Ojiichan's Gift

When Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan, she helps him tend to his garden of stones ("big ones, little ones and ones in between") and shrubs. But one year, it's clear that Ojiichan can no longer tend to his home. As her parents pack up Ojiichan's belongings, Mayumi angrily kicks a rock in the garden, making a mess. She begins raking the gravel, and "a tiny idea took root." She makes her grandfather a small rock garden in a bento box and creates one for herself, as well. Simms conveys the tender connection between the two in watercolor art, while Uegaki gingerly explores the strong emotions that accompany a loss and the mementos that can soften grief. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)

PreS-Gr 2--When Mayumi is born, her grandfather creates a traditional Japanese rock garden for her to enjoy during her bicultural family's summertime visits to Japan. Over time, he teaches her how to tend the intricate landscape and rake the sand into pleasing patterns. As Mayumi grows, her aging grandfather becomes unable to care for his home and the family is faced with the reality that he will have to move to more suitable accommodations. At first, this unwelcome change angers Mayumi. Any reader who has had to adjust to bad news will relate to her furious attempts to move one of the garden's unmovable boulders. Ultimately, she processes her grief by creating a small, portable garden in a box for her grandfather to take to his new home, returning the gesture he made for her so long ago. This tender depiction of the special relationship between a grandparent and grandchild will resonate with young readers and adults alike. Therapeutic without being heavy-handed, Mayumi's story gently reassures us that although we can't always change the outcome, we can ease a difficult transition with compassion and resourcefulness. Beautifully textured watercolor illustrations are at once soft and vivid, adding to the warmth and emotional depth of the story. A brief glossary is included at the end of the book to guide readers through the Japanese terms woven into the text. VERDICT This title is a solid purchase for picture book collections, especially where stories about processing emotions are needed.--Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA