This was so gorgeous, I loved the illustrations and the story. It contained great cultural information that I'm sure many children would appreciate.

I love this! This is beautifully written and illustrated. So sweet, warm, and brilliant. People are in such a hurry that they never slow down to appreciate what’s around them. This is a story that shows we need to pay attention, not let life pass us by, and to appreciate all of the changes of life. Great for all ages.

When the Sakura Bloom is a picture book for elementary age children so learn about the Japanese world famous cherry blossom trees and festival. It explains how the Sakura tree understands when the weather turns warmer it is time to prepare for spring. The soon buds and flowers appear. When the trees begin to bloom, it is fine for the festival. The flowers are absolutely beautiful both while blooming in the trees and when they fall to the ground like a gorgeous pink carpet. The story also touches on pollination and how the tree provides food for birds. The story itself is beautifully written and includes a good bit of onomatopoeia to describe the what everything looks like.

When the Sakura Bloom is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the brief season when the Sakura, or cherry blossoms, bloom. Normally, everyone is rushing, rushing, rushing down the path to get to the commuter train, preoccupied with work, school, and staying warm. Then, the weather warms and blossoms bloom, turning the sky into a pink and white carpet. People walk slower, buy snacks from vendors, and picnic under the blossoms, knowing that their beauty is temporary. The muted colors in the illustrations are perfect for conveying the everyday drabness of the walk and then the brightness of the cherry blossoms. This is a great little story about appreciating beauty while you have it and noticing the world around you.

Lyrical prose paired with delicate, detailed artwork make this homage to one of Japan's national symbols come to life. Careful observations of the progression of the March-April timeframe and how this tree impacts both the people and the rest of the ecosystem around them. Witness how people come together to collectively appreciate the fleeting, graceful beauty of the sakura. Take on the perspectives of characters in the book while appreciating the artwork. The tale comes full circle back to where we started and ends with a peaceful, green canopy view. Fun to read aloud with kids or in a small group. Connections can easily be made to language, cultures, mindfulness, science, and art for those hoping to incorporate this little jewel into their lessons.

This is a sweet book about people slowing down to appreciate nature and life when the cherry blossoms bloom (and after). It gives a lovely look at the Japanese cherry blossom festival/season and also some great lessons. This would be great to accompany a unit on Japan, spring, nature or just spark discussion on mindfulness and paying attention to the beauty around us.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

When the Sakura Bloom is a wonderful picture book with beautiful sakura (cherry blossom) illustrations. The text is brief but reminds readers to pause and take in nature's ephemeral beauty. This book could be used in the classroom for units or lessons on:

- plant life cycles
- Japanese culture
- festivals/celebrations
- mindfulness/being present

When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Togo is the beautiful story of how the iconic cherry blossoms of Japan are symbolic of the ebbs and flows of daily life, and the way in which change can be embraced as an elemental facet of nature. The book is gorgeously illustrated in the stunning palette of the sakura blossoms, and is a visual feast from beginning to end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for an ARC.

This is an exquisite book in both illustrations and verse. Any parent will enjoy reading this to a child and the illustrations contain small details for a child to excitedly notice.
It's a lovely explanation of sakura in Japan and I love that the author showed how people of all ages appreciate these blooms and how they are celebrated. I used to live in Japan and this is just how I remember it being. It brought back very wonderful memories for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book. It would make a wonderful addition to any family's library.