This is a beautiful story between a grandfather (ojiichan) and a granddaughter. It made evoke my own grandpa and the relationship that we had, and I thought it was a beautiful story perfectly encapsulated with those fantastic illustrations.

This is a lovely, elegaic story about the love between a young girl and her grandfather. The illustrations complement the story beautifully.

Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan every summer. The two share a love for the rock garden that the grandfather has created. Each year, Mayumi can do more in the garden. The two enjoy working together and then sitting on a bench to share their bento box.

One summer Mayumi's grandfather has grown older and can no longer care for his garden. What does Mayumi do for him? How does she create a memory for herself? These two questions are answered in this lovely story about the connection between the grandparent/grandchild generation.

This sweet story will be a good resource for children whose relatives are aging.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy which I have received in exchange for an honest review.

A thoughtful, quiet story with beautiful illustrations. This could serve as the springboard for lots of conversations ranging from topics such as family to mindfulness and how life moves on.
I liked how the illustrations and text complemented each other so well, with each adding to the other. Careful examination of the pictures gives you more details about Mayumi's life on the other side of the world, the importance of her dual-heritage and her grandfather's life. I also liked how a few words in Japanese were embedded in the story, which is a great way to encourage an interest in other languages or for bilingual children to recognise that others have this experience too.
Full review, complete with pictures, to come on my blog.

My children and I have been studying Japan all year. This book, in a strange way, felt like home. It tackled a difficult subject with such grace. It wrapped it up beautifully and the illustrations were absolutely perfect.

I was eager to read Ojiichan’s Gift the minute I saw the cover because it reminded me of the Zen Garden at our local botanical garden.

Mayumi annually visits Ojiichan (her grandfather) who lives halfway around the world in Japan. He has made her a garden of plants, stones, and gravel and as she grows Mayumi learns how to care for the garden and rake it. Then one summer Mayumi discovers that her grandfather is no longer able to live in his home or care for their garden. However, Mayumi creates a way to keep their gardening memories alive.

Author Chieri Uegaki does a nice job of spotlighting the love between grandfather and granddaughter. The time they spend together in the garden is ordinary yet special. Uegaki intersperses italicized Japanese words that remind the reader how far from home the story is taking place. As the story progresses, the illustrations by Genevieve Simms aptly show Mayumi’s growth, feelings and memories. Mayumi and Ojiichan are comfortable together.

I am eager to read this book to aloud my students. Together we can learn more about Japanese gardening and be reminded of the power of love within our families.

Chieri Uegaki was inspired to write this beautiful and heartwarming story of a bond between a granddaughter to her grandfather which was based on her late father's occupation as a traditional Japanese landscaper and gardener. The narrative teaches a lot of lessons such as even though we are miles away, our love for our family still remains. Respect to the elderly is also subtlely mentioned in the ontext of the story and that although change is inevitable, just like that people tend to get old, material things are not important but the memories we shared are far more essential.

As for the illustrator, Genevieve Simms, the tale of Ojiichan's Gift is also close to her heart because she is like Mayumi in the story; she also spent many summers on her grandparents' farm. Moreover, I like how Simms used traditional way to draw this children's storybook which is by using the watercolor technique. I admire the use of modern technology that illustrators are commonly using today, but I still prefer the old ways such what was done in this book.

Ojiichan's Gift is indeed a perfect gift because both the story and the illustrations were perfectly done to present a good storybook for the young readers.

A strong four stars for this tale for the five-to-eight market. The text never specifies what exactly the human tragedy is in the background to the story, but it will be of use in illustrating grief, losing people – or just moving house. A young girl's grandfather designs a lovely lawn-less garden, and trains her to use and maintain it on her annual visits. But does the title mean it's his gift to her, or will she end up giving a gift of some kind to him? A lot of clever techniques go into the watercolour illustrations, the Japanese basis of it all adds a real layer of distinction, and all told this is a very pleasant and satisfying read.