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Katey Howes is a children's author writing picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels. She is represented by Essie White of Storm Literary Agency. You are invited to check out her client bio on the Storm site. Katey's debut picture book, GRANDMOTHER THORN, will be released by Ripple Grove Press August 29, 2017.

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Why do plants have thorns?

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Why do plants have thorns? 🤔🌵 #wanttoknow Credit : DW Science (Facebook)

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A classroom Skype is always free! Contact Katey to set up a time!

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Grandmother Thorn and Ojiisan enjoy dorayaki together. Here's how they're made!

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Dorayaki is one of the most popular Japanese confectioneries. It is Anko (sweet red bean paste) sandwiched between sweet pancakes. It is a Japanese sweet beloved by the old and young. It may be perfect for people who have never had any traditional Japanese sweets because it doesn't have any unusual ingredients. Dorayaki is also called Mikasa, from Mt. Mikasa in Nara which is next to Osaka. I presume that Dorayaki is the name used more in eastern part of Japan.

Although Anko was not my favorite thing when I was a little kid, I loved Dorayaki. I guess I liked the sweet pancakes so much that I didn't mind the Anko part. Also, a popular Japanese TV cartoon character called "Doraemon" loves Dorayaki. Almost every episode has a scenes of him trying to eat a mountain of Dorayaki on a plate (usually disrupted by some incidents). I used to fancy that I would like to do that myself too someday. Unfortunately my childhood dream never came true when I lived with my mom... (you know how it goes). Now our kids would like to eat Dorayaki like Doraemon, but we would never let them 🙂

It is surprisingly easy to make Dorayaki at home, and, of course, they are very tasty. You can eat however much you want since you're the one who is making. Sadly I won't go beyond more than a couple since I don't have the appetite of a teenager anymore (oh no, my dream 🙁

Ingredients

Instructions

Noriko and Yuko, the authors of this site, are both from Japan but now live in California. They love cooking and eating great food, and share a similar passion for home cooking using fresh ingredients. Noriko and Yuko plan and develop recipes together for Japanese Cooking 101. They cook and shoot photos/videos at their home kitchen(s.)

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Dorayaki is one of the most popular Japanese confectioneries. It is Anko (sweet red bean paste) sandwiched between sweet pancakes. It is a Japanese sweet beloved by the old and young. It may be perfect for people who have never had any traditional Japanese sweets because it doesn't have any unusual ingredients.

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For more children's books featuring multicultural foods, try this book list!

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My favorite way to learn about other cultures is through food. It can be intimidating to cook a new ethnic cuisine for the first time, so consider this list a menu of sorts to decide if there is anything you want to make at home.

What wonderful multicultural picture books about food did I leave out? I'd love your favorites! Please share! Thanks!

17 Wonderful Multicultural Picture Books About Food

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez

One of my best friends growing up in Southern California is half Mexican and I would go to her house after opening presents at my house to eat tamales that her family purchased. Soon, my whole family would join me. My friend's parents didn't mind. I always heard that tamales are a bit tricky to make and I have always purchased them and steamed them at home.

In Too Many Tamales, Maria and her family make tamales for Christmas but she tries on her mama's ring even though she's not supposed to and loses mama's diamond ring in the masa dough. Before mama finds out, she must get the other kids to help her eat the 24 tamales to locate the ring. It's a lot of food but no ring appears. Did someone accidentally eat it? When Maria goes to confess to her mother, she makes a happy discovery ... and now they need to make more tamales! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

A batch of Mexican tamales in the tamalera. Image from Wikipedia

The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac and Anna Vojtech

To this day, when the Cherokee people eat strawberries, they are reminded to always be kind to each other; to remember that friendship and respect are as sweet as the taste of ripe, red berries.

When the first man and woman lived on the earth, they had that age old argument about what's for dinner. She was busy all day picking flowers and did not have the meal ready and her husband spoke coldly to her. Enraged, she left him. The man was sorry for his harsh words and wanted to find her to apologize but she was too quick. The Sun took pity on the man and tried to slow the woman down, setting raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries before her, but she was too angry and didn't notice them. Finally, the Sun tried strawberries. The woman stopped to eat the sweet berries and even collected them for her husband who finally caught up to her. And this is how, according to Cherokee legend, how strawberries came into the world. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Rice and Rocks by Sandra L. Richards, illustrated by Megan Kayleigh Sullivan

Giovanni is embarrassed that Sunday dinner is his grandma's Jamaican stewed chicken with rice and beans. Is it too ethnic for his friends? A magical ride on his parrot allows him to discover that Aaron eats Japanese sekihan, red rice boiled with adzuki beans; Emily eats Puerto Rican arroz con gandules, rice with pigeon peas; and Gabby's enjoys New Orleans red beans and rice. Sunday dinner of rice and rocks is a hit with everyone after all. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Bread Bread Bread by Ann Morris, photographs by Ken Keyman

Celebrate the universality of bread in its many forms around the world. There are flatbreads and risen bread, round bread and oblong loaves, pizza, and pretzels, sold around the world! But breaking bread and eating together is the best part of all. Be sure to check out the index which lists the locations of each photograph and what is being eaten. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley, illustrated by Peter J. Thornton

Carrie looks for her little brother Anthony at all the houses in the neighborhood. He tends to wander their neighborhood tasting everyone's dinner. He's not at Mr. and Mrs. D's house but she gets to try their black-eyed peas and rice from Barbardos. The Diaz house is making rice and pigeon peas from Puerto Rico. The Tran family from Vietnam is making fried rice with peas. Carrie's friend Rajit has a tiffin filled with biryani. The Huas family from China has a wok filled with tofu and vegetables. Madame Bleu has a spice creole style Haitian dinner made with hot peppers, chives, red beans, and rice. Back home, Carrie's family is having Italian risi e bisi - rice with green peas. All the recipes for these dishes that Carrie sampled are in the back of the book too! Everyone has rice for dinner on Carrie's street, but with such great variety from around the world. This is such a charming book! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Risi e bisi image from Wikipedia
Bee-Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park

My husband who is Korean-American says that Bee-Bim Bop is leftovers all scrambled together with rice but unless you are eating a lot of Korean food at home, you probably don't have the leftover ban chans (small dishes) necessary to mix up. We shop for the ingredients to cook to make Bee-Bim Bop just like the little girl and her mother in the book. And just like this family, my family is happy when I make it for dinner! There's a recipe for Bee-Bim Bop in the back of the book but keep in mind, this is a meal that you modify at will! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Bibimbap or Bee-Bim Bop image from Wikipedia
The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

The Asian vegetables in a little girl's garden are different from all the other gardens on the street. Her mother says that their garden is better than flowers but the little girl isn't so sure. Their garden needs more water, has sprouts that look like grass instead of leaves and doesn't smell sweet. The bees and butterflies are attracted to the neighbors' gardens and the little girl thinks that her garden is full of ugly Chinese vegetables. But when it comes time to harvest her garden, her mother turns the vegetables into a delicious soup that attracts the neighbors to their house. There's enough for everyone and next year when it's time to plant the garden, everyone on her street plants some ugly vegetables with their flowers. The recipe for ugly vegetable soup is in the back! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Want to learn how to say the names of the Chinese vegetables? Grace Lin teaches you how here!
Asian Vegetable chart from Hip Domestic
Hiromi's Hands by Lynne Barasch

Hiromi Suzuki was the one the first female sushi chefs in New York in a profession that was always male dominated because the common belief was that a woman's soft warm hands would ruin the fish. At age 8, she convinced her father to take her to the Fulton fish market and from there, she worked her way up from scrubbing the kitchen floor, to making rice, to finally cutting fish. Eventually, she mastered every kind of sushi! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Image of Hiromi Suzuki from Luxury Experience

The Have a Good Day Café by Frances Park and Ginger Park, illustrated by Katherine Potter

Mike and his family run a food cart stand selling pretzels, hot dogs and pizza but when other carts share their corner, business dwindles. His parents worry that if their business fails, they will have to return to Korea. Mike's Grandma has an idea. The next day, they cook up something different to sell: chop chae noodles, mandoo dumplings, bibim bap mixed rice, and jijim pancakes. Mike makes a new sign, "Have a Good Day Cafe" and a long line forms around the cart. The aroma is just too delicious to resist! Mike and his grandma make plans for the next day ... kalbi bbq ribs, and naeng myun, cold noodles. Now that everyone in the family is involved, their food cart will succeed. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Japchae or Chop Chae Noodles. Image from Wikipedia
Food Trucks by Mark Todd

In rollicking rhyme, visit the food trucks as they rumble around the city: Mornin' Joe, breakfast truck; Better Burger Builder Bus, hamburger truck; Bubba Q, barbeque truck; The Pharoah's Tummy, falafel truck; Mr. Cobb, salad truck; Charley Chowda, chowder truck; Cheddar Chuck, grilled cheese truck; Sprinkles, cupcake truck; Toro, sushi truck; Curry in a Hurry, Indian food truck; Amigo, taco truck; Dutch, pretzel truck; The Waffle Wagon, waffle truck; and the most famous of all, Ice Cream, ice cream truck! You can eat around the world from food trucks! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules and Kathryn Mitter

Tuyet is appalled that her family is not having turkey, on that most American of holidays, Thanksgiving. Instead, her family prefers duck, with a special recipe from their homeland, Vietnam. At dinner, Tuyet sets the table with a pinecone turkey centerpiece that she made in school. At least there's a turkey at the table! The duck is delicious and when Tuyet shares what she had for Thanksgiving, she's surprised that Phong had noodles and chicken, Tarek had lamb, Jonathan had roast beef, Carolina had enchiladas, and Amy had tofu turkey. Tuyet has a new name for Thanksgiving: Duck Day! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
image from Vietnamese Food, recipe below.
Here's a recipe for Vietnamese Roast Duck.

Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo and Beth Lo

There are very few Chinese families in the Midwest during the 1940's so Jinyi and her family travel four hours by car to visit relatives in Chicago from Indiana. There, they get to eat Mama's favorite Chinese foods ... boiled soybeans, Eight Treasure Rice, pork-and-spinach dumplings. One day, Auntie Yang spots a field of leafy green plants. Could it be mao dou, soybeans?! It is! The farmer is growing soybeans as feed for cows and pigs but he's happy to sell it to Jinyi's family. They buy a huge bundle, boil them up, and set up tables to eat outside. Thus the family's first soybean picnic was born. Over the years, word spread and the soybean picnic grew. Soon thirty Chinese families would drive up to Auntie's house. Eventually, more than two hundred people gathered until it outgrew Auntie and Uncle Yang's backyard!

This is a true story! The authors' really do have an Auntie Yang who discovered a soybean field near her house. Her soybean picnic grew into an huge annual event, connecting other Chinese immigrant families during WWII. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Boiled soybeans ready to eat. Image from Wikipedia
(You may know soybean pods by their Japanese name edamame.)

Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia

Roti, a flatbread from India also known as Chapati, is the secret to Aneel's grandfather, Dada-ji's, the strength of a tiger. Aneel decides to test this out by learning to make roti because everyone in his family was too busy to make it. There is a recipe at the end of the book if you want to make it too. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Roti, image from Wikipedia
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant

There aren't many picture books about Filipino culture and this one celebrates food including lumpia (fried spring rolls), adobo (chicken and/or pork stew) and pancit (fried noodles mixed with vegetables). I grew up eating Filipino food because my best friend in Junior High was Filipino and I devoured it all. It's delicious. I learned to make adobo but pancit was always a little tricky for me to get the seasoning just right. Cora Cooks Pancit demystifies this dish and there's a recipe at the end of the book too! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Pancit from Wikipedia. Here clear cellophane noodles are used but you can use white Chinese noodles as well.
Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes

The Hindu elephant god Ganesha loves sweets and candy, especially the traditional Indian dessert laddoo. He and his friend mouse search out more sweets and discover a laddoo that is actually a jawbreaker. Ganesha breaks his tusk trying to bite it! However, will he get his tusk back on? When he throws it in frustration, it hits Vyasa, the poet, who suggests the tusk will make a great writing instrument. Ganesha agrees to write Vyasa's poem, The Mahabharata, as he recites it, all one hundred thousand epic verses. And mouse has eaten the laddoos during this time, but luckily, there are a few left for Ganesha! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Laddu or Laddoo are ball-shaped sweets popular in the Indian Subcontinent. Laddus are made of flour, minced dough and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe.

Laddoo sweets from India. Image from Wikipedia
Rainbow Stew by Catherine Falwell

Three grandkids who just happen to be African-American are coaxed by their grandfather to venture out into the rain to collect vegetables from his garden. They turn these into a delicious rainbow stew and the recipe is included in the back! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story by Naomi Howland

Sadie and her family are always hungry until the day she helps an old woman and receives a special frying pan in return. This pan when spoken with special words, magically cooks up latkes. Sadie is the only one who is supposed to use the frying pan, but although her brothers promise not to use it, they can resist. Soon latkes are flowing out of the pan. The trouble is, her brothers don't know the special words to make the pan stop and the latkes are soon running out of the house into the street. Luckily Sadie gets home to stop the madness and invites the whole town to join her in a Chanukah feast. No one will ever go hungry again! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Potato latkes. Image from Wikipedia To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Follow PragmaticMom's board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

My books:

BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN'S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.

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17 Wonderful Multicultural Picture Books About Food

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My favorite way to learn about other cultures is through food. It can be intimidating to cook a new ethnic cuisine for the first time, so consider this list a menu of sorts to decide if there is anything you want to make at home.

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The author was inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock prints by artist Hiroshige. View them here and compare them to the village and landscapes in the book.

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1 Nihonbashi (2nd Edition Print)
The first prints were published jointly by Hoeido and Senkakudo...... When Take-no-Uchi Hoeido acquired the sole rights, the block was recut to show an assorted crowd which included fish peddlers at the foot of the bridge and the dogs or puppies in the center with some children near them. Hiroshige (The Albuquerque Museum, 1983)

29 Mitsuke
A large sand-bank in the centre of the Heaven-dragon River, and people crossing the further arm in boats; two other boats in foreground, moored to the sand-bank, and the distant shore enveloped in mist. The name of this station was derived from the fact that people travelling from Kyoto to Edo were able to get their first glimpse of Mount Fuji from here. The rapidly flowing river "Tenryu" flowed west of the station and travellers had to cross the river by ferryboat.

55 Kyoto
In the foreground the long bridge over the Kamo River, and people crossing over, with the town beyond, behind which rise hills overlooking it, the most distant printed from graded colourblock only. While decending to Kyoto, travellers could enjoy a panoramic view of the elegant imperial capital from the mountain pass and undoubtedly felt joy and relief at seeing the final destination of their journey from Edo. In those days it was the wish of every Japanese to see Kyoto once in his life.

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1 Nihonbashi (2nd Edition Print) The first prints were published jointly by Hoeido and Senkakudo...... When Take-no-Uchi Hoeido acquired the sole rights, the block was recut to show an assorted crowd which included fish peddlers at the foot of the bridge and the dogs or puppies in the center with some children near them.

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What kind of plant are you most like? Draw and write a response on this printable!

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Classroom gardens teach so many lessons! 

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Classroom gardens teach so many lessons! 

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Here are some easy and rewarding plants to grow with kids.

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Watching plants grow is a fun and educational experience for children. Their enormous curiosity and excitement over anything new makes them naturals for gardening. Growing plant seeds with kids teaches them how nature works, responsibility in caring for something, an interest in environmental sustainability and pride in themselves for the results. Choose easy seeds for kids that are large enough to handle and germinate readily.

Growing Plant Seeds With Kids

Fun plants for children are fruit and vegetables, flowers and any uniquely shaped plant. Consider the weather and the zone you are in to ensure you choose good plants to grow from seed. Children will continue their interest in gardening if the first time is a fantastic success.

Easy seeds for children are larger for little fingers to handle and germinate fast so there is less waiting time. Children should be involved in all parts of the gardening process, including preparing the garden space or choosing containers.

Easy Seeds for Kids

To avoid children's boredom, choose fast growing seeds for kids. The quicker they can see something happen, the more interested they will be in the process. Pumpkins are always fun and last well into the season with a Halloween or Thanksgiving payoff in the form of a Jack-o-lantern or pumpkin pie. Radishes sprout quickly and are found in a rainbow of colors. Fruits and vegetable seeds offer rewards after successful planting and care.

Flower seeds germinate readily and add obvious color and tone to baskets, beds and containers. Most wildflowers make excellent fast growing seeds for kids. Best of all, with flowers you can cut them and bring them indoors. Children can grow a posy for Grandma, which will charm her and delight them with their accomplishment.

Good Plants to Grow from Seed

Plants with large or small dimensions create a sense of wonder in children. Giant sunflowers and leggy pole beans are fascinating in their height. Baby carrots or miniature bok choy are kid-sized and comfortable. Sweet cherry or grape tomatoes are little and tasty snacks right from the vine.

For added fun in the garden, sow multi-colored carrots, orange cauliflower or purple potatoes. The options for fun vegetables are expanding every year. Bring some fun into the garden plot with the hybrid choices available at garden centers.

Fun Plants for Children

Plants with unique characteristics, such as lamb's ears, or any of the carnivorous plants, such as Venus flytrap, allow children to experience the variety that nature offers. Hens and chicks have a cute name but the plants are equally adorable and captivate children's imagination.

Try simple plants from common household items. Suspend an avocado pit in water and watch it grow roots. Cut off the top of a pineapple and put it in a shallow tray for a crazy spiky plant. Taking these familiar foods and returning them into their plant forms, is a great way to teach children about where their food comes from and what it takes to grow the good things they eat.

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Growing Plant Seeds With Kids - Easy Care And Fun Plants For Children To Grow

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Watching plants grow is a fun and educational experience for children. Their enormous curiosity and excitement over anything new makes them naturals for gardening. Growing plant seeds with kids teaches them how nature works, responsibility in caring for something, an interest in environmental sustainability and pride in themselves for the results.

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Matthew Winner and Katey Howes talk picture books, letting go of control, and making room for the unexpected to change our lives.

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Katey Howes (@Kateywrites), author of Grandmother Thorn, stops by the podcast to talk about letting go of things you fear, feeling lucky as a picture book author, and the balance between order and chaos.

The kind folks at KidArtLit are giving away their August subscription box to one lucky winner, containing a copy of GRANDMOTHER THORN as well as supplies and instructions for an open-ended art project inspired by the book, a mini magazine, and a "Ready Set Go" pack with activities to "warm up" for reading together as a family. More info is available at https://www.kidartlit.com/.

About the Author

Matthew Winner

Matthew Winner is an elementary library media specialist in Elkridge, Maryland. He is is the co-founder and content director of All The Wonders, a children's literature website and more, and host of the Let's Get Busy podcast, a weekly podcast where Matthew talks to authors, illustrators, award winners, up-and-comers, and everyone in between. In 2013 Matthew was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker and was invited to the White House as part of the Champions of Change program. For more information, connect with Matthew on Twitter at @MatthewWinner .

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Katey Howes: All The Wonders, Episode 382

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Katey Howes (@Kateywrites), author of Grandmother Thorn , stops by the podcast to talk about letting go of things you fear, feeling lucky as a picture book author, and the balance between order and chaos.

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Tips for raising blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and more in your class or home.

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Not only is growing berries simpler than you think, but doing so doesn't require a huge yard or giant trees. All you need is a trusty pot, a spot in full sun, and plenty of water to grow delicious berries for smoothies, desserts, and more. Learn how to grow blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries with a few faithful tips.

Basics of Growing Berries in Containers

Sun requirements: All fruiting plants, whether in a container or in the ground, produce the most berries in full sun. Provide at least six to eight hours or more of sun per day.

Water needs: Plants in containers need more water than plants in the ground. Because terra-cotta is a breathable material, plants in those containers dry out even faster than those planted in plastic or ceramic pots. In general, check the soil in your containers daily to be sure it stays moist but not wet. In windy or hot conditions, plants might even need watering twice a day. Before watering, insert your finger up to the first joint in the soil to determine whether water is needed.

Choose the right container: Always plant in a container with drainage holes. Roots allowed to stay in standing water will rot. Pour water over the soil until you see water running out of the drainage holes.

Growing Raspberries in Containers

Some raspberry varieties grow too large to easily grow in containers, but newer types, such as 'Heritage' or 'Raspberry Shortcake', a dwarf, thornless variety, are well suited to growing in large pots. If you choose another variety, be sure it is a fall-bearing type.

Planting tips: Plant in a container that is at least 24-36 inches wide and deep. Half-barrels or five-gallon pots are ideal sizes that allow enough room for new canes to grow in future years. Start with 3-6 canes, depending on the size of the container.

Soil and fertilizer: Use a soilless potting mix for container raspberries. Add a balanced 10-10-10 timed-release fertilizer at planting time.

Pruning and other care: Raspberries are perennials that usually set fruit on two-year-old canes. You might get some berries the first year you plant them but full bearing begins in year two. New green sprouts will grow to become fruiting canes for the following year. Prune all dead canes-ones with no new growth-at ground level.

Winter care: In regions with harsh winters, move the raspberry pots to an unheated garage, allowing the plants to go dormant but watering just enough to keep them alive. Return the pot to a sunny location after danger of frost passes. If you choose to leave the pot in place, insulate it with mulch for winter protection. Avoid using ceramic or terra-cotta pots outdoors year-round in cold climates as freeze-thaw cycles can crack those containers.
See more tips to growing raspberries.

Growing Blueberries in Containers

Blueberries are ideal plants for containers because it's easy to control the soil conditions they like best. Start with a pot that's at least 20-24 inches wide or larger.

Planting tips: Choose a potting mix designed for acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, or camellias. Look for a pH balance between 4.5 and 5.5.

Soil and fertilizer: Use a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants. Apply in early and late spring to promote growth and fruit production, then stop fertilizing for the year. Feel free to occasionally sprinkle used coffee grounds on the top of the soil around blueberry plants.

Pruning and other care: In early spring, prune any dead wood. Otherwise, blueberries need no other pruning unless you want to shape the plant.

Most blueberry plants need one to two other types of blueberry plants nearby for pollination. However, some varieties of plants, including 'Peach Sorbet' and 'Jelly Bean' are self-pollinating, although they might produce better with more plants nearby.

If you live in a year-round warm climate, remember that blueberries need cold temperatures for a certain number of hours to produce fruit. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service to find varieties best suited for your climate.

In general, choose a container variety that is cold-tolerant to one hardiness Zone colder than the one you live in. 'Sunshine Blue' is a good variety for warmer climates; 'Top Hat' is good for cold regions.

Winter care: In regions with harsh winters, move the blueberry pots to an unheated garage, allowing the plants to go dormant but watering just enough to keep them alive. Return the pot to a sunny location after danger of frost passes. If you choose to leave the pot in place, insulate it with mulch for winter protection. Avoid using ceramic or terra-cotta pots outdoors year-round in cold climates as freeze-thaw cycles can crack those containers.
Learn more about growing your own blueberries.

Growing Strawberries in Containers

Because of their small root systems, strawberries are ideal fruits for containers. Although any pot that's at least 18 inches wide and 8 inches deep will do, you might want to plant in a hanging basket or a strawberry pot, which features a series of pockets along the sides of the container as well as an opening at the top. A container that is wider than it is deep, such as a half-barrel, allows you to grow more plants.

Planting tips: Check the plant tag, but a rule of thumb is to plant strawberries in pots about 10 inches apart. Some varieties can be spaced closer. Be sure to cover the roots with soil, but avoid burying the crown (the central growing bud) to prevent rot.

Soil and fertilizer: Use a bagged potting mix and avoid garden soil, which won't drain properly. If the potting soil isn't already formulated with fertilizer, mix in a balanced 10-10-10 timed-release fertilizer at planting time. Strawberries require little additional fertilizer.

How many strawberry plants do I need?: That depends on the use, but plan 6-10 plants per person for fresh consumption as they ripen.

The best strawberries for containers: Day-neutral types, which produce strawberries throughout the growing season and produce fewer runner plants, are considered best for containers. Some day-neutral varieties to consider include Tribute, Tristar, and Seascape. Everbearing varieties, which produce fruit two times in a growing season, also may be chosen. Avoid June-bearing types that produce only one crop per year and often don't bear fruit their first year.

Winter care: There are two choices: Discard the plants, dump out the potting soil, and store the pots inside during winter. Or carefully water plants until late fall, then store the container in an unheated garage, allowing plants to go dormant and watering just enough to keep them alive. Return the pot to a sunny location after danger of frost passes.
Learn more about how to grow your own strawberries.

Trend Spotting with BHG: Growing Blackberries

Popular In Container Plans & Ideas

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Our Top Tips for Growing Berries in Containers

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Yes, you can grow berries even if the only garden space you have is a patio, deck, or balcony. Imagine being able to pick delicious strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries for your morning smoothie or breakfast cereal. Growing berries isn't difficult when you select the right container, variety, and location.

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Learn More about the tradition of the paper crane.

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Learn More about the tradition of the paper crane.

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When Grandmother Thorn rests and recovers, we see a spread in which the illustrator has included folded paper cranes. Learn more about the history and tradition of paper cranes, and how to fold your own.

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What if you could have one wish? What would it be? According to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 paper cranes gives you a chance to make one special wish.

About the Senbazuru

When 1,000 cranes are folded as a group, they are known as a senbazuru. The individual cranes are often strung along a string so they can be hung from the ceiling. The cranes are typically made from many different colors and patterns of paper, so they are a bright and cheerful decoration.

As you might expect, folding 1,000 paper cranes is not an easy project. Origami cranes get easier to fold with practice, but making 1,000 paper cranes is still a huge undertaking. For this reason, it's common for groups of people to join together to make a senbazuru.

Over the years, the act of making a senbazuru has been adapted on a larger scale as apart of several different public service, awareness, and fundraising campaigns.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Cancer Awareness

The most popular reason people are interested in folding 1,000 paper cranes is to show their support for a loved one suffering from a serious illness. 1,000 Cranes of Hope is a website full of resources for people interested in learning how to make a senbazuru. There are downloadable PDF crane instructions, as well as many different video tutorials. The website is sponsored by Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, an organization that will make a charitable donation for every wish made on the site.

Their goal is to unite people from around the world in the fight against cancer by making an "interactive online monument" to the men, women, and children struggling with this deadly illness.

Cranes for Cancer is a blog started by Julie, a woman with the desire to deliver 1,000 origami cranes to individual patients in need of a show of support as they undergo chemotherapy treatments.

You can nominate a patient to receive cranes by sending her an email.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Tsunami Victims

The concept of folding 1,000 paper cranes is sometimes used to raise awareness about the needs of people recovering from natural disasters. Several high schools across the United States have sponsored fundraisers where each of the 1,000 cranes was sold to raise money for the 2011 tsunami victims in Japan. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops have also completed this project, although very young children are likely to need adult assistance with many of the crane folding steps.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Peace

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons uses the idea of folding 1,000 paper cranes in its public awareness campaigns. Their website tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who developed leukemia as a result of radiation exposure from the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. Sadako Sasaki tried to fold 1,000 cranes before her death but was unsuccessful. Her friends and family finished the project in her memory.

Even though she passed away in 1955, Sadako Sasaki is still remembered today as a worldwide symbol of the innocent children impacted by war. Her story is told in great detail in the children's book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.

The book is commonly read in elementary schools are part of peace education programs.

1,000 Paper Cranes for Wildlife Conservation

Folding origami cranes can be a way to express your commitment to wildlife conservation. The International Crane Foundation works to conserve cranes and the wetland and grassland ecosystems they need to survive. They sponsor a 1,000 cranes campaign to help raise awareness of the importance of saving these beautiful birds.

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1,000 Paper Cranes: What Does a Senbazuru Mean?

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What if you could have one wish? What would it be? According to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 paper cranes gives you a chance to make one special wish. When 1,000 cranes are folded as a group, they are known as a senbazuru.

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How 1000 Paper Cranes Became a Symbol of Healing

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How 1000 Paper Cranes Became a Symbol of Healing

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When Grandmother Thorn rests and recovers, we see a spread in which the illustrator has included folded paper cranes. Learn more about the tradition of the 1000 paper cranes and learn to fold your own.

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Every day school children visit the monument for the child victims of Hiroshima adorned with a statue of Sadako Sasaki holding up an origami crane. The museum receives millions of paper cranes from around the world. Photograph By Ari Beser.
Hiroshima, JAPAN-Origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, often conjures images of paper cranes, or orizuru in Japanese. I began to wonder, where does this fabled art form originate, and why are paper cranes regarded as a symbol of peace?

After some digging, I discovered that paper folding was reserved for ceremonies around the 6 th century A.D., since the paper came from China and was expensive for commoners. Folded paper butterfly figures were first used in Japan to decorate sake cups at weddings, and paper was folded in Shinto shrines for good luck. Decorative figures of paper cranes began showing up on ceremonial kimonos as far back as the 16th century.

The use of paper became widespread worldwide by the 20 th century. Origami as we know it was popularized and taught in Japanese schools in art class, and has since evolved as a childhood pastime.

In Japanese lore, the crane-a type of large, migratory bird-was thought to live for 1,000 years, and the animals are held in the highest regard.

The 1797 book Sen Bazuru Orikake, which translates to "how to fold 1,000 paper cranes," contains instructions for how to make these special objects.

But it doesn't talk about the legends. In every resource I found, the story of Sadako Sasaki was the reason why it became popular to fold them and make a wish.
Sadako pictured with her father on July 18, 1955, shortly before she died of leukemia, a result of exposure to the atomic bomb's ionizing radiation on August 6, 1945. Photograph courtesy of Yuji Sasaki.
Sadako survived the Hiroshima bomb when she was only two years old, but by 1950 she had swollen glands. Officials at the Atomic Bomb Causality Commission, set up by the U.S. government in post-war Japan to examine Hiroshima's citizens for health effects of the atomic bomb, recommended that she go to the hospital. She was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow, and died in 1955.

"How did Sadako become the girl who folded 1,000 paper cranes?" I recently asked her brother, Masahiro Sasaki, who lives in Fukuoka and is co-founder of the NPO Sadako Legacy, the organization that carries on the message of Sadako Sasaki.

"She let out both the pain of our parents and her own suffering with each crane. She hid her suffering and was very tolerant of the pain. She didn't want anyone to worry. She didn't complain to her friends or to us. Her spirit encouraged others around her to speak of her bravery," Sasaki told me.

"If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to stand the pain, but I'm not Sadako."
Cranes that Sadako made rest in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Her family donated over a hundred of them to the museum, which has agreed to give them back to her family one crane at a time. Photograph by Ari Beser
In 2007, Sadako Legacy began donating Sadako's paper cranes around the world to places in need of healing.

They started with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. Twenty-four Japanese citizens were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center, and it got back to Sadako's family that people were leaving paper cranes at the fence near Ground Zero.

Museum staff added the cranes to the memorial, including thousands donated by Japanese students. Moved by this, Sasaki decided to donate one of Sadako's cranes, which was unveiled at the museum in 2010.

In attendance was Clifton Truman Daniel, the grandson of U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who ordered the 1945 atomic bombings. Sasaki, carrying the last crane Sadako ever folded in a box, placed it in Daniel's hand and asked him if he would help them send a message of peace.

In addition to the September 11 memorial, Sadako Legacy has donated a crane to Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial with the help of Daniel, The Peace Library at the Austrian Study Center for Peace, and the city of Okinawa.

This fall Sadako's brother Masahiro and his son Yuji Sasaki will donate a crane to the city of São Paolo, Brazil, which has a community of more than a hundred atomic bomb survivors, and one to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.

This origami crane, Located in Kaisezen Park, Koriyama, Fukushima was melded from steel recovered at the World Trade Center site in New York City. It was gifted to Koriyama City by the September 11th Families' Association and the 9/11 Tribute Center. Photograph by Ari Beser

In 2011, tragedy hit Japan again: A devastating earthquake triggered an even more devastating tsunami, which caused a core meltdown at Fukushima Dai Ichi Nuclear Power Plant.

In 2012, the 9/11 family association donated to Japan a paper crane welded from World Trade Center debris as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of disaster. Consoled by Sadako's crane, they dedicated their own crane, which now rests in the city of Koriyama, Fukushima, a town less than 50 miles (80 kilometers) away from the crippled nuclear power plant.

Sadako's nephew, Yuji Sasaki, holds the paper crane his aunt folded in Koriyama City, in Fukushima Prefecture, before donating it to the mayor. Photograph by Ari Beser

On August 21, 2015, Sadako's nephew Yuji Sasaki brought the story full circle: He brought one of her cranes to Koriyama.

"Hiroshima and Fukushima have both had nuclear disasters, but at different speeds. In a way they are the same kind of disaster, and people of both city are affected by radiation," he said at the ceremony.

"I hope that even [in] this hopeless situation, we never give up, together."
Ari M. Beser is the grandson of Lt. Jacob Beser, the only U.S. serviceman aboard both bomb-carrying B-29s. He is traveling through Japan with the Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship to report on the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima. Using photo essays, videos, and articles, Beser will give voice to people directly affected by nuclear technology today, as well as work with Japanese and Americans to encourage a message of reconciliation and nuclear disarmament. His new book, "The Nuclear Family," focuses on the American and Japanese perspectives of the atomic bombings.

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How Paper Cranes Became a Symbol of Healing in Japan

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Every day school children visit the monument for the child victims of Hiroshima adorned with a statue of Sadako Sasaki holding up an origami crane. The museum receives millions of paper cranes from around the world. Photograph By Ari Beser. Hiroshima, JAPAN-Origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, often conjures images of paper cranes, or orizuru in Japanese.