One of our favorite aspects of geography is celebrating beautiful traditions of other countries, and how those traditions sometimes become part of ours. Japan’s national flower is the sakura, or cherry blossom. Every springtime, people enjoy the Hanami (flower-viewing) Festival across the country of Japan. I grew up near Washington, D.C. where the Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated for a whole month. This year, as the cherry blossoms began to open up on the cherry trees in our yard, we read these stories about cherry blossoms, from Japan to Washington, D.C.
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Cherry Blossoms in Japan
The Falling Flowers
One special day, Grandmother has a surprise for Mayumie. She cannot guess what it is as they travel through the bustling city of Tokyo. Her increasing frustration at not going to a zoo or museum is quenched when they approach Grandmother’s special place. It is a quiet grove of cherry trees in peak bloom. Grandmother shares her favorite tree that she first visited on a trip with her grandmother. The intergenerational bond is beautifully portrayed in this story. There is an Author’s Note about the Cherry Tree Festival in Japan that the author experienced during her three years in Japan.
Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms
This beautiful story tells of the strong relationship between grandmother, Obaachan, and granddaughter, whose name is Sakura. Obaachan and Sakura enjoy picnicking under blooming cherry blossoms every spring. One day, Sakura and her parents move to San Francisco. She slowly learns English and makes a friend. In the winter, they return to Japan to visit a very sick Obaachan.
Upon returning to America, Sakura remains sad for a long time. She worries that she may forget Obaachan without cherry blossoms to remind her of her grandmother. Finally, spring arrives and the city bursts into bloom with cherry blossoms. Obaachan’s wise words return to Sakura, “watching cherry blossoms bloom is always finest with friends.”
This book is written in a series of tanka poems, which are 5 line poems following the syllable pattern of 5-7-5 [break] 7-7.
Cherry Trees in Washington, D.C.
Eliza’s Cherry Trees: Japan’s Gift to America
*Read it for free on archive.org
One of my favorite books, this is the true story of how Eliza Scidmore changed the landscape of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. A lover of geography, she traveled the world and wrote books about such faraway places as Alaska and Japan. She advocated for the beautiful cherry trees and met with rejection multiple times. The city of Tokyo gifted the first batch in 1910. After those trees turned out diseased, a second batch successfully took root in 1912.
Cherry Blossoms Say Spring
*Read it for free on archive.org
This short photojournal highlights the National Cherry Blossom Festival for beginner readers. Lovely photographs highlight the cherry blossoms and other aspects of the festival such as kite flying and parades.
Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
*Read it for free on archive.org
Check out this coffee table book for gorgeous photos of DC and answers to all your questions about the festival.
The Passover Guest
As cherry blossom season is usually around Passover, it is fitting to include this book, set in Washington D.C. during the time of the cherry blossom bloom. It is 1933 during the Great Depression and Muriel’s family does not have enough money for the Passover seder. She meets a mysterious stranger who provides.
The author grew up in Washington D.C. and adapted this tale which was originally by the Polish Jewish author, I.L. Peretz. The illustrator drew inspiration from Jewish painter Marc Chagall.
Looking to read reviews or purchase? Here’s the booklist on Amazon.
Easy Art Project
As soon as those blossoms begin to fall, try this fun and easy art project. All you need is a drawing, glue stick, and flower petals. It works for any flowers! After you are finished, press the project under a paper towel and heavy books to flatten the blossoms and preserve the colors.
Other holiday booklists:
- Books for Spring: Celebrate Diverse Holidays Around the World (March holidays)
- Irish-American Culture and Immigration (St. Patrick’s Day)
- St. Valentine’s Day (February 14)
- Lunar New Year (January/February)
- Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October)