Yoko and her parents leave Japan when Yoko is small, but she sends paper cranes to her grandparents in the mail, folding them the way her grandfather taught her. ( )

Yoko is from Japan. She learned to make origami cranes from her grandparents. But Yoko moves to the States, and now has to rely on the mail to find out how her grandparents are doing. She decides to make them a present to remember their time together. ( )

With beautiful imagery and a peaceful and thoughtful storyline, this book will show children the power of the emotional connection between a young girl and her heritage. Yoko’s family leaves Japan for the United States, but she keeps with her the knowledge of making paper cranes, and stays emotionally connected to her past by sending these cranes to her grandparents in Japan. This book is so sweet and powerful.

Yoko's Paper Cranes is a picture book about how Yoko's grandparents, Obaasan and Ojiisan, teach Yoko how to fold origami with beautiful paper. In Japan, the cranes fly away in winter and return in summer. When Yoko moves to the United States, she sends paper cranes to her grandparents as birthday gifts and tells them that she will return after the winter, just as the cranes do. It's a story about tradition, keeping in touch, and loves that spans oceans. I liked this book because children from many cultures can understand the bond between grandparent and grandchild yet the book gives insight into Japanese culture. Folding origami after reading the book to elementary children would be a good activity to bring the book to life. ( )

35 month - A short read but we really liked it. After making paper airplanes a few weeks ago with O she is very interested in folding paper. This was a great book that has sparked her interest to fold paper and use her imagination as to what it might become. I must learn to make paper cranes! The story touches on moving away from loved one, geography and appreciation for our loved ones. ( )