The Falling Flowers

What is more fun than the zoo, more beautiful than a shrine, and prettier than the neon lights of Tokyo? Mayumie and her grandmother are taking a train ride into the heart of the biggest city in Japan to see something special, but Grandmother won't say what it is. Mayumie tries to guess what this special place might be, but the excitement of riding the train and seeing the sights of the city is almost thrilling enough. Finally, they turn down a quiet street and find what Grandmother has been looking for—a grove of Japanese cherry trees, all in blossom. This touching story of a little girl's outing with her grandmother takes place in modern-day Japan, where cherry trees bloom for one week every spring. With text simple enough for beginning readers, author Jennifer Reed captures the excitement and wonder of a young girl's day in the big city, while illustrator Dick Cole's watercolors complement both the serenity and animation of Tokyo in the springtime.