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bheadley's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing story of a girl who survives to tell her story. "What happened to me must never happen to you." "I am grateful for everything and everyone who made this meal possible." This story is about this bowl's story of surviving a truly horrific war, and comes out untouched, but reminds us that we need to be the change for PEACE.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
I have a shelf in my personal library, a shelf of about war, where I have about five or six books about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The most moving ones are the ones written by people who were actually there.
Many of the people who were there, have since died off, so I was surprised to find a new book about a new experience of the bombing.
This is a very moving, straight forward telling of what happened when the bomb dropped and slowly, one by one, took everyone in a little girls family, until she was the only one that remained. Her, and her grandmother's bowl, which had somehow survived the bombing, without being damaged.
To her, it was a symbol of peace, and she chose to show it to school children and tell about what it was like.
Sweet, simple picture book. The stories are stark, but then so was life after the bombing.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The most moving ones are the ones written by people who were actually there.
Many of the people who were there, have since died off, so I was surprised to find a new book about a new experience of the bombing.
This is a very moving, straight forward telling of what happened when the bomb dropped and slowly, one by one, took everyone in a little girls family, until she was the only one that remained. Her, and her grandmother's bowl, which had somehow survived the bombing, without being damaged.
To her, it was a symbol of peace, and she chose to show it to school children and tell about what it was like.
Sweet, simple picture book. The stories are stark, but then so was life after the bombing.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
bookly_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure whether this story would resonate with children in the right ways (it contains death, grief, and suffering, but will they understand why?). I also don't think they would understand why the victims of atomic bombings become ill and die years after the attack (it's not explained). May be better with a teacher or parent's guidance, but overall I'm not confident this story is appropriately told.
abigailbat's review against another edition
This moving picture book chronicles the bombing of Nagasaki through the eyes of a child survivor. From the author of Sachiko, a teen biography of Sachiko Yasui, this picture book adapts her story for a younger audience, focusing on a beautiful bowl passed down in Sachiko's family that miraculously survived the bombing, as well. Even as Sachiko's brothers died from the blast and members of her family later became ill and died, Sachiko held on to this bowl. This is an important story beautifully told. Pair it with Sadako by Eleanor Coerr, illustrated by Ed Young, when discussing the Japan bombings and the need for peace.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
3.0
This book addresses the tragic experiences of Sachiko Yasui, a Nagasaki survivor who lost most of her family to the atomic blast and following radiation complications. Although the story is presented in a sensitive way, it may be too horrifying for some of the young readers in its target audience to handle, and even though I appreciate the book's messages about seeking peace and trying to move on with life while still honoring those we have lost, I do not think that this book is effective for a picture book audience.
The historical note in the back provides WWII context for the event, but the story itself is vague at times, and the second half of the book turns into a catalog of how and when her family members died. Even though I value this true story and highly recommend the older-audience biography of Sachiko by the same author, this book's deeply disturbing subject matter, minimal context and explanation for events, and pacing problems in the latter half make it a better choice for middle grade and adult readers, not young children.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The historical note in the back provides WWII context for the event, but the story itself is vague at times, and the second half of the book turns into a catalog of how and when her family members died. Even though I value this true story and highly recommend the older-audience biography of Sachiko by the same author, this book's deeply disturbing subject matter, minimal context and explanation for events, and pacing problems in the latter half make it a better choice for middle grade and adult readers, not young children.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lucypham's review against another edition
5.0
I initially started this so I could add a book to my Goodreads lol (is it cheating to read children’s books?) but on a serious note, this is a good resource for educators to teach children about the reality of war and U.S. involvement/history.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A beautifully illustrated and emotionally told picture book sharing the true story of a family's fight to survive after the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Did I cry reading this children's book? Yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Chronic illness, and Child death
Death of siblingantlersantlers's review against another edition
4.0
A picture book companion to one of my favorite children's non-fiction books, [b:Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story|29056319|Sachiko A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story|Caren Stelson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477663854l/29056319._SX50_.jpg|43071748]. Stelson again tells Sachiko's story, this time assisted by Japanese illustrator Akira Kusaka, in a straightforward way that puts a human face to one of the greatest historical horrors: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I like that Stelson used the family's dining routine throughout the book, including the presence of grandmother's bowl, creating a rhythm in both the narrative of the book and in Sachiko's life.
This is definitely not an easy picture book, but it would absolutely be an appropriate lap read or a read-aloud for an elementary class. The back matter is also particularly nice, and it includes a photo of the real bowl. The illustrator's note is also excellent, and he touches on how his generation of Japanese people are so removed from the events of the second world war. The opportunity to talk to the people that lived the events is quickly disappearing as that generation dies. This is such a human story that can help children empathize with something so distant and historically removed.
This is definitely not an easy picture book, but it would absolutely be an appropriate lap read or a read-aloud for an elementary class. The back matter is also particularly nice, and it includes a photo of the real bowl. The illustrator's note is also excellent, and he touches on how his generation of Japanese people are so removed from the events of the second world war. The opportunity to talk to the people that lived the events is quickly disappearing as that generation dies. This is such a human story that can help children empathize with something so distant and historically removed.