Chidori is a children’s story about the real life event of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Iwate prefecture Japan.

It covers the loss and grief of the event and brought me to tears, the story is beautifully written and the art on the pages are absolutely gorgeous.

I love this book but also would suggest parents read it first and see if it’s something your child will be able to handle because although it is beautifully written it also is very sad.

Chidori is a beautiful book that I think children and adults alike can see themselves in. It's a moving story about change and grief. The artwork is beautiful, and I was moved by the visual of Hana's wave of grief resembling the wave of the tsunami. For such a short picture book, I find there is a lot of room for discussion on the meanings behind Hana's actions, specifically when she starts painting plovers. Not only is she painting the birds she loves, but she is painting herself out of her wave of grief the way the plovers flew away from the wave of the tsunami. This wonderful little book holds so much emotion and meaning, and I hope to see it in bookstores, schools, and libraries everywhere.

Thank you to Pajama Press and Netgalley for the ARC.