Natsumi!

Natsumi lives in Japan, and she tends to get carried away. In preparation for a village festival, she shakes flowers so vigorously that she makes “a cloud of pollen, leaves, and ants.” She whips tea ceremony tea so hard that it spatters her father’s eyeglasses. Natsumi’s patient grandfather tells her to “keep looking... and listening.” The two disappear together after school for weeks, and at the festival, the family is delighted to see Natsumi among the taiko drummers, where her enthusiasm is welcomed. Lendroth (Old Manhattan Has Some Farms) weaves cultural notes through her story, paying attention to traditional arts and the family’s connections to the village. Sound words amp up the readaloud energy, such as the soundtrack for a Japanese fan: “Open. Whisht. Shut. Click.” Burris (Grandma’s Tiny House) renders Natsumi and her family in loose lines and a palette that’s neither too loud nor too muted. Those interested in Japan will be drawn to this, as will those who know someone who’s a little over the top. Ages 4–8. [em]Author’s agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Christina A. Tugeau Artist Agency. (Mar.) [/em]