When her family moves overseas, Sakura has difficulty adjusting. She struggles with a new language and misses her grandmother. When at last springtime arrives, a beautiful surprise awaits her.

For teachers, here’s a discussion guide filled with goodies (many thanks to the superheroes at Tundra Books for this).

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REVIEWS

“There are some children’s books that inspire people of all ages with their profundity, and Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms is no exception.” —Brooklyn Daily Eagle

“[A] heartwarming story of the ephemeral, the eternal nature of love, friendship, cherry blossoms, and stars.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Full of beautiful lyrical language, Weston captures both grief and the immigrant experience with subtly and empathy, and Saburi brings the landscapes to life with her beautiful, textured illustrations.” —Bear and Mouse Read

“Weston and Saburi’s artistic expressions align on the page in a complementary way, highlighting the bonding experiences of family, friendship, natural beauty and, of course, Sakura’s cherry blossoms.” —Shelf Awareness

“Writing in a series of tanka poems, Weston addresses the difficulty of moving to a new country and the loss of a loved one with warmth and compassion.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Weston combines a look at Japanese customs, a meditation on loss, and observations on adjusting to a new country in this wistful tale.” —Publishers Weekly

“Captures the sense of loneliness, disconnection and culture shock people can experience in a new environment, and gently depicts the gradual healing process, culminating in Sakura blossoming with renewed energy, wisdom, and happiness.” —Deakin Review of Children’s Literature