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The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden
When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father . . . and his voice. The entire village is silenced by grief, and the young child's anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, begins a mysterious project—building a phone booth in his garden. At first Makio is puzzled; the phone isn't connected to anything. It just sits there, unable to ring. But as more and more villagers are drawn to the phone booth, its purpose becomes clear to Makio: the disconnected phone is connecting people to their lost loved ones. Makio calls to the sea to return what it has taken from him and ultimately finds his voice and solace in a phone that carries words on the wind.
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden is inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, "My thoughts couldn't be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind." The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the town of Otsuchi, claiming 10 percent of the population. Residents of Otsuchi and pilgrims from other affected communities have been traveling to the wind phone since the tsunami.
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden is inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, "My thoughts couldn't be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind." The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the town of Otsuchi, claiming 10 percent of the population. Residents of Otsuchi and pilgrims from other affected communities have been traveling to the wind phone since the tsunami.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2019
5 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Heather Smith
14 books170 followersOriginally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
March 29, 2019
What an interesting story! I hadn't heard about the "phone of the wind" before. Though the real one was built before the tsunami, it became a way for many to deal with their grief after the 2011 disaster.
Young Makio is watching the sea when the earthquake and tsunami hit. His father is washed out to sea and lost. From that point, he doesn't speak. It isn't until he starts to deal with his feelings--shouting at the sea, and even using the telephone to talk to his dad--that he begins to heal.
The story is lovely, and the illustrations complement it perfectly. Though it does depict the actual earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the book isn't too scary, and there's nothing overtly graphic. The illustration of Makio sitting on the dock and staring at a shadow of him and his dad on the water is one of my favourites. The colour palette is soft and limited, and it has a definite Japanese flavour that helps bring the setting to life.
The author's note at the end about the real phone booth is a nice touch. Though the story of Makio and Mr. Hirota is fiction, the inspiration is real and fascinating. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
Young Makio is watching the sea when the earthquake and tsunami hit. His father is washed out to sea and lost. From that point, he doesn't speak. It isn't until he starts to deal with his feelings--shouting at the sea, and even using the telephone to talk to his dad--that he begins to heal.
The story is lovely, and the illustrations complement it perfectly. Though it does depict the actual earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the book isn't too scary, and there's nothing overtly graphic. The illustration of Makio sitting on the dock and staring at a shadow of him and his dad on the water is one of my favourites. The colour palette is soft and limited, and it has a definite Japanese flavour that helps bring the setting to life.
The author's note at the end about the real phone booth is a nice touch. Though the story of Makio and Mr. Hirota is fiction, the inspiration is real and fascinating. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
July 1, 2020
Lovely and slightly ethereal paintings accompany this heartwarming story of dealing with grief.
October 17, 2019
Get your kleenex ready. I'm on a roll today with the sad books. Honestly, if you don't emote at least a little while reading this picture book you've either missed the point or something. A little boy uses the phone booth to call his deceased father, for crying out loud. I definitely cried, and I definitely think you should read this book.
May 27, 2021
3,5/5
-Reseña completa: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
-Reseña completa: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
March 29, 2020
The touching story of a boy, Makio, and his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, who builds a phone booth to communicate to those who lost their lives in a tsunami that destroyed their village. Based on the true story of a man who in 2010 erected a phone booth with a disconnected telephone after the death of his cousin. It was “believed his words rode the wind to his loved one.”
April 16, 2021
16 APR 2021 - How do we say good bye to those who should not have left us? We place our words upon the wind. The wind will carry our words to our loved one/s and bring their words back to us. Beautiful story, lovely illustrations. Made me shed tears.
April 28, 2019
Wonderful, wonderful book! Deserves the Newberry Medal (for author) and the Caldecott Medal (for illustrator).
This book delicately written and illustrated is a gentle way to help children (of all ages) learn about grief and loss. It shows how one man choose to grieve and how he, in turn, helped many others do the same. The fact that this is based on a real man is even better because not only do we see the benefits of what he did but it shows that even in our lowest point, we still can help others and ourselves.
I have seen a review of this book where the reviewer was unhappy that a white Canadian woman wrote this story as it was "not her story to tell." The reviewer thinks it should have been a Japanese author instead. She did, however, approve of the illustrator who is of Japanese descent. She mentioned that it felt like cultural appropriation to her. I understand her reasoning perhaps, but am not convinced it applies here.
Grief is a universal emotion, tragedies happen worldwide. It does not belong to any one culture or people. Every people, every culture, every nation, every race experience grief. I don't think it matters who tells the story, who helps us deal with or endure our grief. Yes the story takes place in Japan and yes the gentleman who erected the phone booth and who found comfort in speaking in the phone was Japanese, but we all experience grief. We all miss someone dear to us. I find it hard to believe that Mr.. Sasaki, having shared his phone booth with so many mourners would not wish to share this story with those of us not born in Japan or of Japanese descent. He comes across as a gentle and kind person who recognizes how difficult grief is to process and who is caring enough to share with others what gives him some comfort.
But back to the book. I recommend buying this book in print not as an ebook if at all possible. While the illustrations are beautiful, they are separated from the text in the ebook format and it can be frustrating and it certainly can break the spell. They belong together as they are more powerful together. I, and our child, read this book on our tablet and we did wish for a print book - some things you just want to hold in your hands. It is still lovely onscreen, we just may be old-fashioned. It is definitely a book to pass down. Get it before you need it, the conversations that can come from this are invaluable and can help prepare both you an your child for any sad times to come.
This book delicately written and illustrated is a gentle way to help children (of all ages) learn about grief and loss. It shows how one man choose to grieve and how he, in turn, helped many others do the same. The fact that this is based on a real man is even better because not only do we see the benefits of what he did but it shows that even in our lowest point, we still can help others and ourselves.
I have seen a review of this book where the reviewer was unhappy that a white Canadian woman wrote this story as it was "not her story to tell." The reviewer thinks it should have been a Japanese author instead. She did, however, approve of the illustrator who is of Japanese descent. She mentioned that it felt like cultural appropriation to her. I understand her reasoning perhaps, but am not convinced it applies here.
Grief is a universal emotion, tragedies happen worldwide. It does not belong to any one culture or people. Every people, every culture, every nation, every race experience grief. I don't think it matters who tells the story, who helps us deal with or endure our grief. Yes the story takes place in Japan and yes the gentleman who erected the phone booth and who found comfort in speaking in the phone was Japanese, but we all experience grief. We all miss someone dear to us. I find it hard to believe that Mr.. Sasaki, having shared his phone booth with so many mourners would not wish to share this story with those of us not born in Japan or of Japanese descent. He comes across as a gentle and kind person who recognizes how difficult grief is to process and who is caring enough to share with others what gives him some comfort.
But back to the book. I recommend buying this book in print not as an ebook if at all possible. While the illustrations are beautiful, they are separated from the text in the ebook format and it can be frustrating and it certainly can break the spell. They belong together as they are more powerful together. I, and our child, read this book on our tablet and we did wish for a print book - some things you just want to hold in your hands. It is still lovely onscreen, we just may be old-fashioned. It is definitely a book to pass down. Get it before you need it, the conversations that can come from this are invaluable and can help prepare both you an your child for any sad times to come.
April 10, 2019
This is a sweet, sad story of ways the people choose to mourn their loved ones. The book actually exists.
In this story, this phone, in side a phone booth in the garden, is only attached to the wind. It is used to communicate with the dead, even if the dead never come back, or ever say a word.
Although Mr. Hirota built it for his own grief. And when there is a tsunami that takes so many people from the town, people come to the booth for comfort
A wonderful book on death and dying and resilience.
Thanks to Netgalley fro making this book available for an honest review.
In this story, this phone, in side a phone booth in the garden, is only attached to the wind. It is used to communicate with the dead, even if the dead never come back, or ever say a word.
Although Mr. Hirota built it for his own grief. And when there is a tsunami that takes so many people from the town, people come to the booth for comfort
A wonderful book on death and dying and resilience.
Thanks to Netgalley fro making this book available for an honest review.
October 23, 2019
I didn't realize this was a picture book until I picked up the book on hold at the library. I took it to lunch with me since it would be a quick read. Mistake. By the end, there were tears in my enchilada. This is such a touching little story about young Mikota and his elderly friend, Mr. Hirota. Every morning they sit on the hill and watch the goings on down at the dock. They see Mikota's father at his fish boat and Mr. Hirota's daughter scaling fish. Then one day a large wave comes. The village falls largely silent. Mr. Hirota has a plan to help those left behind deal with the grief. At first Mikota is resistant, but eventually he learns that sometimes what seems like an impractical idea is actually the perfect solution to begin the healing of a broken heart.
July 29, 2019
I hadn't heard about the "phone of the wind" before. This is based on a true event, but the real one was built before the tsunami. This is the story of how many people dealt with their grief after the 2011 tsunami that caused so much death and despair. I recommend that you read the end pages where the author shared the true story of the "phone of the wind".
Young Makio watches the sea everyday waiting for his father to return from work. He was doing that when the tsunami hits and his father is lost at sea. He stops talking and becomes extremely depressed. He begins shouting at the sea and eventually uses the phone in Mr. Hirota's garden to talk to his father. This begins the healing process. This is a beautiful story and I loved the way the illustrations added to the text. They are done in a soft muted palette demonstrating emotions. I am not sure what age this book is geared to. My grandson listened to the story and looked intently at the illustrations, but really didn't understand the story. I think it is better for children a bit older (8 or above). This would make a wonderful book to have in a family library, especially when dealing with grief. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Young Makio watches the sea everyday waiting for his father to return from work. He was doing that when the tsunami hits and his father is lost at sea. He stops talking and becomes extremely depressed. He begins shouting at the sea and eventually uses the phone in Mr. Hirota's garden to talk to his father. This begins the healing process. This is a beautiful story and I loved the way the illustrations added to the text. They are done in a soft muted palette demonstrating emotions. I am not sure what age this book is geared to. My grandson listened to the story and looked intently at the illustrations, but really didn't understand the story. I think it is better for children a bit older (8 or above). This would make a wonderful book to have in a family library, especially when dealing with grief. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
February 25, 2022
This is perfection. It is an honest portrayal of grief and one of the ways a community chooses to try to cope with devastation. It does not offer easy answers or platitudes, but it offers hope. The illustrations are incredible and evocative.
October 27, 2019
Wonderful book that deals with loss - artwork is beautiful.
April 11, 2022
Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
Characters:5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Picture Book/Children
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes
I have never hated a wave so much in my life. Lol
Characters:5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Picture Book/Children
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes
I have never hated a wave so much in my life. Lol
October 5, 2019
And now I’m sobbing. Beautiful, tear-jerking book.
September 21, 2021
This is such a beautiful book, from the message to the artwork to the inspiration behind it all.
April 21, 2023
I am not okay after reading this.
Prepare some tissues, okay?
It was beautiful and the illustrations were gorgeous.
Prepare some tissues, okay?
It was beautiful and the illustrations were gorgeous.
August 20, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
The tsunami took someone away from just about every family. . . .and Mr. Hirota's solution was to build a phone booth that people missing people could visit, pick up the phone and talk to those missing loved ones. The little boy could talk to his Dad. Mr. Hirota could talk to his son. We've all lost a loved one, and one never really stops that conversation, so the phone is a very helpful tool to work through all that worry, hurt, angst and longing.
Of course I didn't read this one to my kids, because I teared up at the cover. But they are used to me, and know me well. The two oldest read to me and all the rest, one being narrator, and other doing voices. It was very sweet, and heavy with the love of that gathering. Thank you to Heather Smith for sharing this story, and thank you to the actual (this is based on a real happening) Mr. Hirota for his thoughtfulness.
The tsunami took someone away from just about every family. . . .and Mr. Hirota's solution was to build a phone booth that people missing people could visit, pick up the phone and talk to those missing loved ones. The little boy could talk to his Dad. Mr. Hirota could talk to his son. We've all lost a loved one, and one never really stops that conversation, so the phone is a very helpful tool to work through all that worry, hurt, angst and longing.
Of course I didn't read this one to my kids, because I teared up at the cover. But they are used to me, and know me well. The two oldest read to me and all the rest, one being narrator, and other doing voices. It was very sweet, and heavy with the love of that gathering. Thank you to Heather Smith for sharing this story, and thank you to the actual (this is based on a real happening) Mr. Hirota for his thoughtfulness.
April 22, 2019
Smith's story and Wada's illustrations are a wonderful combination for this heart-warming tale of loss. It's a good thing my son is not young anymore as I would have to rank this up there with Dav Pilkey's God Bless the Gargoyles for being unable to get through without tearing up. Sometimes the simplest things mean the most when you are dealing with grief and loss. For the characters in Smith's book, it comes in the form of a disconnected phone sitting quietly in his peaceful garden.
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Book Publisher for the opportunity to read an advance ready copy.
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Book Publisher for the opportunity to read an advance ready copy.
September 15, 2021
Heather Smith depicts the tragedy of the 2011 earthquake that hit Japan in this beautiful picture book based on a true story. It explores the heart-wrenching feeling of losing loved ones, how natural disasters affect others, as well as the need for support in your community to cope through a tragedy. I strongly recommend bringing this book into the classroom, as it includes Japanese language and teaches students about real events through the lens of a young boy and his neighbor.
October 23, 2020
Touching and pensive story of the way one community deals with grief after a tsunami strikes a small Japanese coastal village and the ocean takes away many loved ones. The illustrations are lovely, too.
Veg*n parents note: A reference to "cleaning and gutting" fish.
Veg*n parents note: A reference to "cleaning and gutting" fish.
February 14, 2021
So beautiful,,, 😭
June 2, 2021
This picture book is gorgeously illustrated, and it will probably make you cry. It is another fictionalization of The Wind Phone in Japan, like in the novel The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World.
January 3, 2020
Un album vraiment superbe, tant dans le texte que dans l'illustration, émouvant, qui présente le deuil tout en retenue et en poésie.
Le père de Makio est pêcheur. La fille de M. Hirota travaille au quai et prépare le poisson pour le marché. Makio et M. Hirota aiment passer du temps ensemble, sur la colline qui surplombe le quai. Ils ont un petit jeu, juste à eux. Quand arrive la grande vague, celle qui emporte tout le village ainsi que le papa de Makio et la fille de M. Hirota, Makio en perd la voix. M. Hirota, lui, construit une boîte téléphonique dans son jardin, avec un téléphone déconnecté, et va parler tous les jours à sa fille disparue. Bientôt, les survivants du village s'y pressent et vont parler à leurs disparus à leur tour. Makio finira par s'y présenter aussi et sa voix lui reviendra...
Oui, sortez les Kleenex. Cet album est inspiré d'une histoire vraie, rapportée à la toute fin du livre. Au décès de son cousin, Itaru Sasaki construit une cabine téléphonique dans son jardin et le nommera le"téléphone du vent". Après le tsunami, des milliers d'endeuillés d'y rendirent pour souffler leurs messages aux disparus.
Intégré à un réseau littéraire sur le Japon, sur les catastrophes naturelles ou sur le deuil, cet album gagne à être présenté. Retenons l'utilisation de l'implicite pour montrer le dommage fait au village et le style des illustrations, presqu'impressionnistes et pleines de sensibilité. Beaucoup de délicatesse. Aux dernières nouvelles, il n'est pas traduit en français.
Le père de Makio est pêcheur. La fille de M. Hirota travaille au quai et prépare le poisson pour le marché. Makio et M. Hirota aiment passer du temps ensemble, sur la colline qui surplombe le quai. Ils ont un petit jeu, juste à eux. Quand arrive la grande vague, celle qui emporte tout le village ainsi que le papa de Makio et la fille de M. Hirota, Makio en perd la voix. M. Hirota, lui, construit une boîte téléphonique dans son jardin, avec un téléphone déconnecté, et va parler tous les jours à sa fille disparue. Bientôt, les survivants du village s'y pressent et vont parler à leurs disparus à leur tour. Makio finira par s'y présenter aussi et sa voix lui reviendra...
Oui, sortez les Kleenex. Cet album est inspiré d'une histoire vraie, rapportée à la toute fin du livre. Au décès de son cousin, Itaru Sasaki construit une cabine téléphonique dans son jardin et le nommera le"téléphone du vent". Après le tsunami, des milliers d'endeuillés d'y rendirent pour souffler leurs messages aux disparus.
Intégré à un réseau littéraire sur le Japon, sur les catastrophes naturelles ou sur le deuil, cet album gagne à être présenté. Retenons l'utilisation de l'implicite pour montrer le dommage fait au village et le style des illustrations, presqu'impressionnistes et pleines de sensibilité. Beaucoup de délicatesse. Aux dernières nouvelles, il n'est pas traduit en français.
October 22, 2019
Summary: Makio loved the sea like his father did. He would say good morning to the waves and play a game with Mr. Hirota where they would spot Mr. Hirota's daughter and his father down by the sea every morning until one day. The ground shook and the ocean became angry. A big wave took away many including Makio's father and Mr. Hirota's daughter. The wave also took away Makio's voice. In order to help with his own grief, Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth to talk with his daughter. Soon many of the islanders go to the phone booth. Makio hesitates on using it, will he be able to forgive the ocean and move on with his grief? The book shows a real-life problem that can be understood by children.
Evaluation: I loved this book because it shows how we all lose loved ones but that they are never really gone. We can still talk to them because they are in our hearts and memories. It can help students face their grief. I also love the idea of a phone booth to symbolize the connection we still have to our loved ones. It also draws out the feeling of empathy.
Teaching: This book is great to do a Socratic discussion with after reading it to the class. While reading it to the students ask them to make inferences. Have your students make connections to the book. Have them figure out what the theme of the story is and what the author is trying to tell its readers. You could also test your student's reading comprehension by asking questions afterward in the form of a fill in the blank.
Evaluation: I loved this book because it shows how we all lose loved ones but that they are never really gone. We can still talk to them because they are in our hearts and memories. It can help students face their grief. I also love the idea of a phone booth to symbolize the connection we still have to our loved ones. It also draws out the feeling of empathy.
Teaching: This book is great to do a Socratic discussion with after reading it to the class. While reading it to the students ask them to make inferences. Have your students make connections to the book. Have them figure out what the theme of the story is and what the author is trying to tell its readers. You could also test your student's reading comprehension by asking questions afterward in the form of a fill in the blank.
Read
October 21, 2019Summary:
This story is about a little boy who is Japanese and a man named Mr. Hirota who is his neighbor. There was a big storm in which the waves took a lot of the people's family members. Mr. Hirota, some time after the storm began to build a phone booth. However, in this phone booth is a phone that is plugged into nowhere. It is not obvious in the story, but when people go into the phone booth they pick up the phone and talk to their lost loved ones. Eventually the little boy went in and talked to his dad who he lost during the storm.
Evaluation:
This is a very sad story, but is written fairly well. It contains a lot of themes in which the reader has to pick up on. For example, the phone isn't plugged into anything but the people still use the phone. Why do they still use the phone? It gives them a sense of comfort to feel like they are talking to their last loved ones.
Teaching Ideas:
This could be a book that a teacher could use for inferencing as well as a social studies unit. The students can learn about the events of the tsunami that hit Japan some years ago. They can also learn about how people deal with loss in the book. I definitely would use this in older grades.
This story is about a little boy who is Japanese and a man named Mr. Hirota who is his neighbor. There was a big storm in which the waves took a lot of the people's family members. Mr. Hirota, some time after the storm began to build a phone booth. However, in this phone booth is a phone that is plugged into nowhere. It is not obvious in the story, but when people go into the phone booth they pick up the phone and talk to their lost loved ones. Eventually the little boy went in and talked to his dad who he lost during the storm.
Evaluation:
This is a very sad story, but is written fairly well. It contains a lot of themes in which the reader has to pick up on. For example, the phone isn't plugged into anything but the people still use the phone. Why do they still use the phone? It gives them a sense of comfort to feel like they are talking to their last loved ones.
Teaching Ideas:
This could be a book that a teacher could use for inferencing as well as a social studies unit. The students can learn about the events of the tsunami that hit Japan some years ago. They can also learn about how people deal with loss in the book. I definitely would use this in older grades.
January 25, 2020
Do you want to cry? Do you need a reason to cry? Look no further, because this book will have you in emotional tears by its end. With beautiful, muted colors and a melancholic, but hopeful tone of voice, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden offers a sense of closure in knowing that the pain is still there, but the pain can be talked to.
After a tsunami devastates a small coastal Japanese town, the community must rebuild in the midst of their grief. But Makio lost his father, and his voice, and he doesn't know if he can deal with either. So when Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth so that he can talk to his late wife, the community soon realizes that he has built something monumentous: a way to talk about their grief.
This was a sweet, tender story that's great for those dealing with loss and understanding how to cope. Perfect for grades 1-3.
Review cross-listed here!
After a tsunami devastates a small coastal Japanese town, the community must rebuild in the midst of their grief. But Makio lost his father, and his voice, and he doesn't know if he can deal with either. So when Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth so that he can talk to his late wife, the community soon realizes that he has built something monumentous: a way to talk about their grief.
This was a sweet, tender story that's great for those dealing with loss and understanding how to cope. Perfect for grades 1-3.
Review cross-listed here!
Read
December 19, 2019No, YOU'RE crying.
This poignant picture book about dealing with grief is inspired by a true story. After a tidal wave hits his coastal Japanese village, Mr. Hirota builds a phone book and uses it to talk to the people he's lost. Soon more members of the community show up to use the phone booth. A young boy Makio mourns the loss of his dad, but feels better when he uses Mr. Hirota's phone to talk to him.
This picture book is beautiful and striking, using a muted color palate appropriate to a book about grief except for the warm colors in the wordless spread where Makio thinks about his dad and remembers being with him.
This could be a good choice for young readers dealing with grief.
This poignant picture book about dealing with grief is inspired by a true story. After a tidal wave hits his coastal Japanese village, Mr. Hirota builds a phone book and uses it to talk to the people he's lost. Soon more members of the community show up to use the phone booth. A young boy Makio mourns the loss of his dad, but feels better when he uses Mr. Hirota's phone to talk to him.
This picture book is beautiful and striking, using a muted color palate appropriate to a book about grief except for the warm colors in the wordless spread where Makio thinks about his dad and remembers being with him.
This could be a good choice for young readers dealing with grief.
October 22, 2019
Summary:
This book tells the story of a town that looses alot of people after a tsunami hits the town. Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth in his garden and Makio is confused at first. But soon he realizes it is a way to cope with the lose of love ones.
Evaluation:
This book was really touching. It is realistic and relate-able. The pictures go along perfectly with the text.
Teaching Point:
This would be a great book to talk about destructive weather forces and relate the tsunami to other weather forces. As well as a great book to talk about grief and how to handle it.
This book tells the story of a town that looses alot of people after a tsunami hits the town. Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth in his garden and Makio is confused at first. But soon he realizes it is a way to cope with the lose of love ones.
Evaluation:
This book was really touching. It is realistic and relate-able. The pictures go along perfectly with the text.
Teaching Point:
This would be a great book to talk about destructive weather forces and relate the tsunami to other weather forces. As well as a great book to talk about grief and how to handle it.
October 24, 2019
Read for the Mock Caldecott awards. Just a lovely, lovely book. Based on a "real life" aid to helping grief this book tells the story of a man who built a phone booth in his garden. The phone was not connected to anything but the gentleman would go into the booth and speak to a relative that he lost during a tsunami. Eventually, others in his neighborhood who had also lost loved ones, began using the booth as well. What a wonderful way to help others (and yourself) through a traumatic loss.
October 24, 2019
Left me sobbing. This book is so beautiful and delicate dealing with the heavy and difficult subject of disaster and grief. I didn’t share this one with my kids but actually thought it was such a moving book to read as an adult. When they are a bit older I think this would be a very appropriate book to share about what to do with the emotions you feel when bad things happen and people you love are lost.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews