Patience, Miyuki

I enjoyed the previous Miyuki book entitled Time for Bed, Miyuki. In that story, Miyuki thinks up a bunch of tasks she must accomplish before she'll be able to go to bed, as we experience the whimsical nature of her world.

Here she has the opposite approach -- she wants things to happen more quickly than they are. Miyuki waits for a flower to bloom and spring to come, but it's not coming quickly enough, and she decides she must find the purest water to sprinkle the flower with to help it open up. I can relate -- living in New England it seems like it takes forever for the snow to melt after winter.

Once again the Japanese-inspired illustrations complement the fantastical storyline that involves talking rivers, giant plants and animals (or perhaps the humans are simply miniature?), and other "unexplained" elements that help the story feel both fresh and mythical (and a bit like Alice in Wonderland).

Though the "lesson" of the story is not belabored, we do see in the end that sometimes it is better to simply watch and wait for life to unfold rather than trying to force it.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

I would buy this book for Seng Soun Taranavanh's illustrations alone, they are just so gorgeous! They perfectly compliment Roxane Marie Galliez's story. Miyuki is excited about the first day of spring, but one of the flowers hasn't opened yet Her grandfather tells her to be patient, but she can't wait for it to bloom.. Her grandfather tells her it needs the purest water to help it wake up, and Miyuki dashes off in search for the water. Along the way, everyone she meets tells her to be patient, and finally, she wastes the first day of spring by trying to rush it. On the second day of spring, she finally learns to wait, and the flower opens. The illustrations give the sweet story a Wonderland feel, and add a dreamlike quality to Miyuki's journey.

This is my first Miyuki story and I was really impressed by the beauty of its artwork: delicate, sweet, and gentle. Miuki is a lively child who wants to live her life to the fullest and sometimes lacks patience. She notices a little flower which is yet to bloom, as if it hasn't noticed that the spring is already there. Miyuki would like to help it wake up, but it needs the purest water, so Miuki sets off on her quest. The story gets more and more magical, and Miyuki gets a lot of help and the same advice: patience, Miyuki, sometimes you have to wait and appreciate the beauty of the moment which you might miss if you rush around.
Thank you to NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This second Miyuki book is just as sweet and gentle as the first, and the message of being patient and appreciating nature according to its own time is beautiful. Seng Soun Ratanavanh's exquisite artwork is, once again, a revelation. The whimsical and surreal illustrations showcase her masterful grasp of color and astonishing ability to combine geometric patterns with natural shapes to craft a flowing, compelling story. Ratanavanh's art perfectly underscores the central message of the value of patience, because this is truly a book to luxuriate in and savor.

My thanks to Princeton Architectural Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just fell in love with the beauty of the illustrations in Patience, Miyuki! I did not know this little girl and I must say I loved how important nature is in this book. The story is very interesting as it teaches children patience through this story of Miyuki looking for the purest water for her flower.