itselv's review
a bittersweet true story about a man building an unusual phone booth as a way of dealing with grief. The art and colors were very lovely. Although I thought the story was a bit short, it was still sweet and comforting.
calistareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Touching, this story was so touching. The artwork is lovely. It reminded me of looking at chalk drawings through a rainy pain of glass or in Mary Poppins after it rained and Bert's sidewalk drawings were washed out. It has that sorrowful quality to it.
This is about a seaside village, it appears to be a Japanese coastline, it could be anywhere on the sea. A tidal wave hits the village and everyone loses someone. Mr. Hirota sets up a Phone booth in his garden. The phone isn't connected. People can go and talk to loved ones there. It's such a beautiful and touching way to deal with loss and grief.
Heather speaks to the reader on the last page after the story. She says that the story is based on someone, Itaru Sasaki, actually built this in his garden after the 2010 Tsunami.
It's a beautiful book. You should experience it.
This is about a seaside village, it appears to be a Japanese coastline, it could be anywhere on the sea. A tidal wave hits the village and everyone loses someone. Mr. Hirota sets up a Phone booth in his garden. The phone isn't connected. People can go and talk to loved ones there. It's such a beautiful and touching way to deal with loss and grief.
Heather speaks to the reader on the last page after the story. She says that the story is based on someone, Itaru Sasaki, actually built this in his garden after the 2010 Tsunami.
It's a beautiful book. You should experience it.
bet27's review against another edition
4.0
Stunning illustrations and a beautifully creative way to walk through grief. As good for adults as for kids.
periparaparasakura's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful story sharing a way to share their grief after an unimaginable tragedy.
Makio and his neighbour Mr. Hirota would look out to the harbour and make a game of looking for Makio’s father. Until the day the wave hit the village and everyone lost someone. As the village tried to recover Mr. Hirota begins to build a phone booth covered in glass where inside sits a disconnected telephone and he can speak with his son who was in the wave. Soon other villagers use the phone until Makio realizing his father will not return enters the booth and speaks to his dad. Based on a true story found in author Heather T. Smith‘s note, this a wonderful tribute and soothing story to talk about grief, loss and tragedy. Rachel Wada's illustrations help create the mood of the angry wave reaching out and enveloping the text to the simple broken pieces in greys and blacks sharing the loss and finally to the compute of hope and pictures of machines rebuilding. Lots of ways this could be used in classrooms.
Makio and his neighbour Mr. Hirota would look out to the harbour and make a game of looking for Makio’s father. Until the day the wave hit the village and everyone lost someone. As the village tried to recover Mr. Hirota begins to build a phone booth covered in glass where inside sits a disconnected telephone and he can speak with his son who was in the wave. Soon other villagers use the phone until Makio realizing his father will not return enters the booth and speaks to his dad. Based on a true story found in author Heather T. Smith‘s note, this a wonderful tribute and soothing story to talk about grief, loss and tragedy. Rachel Wada's illustrations help create the mood of the angry wave reaching out and enveloping the text to the simple broken pieces in greys and blacks sharing the loss and finally to the compute of hope and pictures of machines rebuilding. Lots of ways this could be used in classrooms.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet, sad story of ways the people choose to mourn their loved ones. The book actually exists.
In this story, this phone, in side a phone booth in the garden, is only attached to the wind. It is used to communicate with the dead, even if the dead never come back, or ever say a word.
Although Mr. Hirota built it for his own grief. And when there is a tsunami that takes so many people from the town, people come to the booth for comfort
A wonderful book on death and dying and resilience.
Thanks to Netgalley fro making this book available for an honest review.
In this story, this phone, in side a phone booth in the garden, is only attached to the wind. It is used to communicate with the dead, even if the dead never come back, or ever say a word.
Although Mr. Hirota built it for his own grief. And when there is a tsunami that takes so many people from the town, people come to the booth for comfort
A wonderful book on death and dying and resilience.
Thanks to Netgalley fro making this book available for an honest review.
pay10hughes's review against another edition
5.0
Simply stunning. The story of Itaru Sasaki's "phone of the wind" with its gorgeous, delicate illustrations gently guides us through love, loss, and the grief that follows. Have your tissues at the ready.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a beautiful book, from the message to the artwork to the inspiration behind it all.
gillianalice's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5