Tree of Cranes By Say, Allen

Title: Tree of Cranes

Author: Say, Allen

Illustration: Allen Say

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Comments

CIP info A Japanese boy learns of Christmas when his mother decorates a pine tree with paper cranes. A young boy in Japan is confused by his mother’s strange behavior. He comes in to find her making paper cranes. She barely noticed him. because he was out in the cold and got wet his mother makes him take a hot bath and then spend the afternoon in bed. Later that afternoon, he sees her out in the garden digging up a pine tree his parents planted when he was born. That evening she tells her son about being born and living in California. She explains Christmas and together they decorate the tree with candles and the paper cranes. He goes to bed and when he wakes up finds his first Christmas gift, a kite. Then he goes out and finds snow. I liked this book. It is very touching. It explores that concept of how people who are part of two cultures, share that with their family.