Kenta and the Big Wave

by Ruth Ohi

The tsunami has swept everything away—including Kenta’s most prized possession, his soccer ball. When tragedy strikes Kenta’s small village in Japan, he does all he can to hang on to the things that matter to him most. But amidst the chaos of an emergency evacuation brought on by the tsunami, Kenta and his family must quickly leave their home, taking with them only the barest necessities. Climbing to safer ground, Kenta watches helplessly as his prized soccer ball goes bouncing down a hill and gets swept away by the waves, never to be seen again… that is until it washes up on a beach on the other side of the world, into the hands of a child who takes it upon himself to return the ball to its rightful owner. In this evocative picture book, Ruth Ohi’s glowing art transports the reader to Japan with gentle images that offer reassurance amidst the background of an environmental catastrophe. Inspired by true stories of personal items being washed ashore thousands of miles away after the tsunami of 2011, Kenta and the Big Wave is about the strength of the human spirit and the power of Mother Nature. Including an afterword explaining tsunamis to young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Japan, Childrens, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Education, Canada

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 23, 2013

About the author

Ruth is the illustrator of over 50 books, including 15 of which she also wrote. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design.

Her books have been selected for the Pennsylvania Centre for the Book's “Baker’s Dozen”, the Canadian Toy Testing Council's "Great Books", the Ontario Library Association's "Best Bets", and the Toronto Public Library's "First & Best". They have been shortlisted for awards such as the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book, Amelia Francis Howard-Gibbons , Mr. Christie, and Blue Spruce.

Plenty of pdf printables can found on her website. Printables include puppets, games and creative handouts for her latest books.

A favourite part of her job is hosting workshops where young people get as excited about creating their own visual stories as she does.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a picture book reader, I don't have any children, but I saw this available on Netgalley today and I had to check it out. On March 11th, 2011 the biggest earthquake in the past 100 years hit the Northeastern coast of Japan, and I was there. I was thankfully far enough away that I didn't get hurt, or lose anyone I love, but the quake affected me and my life. And this simple book reached in and touched those spots in my heart that were affected by the quake. I teared up while reading this. I remember the soccer ball story on the news, and this book brought it to life.

I have a 1 1/2 year old niece and I am going to get this book for her and share it with her when she's a bit older. I hope it will help her understand what her aunt and uncle experienced, if only a little, and what it was like for those who were in the path of the tsunami.

[Ally Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi. I absolutely loved this book! This story is about a young boy from Japan who loses his soccer ball while he is running to the school building to escape the tsunami. The tsunami destroyed everything in his community. He and his family stayed in the school gym while their home was being rebuilt. In the midst of trying to rebuild their house and other parts of the community, Kenta builds his own new ball. It was not the same as his soccer ball, but it was good enough. His soccer ball went far, far away across the ocean. Eventually, another little boy finds it. He was unable to read the writing on it, so he brought it to a librarian who could translate it for him. He realized that the ball belonged to someone else, who lived far away. He mailed the soccer ball back to Kenta and sent a picture of himself along with it. Kenta was overjoyed to finally have his soccer ball back!
From a teacher's standpoint, I believe that this is a great book to read to your class! This book shows compassion and generosity. Kenta was upset when he lost his ball, but overjoyed when he finally received it back in the mail. The little boy who found his ball did not have to send it back. He was being kindhearted and thoughtful towards Kenta. He knew that if he lost his soccer ball, he would have wanted it back too. I also believe that this story would be great to read before a science lesson about tsunamis too. This story is based on the 2011 tsunami that hit Japan. Many people lost their homes, and many of their items washed across the ocean to a different country. I believe it is important for kids to learn about different natural disasters, and this book introduces it greatly to young readers.

[Claire Carvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi and I am so glad that I did. This is a great children’s book! The story begins with a little boy who lives in Japan during a terrible tsunami. When the tsunami hits, he and his family have to rush to safety in his elementary school gym. On the way, he loses his soccer ball. The tsunami destroyed the little boy’s house so he and his family have to stay in the gym with members of his town whose houses were also destroyed. Since he was so upset about losing his soccer ball, Kenta builds himself another ball. Even though it isn’t as good as his old one, he still uses it. In the meantime, a little boy from across the world finds Kenta’s soccer ball. He took it to his librarian for translation only to find out the ball belongs to Kenta all the way in Japan. The little boy sends the soccer ball back to Kenta, making him so happy!
I enjoyed this story very much. I think that it opened my eyes to how “small” the world is even though it seems huge. Those two little boys could relate to each other and had empathy for one another even though they lived across the world from each other. I definitely recommend using this story in the classroom. Young children could benefit from learning about having compassion and kindness towards others they don’t know or even do know. This book shows examples of caring for others during a crisis or time of need. Teachers could use this to create a sense of peace in the classroom. Young children especially who are new to a class setting could have trouble sharing or getting along with their classmates. This book could nudge them in the direction of the little boy who found Kenta’s soccer ball and cause them to have compassion for others just like he did.

[Emily Seymore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave is a heart warming story about a little boy who experienced the 2011 tsunami in Japan. After hearing the warning siren, Kenta knew he had to run up the hill to the school to escape the huge wave. As he was running to safety, he dropped his beloved soccer ball. After the tsunami passes, families spent days looking for their possessions while Kenta looked for his soccer ball. In the story you can see the soccer ball traveling far away from Kenta, as he makes a new ball to try and replace his old one. The story then tells readers that Kenta's soccer ball had washed ashore on a beach on the other side of the ocean where a kind boy finds it and sends it on a journey back to Kenta.

As en elementary school teacher, I think this book would be a perfect story to read to students when teaching lessons about tsunamis or acts of kindness. As students read this book or as a teacher reads it to them, the students gain an understanding of how powerful tsunamis are because the families had to rebuild their houses due to the tsunamis destroying them beyond repair. Students learn that tsunamis come from the ocean and learn that the ocean is strong and can carry stuff to the other side of it. As the story progresses and the readers are introduced to the boy that sent the ball back to Kenta, they learn about selflessness and kindness. Instead of keeping the ball to himself, the boy asked for help reading what was written on it and then selflessly sent the ball back over the entire ocean so Kenta could have his beloved soccer ball back. With so many lessons in this short book, I think it is a great story to read to students.

[Isabelle Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave is a touching story of a boy living in Japan during the 2011 tsunami. This book is based on actual stories of people’s belongings being washed away and reappearing on opposite sides of the world. As the tsunami approached, Kenta ran to safety on higher ground. As he was rushing, he tripped and lost his soccer ball. Once inside, Kenta locates his parents. However, after the storm, Kenta and his family discover their home to be completely destroyed. Kenta makes the most of his time after the storm; he even creates a new ball to play with. While Kenta’s family began to rebuild their home, his soccer ball washed up on a beach shore. A little boy took the ball to someone who could read Kenta’s writing, and mailed the soccer ball back to him.
This book would be a wonderful teaching tool to have in my library. I can use this story to teach students about weather and tsunamis. As the story progresses, my students will see how powerful a tsunami is. They will also gain knowledge of how a tsunami comes from the ocean, and the water recedes after a few days. I can also use this time to teach students that some people lose their homes. I can then lead this lesson into a discussion of kindness. My students can learn the importance of sharing and the necessity to always be kind. The little boy that found the soccer ball did a selfless act in returning it to Kenta. This is a great example to show my students. Truthfully, this book offers numerous lessons and opens the door for many discussions I can lead with my students.

[Julia Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great children's book! I loved it! Kenta and the Big Wave is about a boy who loses his soccer ball in a tsunami while running to the school. The ocean took Kenta's soccer ball and pulled it out far in the ocean, and his family spent everyday looking for what the waves took from them. Ending up another boy found Kenta's soccer ball and ended up sending it back to Kenta! This is a great book to read in the classroom! This book displays qualities such as kindness and selflessness, which are all great qualities to teach your students. When Kenta's soccer ball washed up and the other boy found it, he did not have to go to all the trouble in finding the rightful owner. But out of a good act of kindness the boy did so. I highly recommend this book to any future teacher or teachers to read to their students!

[Ragan Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job of discussing the 2011 tsunami that took place in Japan. The story follows Kenta, a Japanese boy whose family is affected by the tsunami. I like how the book shows Kenta and his family dealing with the effects. It shows the family fixing their house, looking for their belongings, and how they had to sleep in a school gym with lots of other families. Kenta's soccer ball is taken away by the ocean and another boy finds it. He doesn't understand Kenta's handwriting and seeks help from a librarian. He then sends the ball back to Kenta. I would use this story in a classroom with younger kids. The book is an easy read but a great way to teach children about the tsunami, different cultures, and the importance of helping others. I recommend reading this book and having your students read it!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi. I found the text to be easy to follow and particularly liked how the author bounces back and forth from Kenta to the soccer ball and finally including the other boy. The book is appropriately informative on Tsunamis without being too intense for young readers. I appreciated the fact that this book was based on true events that happened after the tsunami of 2011. As a future teacher, this book will be great for discussing different cultures and natural disasters that occur around the world. Kenta and the Big Wave will be a good carpet time book to open the lesson of natural disasters, specifically tsunamis. This book is also an easy enough read for students to do independently.

[Carly Seaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave was such a great book! I really felt a tug at my heart strings when Kenta lost his ball down the hill, while trying to escape the tsunami. It really set up that feeling of loss for the rest of the book, when they went to check their home for what was left. But the turn of happiness toward the end was so wonderful! As a future teacher I would use this book to show my students that no matter how far away we are in the world physically, we can all be connected in a time of need. I could even incorporate this book in a research project on that tsunami that affected Kenta.

[Emilee Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy from Japan named Kenta who loses his ball during a tsunami. His ball ends up on the other side of the world, while his family has to relocate to their local school’s gym. Another little boy finds Kenta’s ball and with help from his grandfather sends it back to Kenta.
I would definitely use this book in my future classroom. It is a very easy and fun read. This book allows students to read widely and to learn about a tsunami in Japan from 2011.

[Christine Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this one! there isn't a ton about tsunamis in Japan in picture book form, so I def recommend this!

[Hannah Curtis]

Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi is based on a tsunami in Japan. A little boy named Kenta started running to the school when he heard the sirens. He was carrying his soccer ball with him, and he tripped causing the soccer ball to roll away. Every day after the storm, Kenta searched for his soccer ball, but it could not be found. One day he received a box with his soccer ball in it. Another little boy across the world found it, but he couldn't understand the writing. He found someone who could interpret it, and he sent it back to Kenta. He was grateful.
I enjoyed this story. It teaches children generosity, and events that occur in other places around the world. It also demonstrates different cultures and languages. I would use this in my classroom to teach children about diversity. Not everyone speaks the same languages or experiences the same things, and this book represents just that.

[Michelle Schnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflection on ONE: Text to text, text to self, text to world connection with the book:

Text to World: In Nebraska, and in the Mid-West, we have tornado drills. I connect their tsunami alarms to the tornado alarms we have here where we live. We are accustomed to going below ground for safety from disaster and in Japan they are accustomed to running to the highest ground possible. Sometimes, as we have unfortunately seen lately, the tornado alarms do not come soon enough and disaster strikes here in the Midwest, just like it did in Japan. We are all in danger of losing our homes and possessions and lives to a natural disaster beyond our control and that connects us all as vulnerable humans trying to live on the same planet.


Write six discussion questions using all six stages of Bloom’s Taxonomy:

REMEMBERING

What is a tsunami?

APPLYING

Think about when the American boy in the story found the soccer ball and mailed it back to Kenta. What would you do if you found something that belonged to someone else?

EVALUATING

What choice would you make if you were in a situation where someone had lost his home because of a disaster like a tsunami?

UNDERSTANDING

Describe what happens that causes Kenta to lose his soccer ball.

ANALYZING

What is the relationship between Kenta and the American boy? Were they friends? Did they know each other? Then why did the American boy help Kenta out by mailing him back his lost ball?

CREATING

Write a letter from Kenta to the boy in America who sent him back his ball. Let the American boy know how much it meant to you (Kenta) that someone took the time to send your ball back to you.

An adapted book review citation:

(1 November 2013). Booklist.
http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...

[Chloe Cunningham]

The book I chose was “Kenta and The Big Wave”. This book is based on the 2011 tsunami that hit Japan, referencing accounts of items that were lost at sea washing up on shores worldwide. The book began with sirens sounding throughout Kenta’s hometown. Upon hearing the sirens, Kenta ran to the school where he dropped his soccer ball downhill. As he found his parents, the ocean found his ball. Once the tsunami had passed, Kenta’s family realized their town had been destroyed. The town worked on rebuilding what they had lost, and Kenta’s soccer ball washed up on an unknown beach. A boy discovered the ball and someone who could understand the writing on it. Kenta’s soccer ball was eventually returned to his hometown by plane, truck, and bike, where Kenta remained thankful.
This book is relevant to me as a future educator because I believe it is thought-provoking and can promote many discussions. Some of these topics being tsunamis and kindness. In terms of implementing this book in the classroom, I can start by educating my students on what a tsunami is. I can do this by showing them a video of Japan’s 2011 tsunami. After teaching my students what a tsunami is, I can have them perform an activity where they document items they would miss if they were lost in a tsunami. Once they have made their list, I can provide them with the resources to help those in that situation. That is how I would use “Kenta and The Big Wave” as a teacher.

[Paige Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kenta and the Big Wave" by Ruth Ohi was a very quick and fun read. I loved the illustrations and the story. As a reader, I thought it was a very sweet story. The audience sees this tragedy happen, and something sad happens when a boy loses his soccer ball. We see how big and small the effects of a tsunami can be. It is also great to see that this other boy went out of his way to find the owner of this soccer ball. He could have just kept it for himself, but he makes sure to find a way to get it back to the owner. I just like the ending of the book because it makes me happy to see something good come out of the tragedy of the tsunami.
As a teacher, I could implement a lesson using this book in many ways. Students could get chance to learn about Japanese culture, as well as the effects of a tsunami. Tsunamis do not happen in the United States, so this is a great story to use to teach students something new. At the end of this book, the author leaves a note about the Japan tsunami of 2011. She also tells the audience what a tsunami is. This would be a great way to help students learn about a tsunami. You could also find a video about tsunamis to play after reading the book. This is a great way to implement science and reading into one lesson. This was overall a educational and enjoyable book!

[Darby Berrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this children's book. Kenta and the Big Wave is about a young boy who loses his soccer ball while running to the school building to escape a large tsunami wave. The wave destroyed his home, so Kenta and his family stayed in the school building while they rebuilt. Everyday Kenta and his family searched for what the wave took from them. While Kenta and his family tried to recuperate from the wave, Kenta's soccer ball was floating in the ocean far, far from home. His soccer ball finally washes up on a beach and is found by a little boy. The little boy goes out of his way to find the owner of the ball, and ships it back to Kenta. Kenta is astonished when he receives his soccer ball in the mail! From a teacher's standpoint, I believe that this book is perfect to read to your students! This book displays compassion, kindness, and a charitable act. All of these qualities are great to instill in your students. In the book, the little boy did not have to send the soccer ball back to Kenta, but he did anyway. He did it out of the goodness of his heart because he knew that if he lost his soccer ball, he would want whoever found it to send it back to him. This book would be great to use for a lesson to students to teach about kindness and compassion.

[Alma Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave is about a young boy who looses his soccer ball while escaping from a large tsunami wave. The wave destroys his home and he has to stay in the school gym while things are getting fixed. Many others have lost their possessions too. Kenta and his family help the village search for their lost belongings. Meanwhile, Kenta’s ball is traveling across the world in the ocean. It finally lands on a beach across the world. The young boy who finds it is generous enough to ship the ball back to Kenta. When Kenta receives his ball, he is very thankful and goes back to playing like he did before the wave. This book is a great read for a young audience when learning about natural disasters. It is not a picture book and it does contain some harder words that younger audiences may find hard to pronounce. From a teacher’s point of view, this book would be an excellent book to read after his or her classroom went through their own experience with bad weather or during a science lesson about weather. The teacher could also use this book to teach about kindness and giving or a lesson on never giving up hope. This book would be suitable for a first to fourth grade classroom.

[Macey Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave reflects real life events that happen on a daily basis, which can be relatable for many across the world. In the book, a tsunami occurs and Kenta loses his most prized possession within the disaster. His soccer ball travels across the world until it washes up to shore where another little boy finds the soccer ball. The boy ships the soccer ball back to Kenta, and Kenta has his ball in his arms again at last! This book is very engaging for children with pictures that illustrate the story, and convey the characters actions. As a future teacher, I find this book a great example to introduce the topic of diversity. Throughout the story it expresses how you can be connected to others across the country, even if they are not the same as you. I also think the book could be used in my classroom for an introduction to natural disasters as well. Kenta and The Big Wave teaches children about diversity, natural disasters, kindness, and helping others. I do not think there is much more a teacher could ask for out of a book! I highly recommend reading Kenta and The Big Wave!!!

[Rylie Braden]

Kenta and the Big Wave is about a young boy named Kenta and what he and his family go through during and after the 2011 tsunami. When the sirens go off, the town rushes to the school on the hill so they will be safe from the wave of water. On the way to the school, Kenta loses his soccer ball. Later is is discovered that his family lost everything. But Kenta's ball is not gone forever. It makes its way across the ocean and to another little boy who realizes that the person who lost this ball probably misses it. He, along with the help of his teacher, help get Kenta his ball back.

I think this book would be a great resource in the classroom. There are many parts of the world that do not experience tsunamis and some children may not even know what a tsunami is. This book would be a good resource to introduce students to this natural disaster. You could also use this book to talk about different languages and cultures. The boy who found Kenta's ball was unsure where it came from because he didn't recognize the language that was written on it. That could segue into discussions of languages.

[Sidney Bevis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and think it is a great children's book. This is a true story about a boy named Kenta that lives in Japan during a terrible tsunami. When the storm comes Kenta runs up the hill to shelter. As Kenta was rushing to safety, he lost his soccer ball. Once inside, Kenta locates his parents. However, after the storm, Kenta and his family discover their home to be completely destroyed. Kenta tries to create a new ball to play with. While Kenta’s family began to rebuild their home, his soccer ball had traveled across the world to a little boy. The little boy across the world mailed the soccer ball back to Kenta and provides him hope after the storm.

As a teacher, this book can be used in multiple ways. This book can be a way to introduce natural disasters. It also teaches children generosity, the boy that received Kenta's ball could have kept it for himself but was generous enough to send it back to Kenta. Diversity is also a lesson that could be taught from this book because it shows that not everyone speaks the same language. This book is a great read and can teach many lessons in the classroom.

[Ashley Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta And The Big Wave tells a story about a young child named Kenta who resides in a Japanese village. The book describes a natural disaster, such as a Tsunami, and the impact it leaves behind. Kenta's prize possession was his soccer ball, which got swept away by the waves when he evacuated to higher grounds. Kenta was sure that he would never find his ball again. Little did he know that his soccer ball washed ashore on a beach and got discovered by a little boy. Kenta was surprised to find that the boy who found his ball on the opposite side of the world had returned it to him.

Kenta And The Big Wave is an excellent book for fostering students' critical thinking and encouraging participation in discussions. This book tells a story that will engage children in student-led discussions and their takeaway for various topics, including tsunamis, geological hazards, Japanese culture, and other cultures. One might also ask kids questions such as, "What other items may be washed away by the ocean?" "What are some loving and compassionate behaviors that one can display during this event?" How would one react, and what feelings may one experience during tragic times?

[Sadie Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave is a simple story that gets a huge point across. This book shows character. It is about a boy who loses his ball due to a Tsunami. Kenta wrote his address on the ball and after it traveled far away through the ocean another boy found it. He shipped the ball back to where it belonged. Kenta eventually received his prized possession, again.

This book is a short simple story that can open the eyes of many students. It shows the character of children and how much a generous gesture can impact somebody. Kenta and his family lost everything due to a Tsunami, but the kindness of another little boy allowed Kenta to receive one thing back that meant the most to him, his soccer ball. This little boy that found a soccer ball in the ocean went out of his way to find out what the writing said on the ball. He helped out somebody that he did not know from across the world. Somebody's character and simple gestures can make the biggest difference. People never know what each person is going through in their life.

[Gardavson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic, sweet book! I love that it's about something that has fairly recently happened, and takes into account some rather surprising results from that event (things from Japan crossing the ocean and washing up on shore in America). Beautiful illustrations and simple, straight to the point narration on each page. Even with its simplicity, or maybe because of it, it tugs at the heartstrings. Beautiful job of connecting something children can relate to with concepts more difficult and complex.

I would love to have seen the boy who finds the ball making the decision to return it to its owner. Beautiful story.

[Michelle Brandstetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohi takes a very big and serious event and, while not downplaying the overall magnitude, allows for the heart to come through in a simple, but kind gesture. We follow Kenta and his family as they experience the devastation caused by the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. Having lost everything, Kenta receives a package and his lost soccer ball has found it's way home after a trip halfway across the world. It is a sincere demonstration of how we are all connected.

[Anna Kate]

Kenta and The Big Wave
By: Ruth Ohi

As a reader, Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi created a significant emotional impact with its straightforward but impactful narrative. The narrative centers around a young boy named Kenta residing in a tranquil coastal village in Japan. One day, a huge tsunami hits, compelling Kenta and his family to move to elevated land. In the hurry, Kenta misplaces his cherished soccer ball—a tiny yet significant aspect of his everyday routine. The narrative does not emphasize destruction in a terrifying manner, but instead underscores the emotional effects of losing one's home and daily life. A particularly touching moment occurs when Kenta's soccer ball is discovered far in the sea and ultimately brought back to him, representing hope and the strength of human relationships. The environment is depicted with tender artwork that transitions from serene and tranquil to turbulent and ambiguous, reflecting the mood of the narrative. Ruth Ohi’s story is straightforward, sincere, and suitable for young audiences, ensuring the narrative is both relatable and profoundly impactful. In general, the book presents a reflective exploration of how kids go through natural disasters and how little gestures of kindness can provide sympathy and recovery.

Kenta and the Big Wave can serve as a significant resource in an elementary classroom, providing numerous valuable teaching opportunities across various subjects. In language arts, educators can enhance reading comprehension by having students answer questions regarding the characters' emotions, the order of events, and the story's conclusion. The book fosters deep discussions on significant themes such as resilience, loss, hope, and community support, enabling students to form personal connections and navigate emotions safely. Cross-disciplinary links might involve a science class on natural disasters—particularly tsunamis—and their formation, or a geography class examining Japan’s location and climate. In social studies, students may explore Japanese culture and examine how various communities react to natural occurrences. Art projects might consist of students illustrating scenes from the narrative or designing posters that depict kindness and restoration. A writing extension could encourage students to envision and compose about something valuable they would wish to preserve in a crisis, fostering empathy and self-reflection. In summary, the book promotes literacy growth while also fostering emotional intelligence and awareness of global issues.

[Erika Wolfe]

Going into this book I didn't know what to expect. Honestly I was scared the main character was going to get swept away by a big wave. Thankfully I was wrong! The book started off with a town getting swept away by a tsunami. The main character was Kenta, he was a school aged boy who lost something very special to him. He ran home to his family when the sirens rang, but he forgot his soccer ball and it got swept away by the waves. Another key character was a little boy who found the soccer ball. He couldn't understand his writing so he took it to the librarian and sent in the mail home to Kenta, he was so thankful! The setting was a tsunami and highlighted 2 towns. The important event is that their is still kindness and that different objects can travel a long way by water. The author's style was gentle yet powerful I would say. Even though their was a huge tsunami that was very powerful, the characters were still gentle and the book didn't scare the readers.

Reflecting on this book and wondering how it could be used in an elementary classroom leads me to a science and history lesson. The instructional possibilities this could lead into is students following along with the book or reading on their own pace with epic, and the questions they might have are about the places the soccer ball traveled. As I mentioned previously, some cross curricular connections this book represents is history and science. A history standard this book represents is this (SS24.3.2 Explain how geographic features, including land regions and river systems, connect Alabama to other states) where a science standard represents this (SC23.4.EHA.NHS Natural Hazard Solutions.) Both of these standards lead to wonderful student discussion of what type of natural hazard/disaster happened in the book and where on the map did it happen. The student activity I would involve in this lesson is students following along in the book while making a map of all the places the soccer ball traveled/ why is traveled and lead a class discussion explaining every place the soccer ball traveled and why it did.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave written by Ruth Ohi
Reading Kenta and the Big Wave was a very good read. The book and message were very easy to understand and grasp. Having the one main character, Kenta, allowed for a deeper understanding of his feelings and his thoughts. Knowing how much his ball meant to Kenta made me feel for him and all of the things he lost. From someone who has never felt the extent of damage from a Tsunami, this book acted as a window into what living through the devastation of one is like. In the end, when Kenta is reunited his ball there is a sense of global community. Seeing the kindness from someone who was on the other side of the Earth made me feel good as a reader.
This book would be a great addition to an elementary classroom, specifically a kindergarten to 1st grade class. Since the themes are clearly presented throughout the story, it would be a great activity for students to talk in small groups about what themes they felt through the book. These themes being: kindness, resilience, and hope. A cross-curricular example is that of connecting the book to the science behind Tsunamis and natural disasters as a whole. One could teach a lesson about how and why Tsunamis occur and read the book after to tie in how devasting they are to the public. Students could also learn from the kindness the book shows. They could practice this by writing kind notes to friends and seeing how a simple act can affect a person. Overall, Kenta and the Big Wave would be a great read aloud choice in an elementary setting. It can allow for students to have good discussion, connect to science elements, and grow in social-emotional learning.

[Abby Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenta and the Big Wave by Ruth Ohi is a children's book that thoughtfully introduces young readers to tsunamis and what the effects are on a community but also demonstrates tender-heartedness and strength when a natural disaster takes place. The story focuses on a boy named Kenta who loses his soccer ball to a tsunami in Japan. The illustrations show his soccer ball being tossed in the waves and arriving somewhere new. However, the ball makes its way back to Kenta with a sweet message and reminds Kenta that there is still hope and love in such terrible circumstances. From a reader's perspective, I thought this book was touching and loved how the book's purpose was not to focus on the tsunami itself but the beauty that can come from tragedy.
This book offers opportunity for children to think deeper and put themselves in someone else's shoes. It provides comprehension questions such as: Why was the soccer ball so important to Kenta? How did Kenta's feelings differ before and after the wave hit his town? How can tragedies bring people together? This book also presents cross-curricular connections such as science as it's based off a natural disaster. It would be an opportunity to talk about the different types of natural disasters, how they happen, and how you can help the communities that are affected. His soccer ball traveled to a totally different part of the globe. Teachers could have their students map out the journey the soccer ball made to include geography or bring something to school that means a lot to them like show and tell.

[Elisabeth Lerch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a boy named Kenta. He LOVES his soccer ball. Well Kenta’s village in Japan gets destroyed by a tsunami and he loses his soccer ball!! Kenta stays with his family in the schools gym because his house was destroyed. He is still looking for his precious soccer ball. So he looks for it but he never finds it. As the reader we see the soccer ball in the water tossing, turning, and floating farther from Kenta. Back to Kenta he is making a new ball out of scraps but he knew it would never be the same. We go back to the soccer ball and it makes its way to a new little boy that can not understand the writing on the ball so he takes it to a local librarian and he translates it. The ball says “This ball is far from home” so the little boy mails is back to Japan so it can return to Kenta. It ends with Kenta looking up and saying “thank you”. I really did enjoy this book. I teach at an after school program and I will most likely read them this.


As a teacher you could use this as an example of kindness because what the little boy did by sending the ball back to Kenta. You could use it as and example of being grateful because they see how much Kenta’s family lost in the Tsunami. You could even use this as a way of showing that no matter how far away or different a person is that’s doesn’t mean they are not just as kind and loving. An activity I think would be fun for this is making a soccer ball out of paper. The students could decorate their own ball.

[Ry]

"Kenta and the Big Wave" describes a global community, kindness, and understanding. In it, a young Japanese boy experiences a disaster in his hometown, experiences the area's rebuilding, and has his lost soccer ball returned to him. The event that pushes the story is a tsunami, which is a common natural disaster in Japan. Its effects stretch all the way across the sea to what may be America. A connection is formed between Kenta and the boy who returned his soccer ball, even though the two of them never met. The author's style is simple, but hard-hitting; it is beautiful to see human nature and brotherhood represented in a positive way. Beautiful illustrations lend to the book's impact. Readers can see that love stretches across the sea in the form of the soccer ball.

In an elementary classroom, this book can be used to develop social and emotional development. The themes of kindness between communities can be used to encourage a community of kindness in the classroom. A cross-curricular connection could be created in the form of a mini-lesson on tsunamis in Japan. The author's note at the end of the book could build curiosity about the 2011 tsunami. Students can put themselves in the shoes of the characters in a writing activity. What would you do if you found another child's lost toy? How might you feel if you lost an important item? How might you feel if storm came to where you live? This can build empathy and kindness in young students.