- a young boy celebrates his first Christmas
- two cultures combine in a memorable way
- a unique perspective for kids from either the USA or Japan–to notice the other and appreciate differences
- mentions tradition of folding paper cranes to make wishes come true
- beautiful illustrations, done by the author
Type: picture book
Ages: 4-7
Author/Illustrator: Allen Say
It doesn’t take very long to read this book, but it’s a sweet glimpse into another culture–at least for us, living in the USA.
One thing I should note–when he wakes up to find a gift under the tree, he thanks his parents. Personally, I love this since we don’t do Santa, but this might matter to others.
The book certainly made me want to learn more about the Japanese culture!