Natsumi's Song of Summer

by Robert Paul Weston, Misa Saburi (Illustrations)

This sweet and gentle picture book celebrates summer in Japan, as one little girl shares her love for bugs with her cousin who is visiting from America.

Two young cousins who are separated by language, continent and culture meet for the first time when Jill's family travels from America to Japan to stay with Natsumi's family during the summer holidays. Natsumi's nervousness about meeting her cousin from across the sea quickly disappears when she discovers that her cousin is a lot like her: they both love summertime's hot sandy beaches, cool refreshing watermelon, festivals and fireworks. Then Jill asks Natsumi about the strange buzzing sound that comes from the nearby trees, and Natsumi is nervous once again. What if Jill is frightened of Natsumi's cherished cicadas, the insects that sing the music of summertime?

This is a tender, evocative story that celebrates the special pleasures of summertime and of reunions with faraway family and friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Poetry, Summer, Japan, Childrens, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2020

About the author

Ahoy. You've run aground on my small, oblong island in the GoodReads archipelago. You're welcome to surf, swim in the lagoon or stroll along the pier, where they sell prawns, whelks and words by the cupful. If you'd like to keep things topical—as well as tropical—sling yourself in a beach hammock and crack open a good book. One of these perhaps...

My first novel, ZORGAMAZOO, won the 2011 California Young Reader Medal, the 2010 Silver Birch Award, and the 2009 Children’s Choice Award. If you've had too much sun and crave something darker, try my hardboiled fairy tale, DUST CITY. It was shortlisted for the 2011 Edgar Alan Poe Award and the 2011 Sunburst Award. Then there's my second novel-in-verse, PRINCE PUGGLY OF SPUD AND THE KINGDOM OF SPIFF and THE CREATURE DEPARTMENT, a collaboration with the British special effects firm, Framestore.

My latest is SAKURA'S CHERRY BLOSSOMS, my first picture book, illustrated by the Japanese-American artist, Misa Saburi, and perfect for springtime.

I live in England (also on an island), where I'm a full-time lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Lincoln.

~

You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natsumi's Song of Summer is a lovely, little book about friendships and family.

Natsumi and Jill are cousins, but they are wildly different. When Jill comes to visit, Natsumi shows her everything about her life. The festivals, their ancestors, the beach, and watermelon! The cousins are very different, but embrace each other fondly. They are curious, friendly and loving.

The unique part about this book (that I didn't notice until the ending comments in the book pointed it out) was that this book was written in tanka poems. Those are a type of Japanese poem! That's super unique! I can totally appreciate that aspect of this book and it only makes me wonder how we could use this book for education purposes!

Stories like these are a great way to introduce kids to each other's differences. We can love each other and embrace the strangeness of each other without being cruel. I think a book like this is a great addition to children's bookshelves everywhere!

I also enjoyed the simple, cartoon-y illustrations of this book. They were very cute!

Four out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra and Penguin Random House for giving me an opportunity to pick this book up!

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of an interesting picture book. I noticed as I was reading it that the lines were arranged in specific groupings. I figured it was some sort of poetry, and it is. A note at the back explains that the whole book is written in a series of tanka poems, which are similar to haiku but have two more lines of seven syllables each. This doesn't really affect the story one way or the other; it's just kind of a neat way of doing things.

The story is about a little girl named Natsumi who loves insects, especially the cicadas that sing in the summer. One year, her cousin Jill comes to visit from across the sea. Natsumi is worried that Jill won't like the cicadas, or that she might fear them. But Jill surprises her by embracing the insects and even offering to teach Natsumi about an insect from her own home country.

The illustrations are cute, but they're a little simple for my taste. There's a sort of flatness about them that doesn't seem to capture the magical way that Natsumi sees the insect kingdom. The pictures aren't terrible by any means, but they didn't really make me feel anything one way or the other.

Overall, this is kind of a cute book about family, passions, and insects. The unique poetic format and the supplemental information about cicadas at the back add a little more interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely picture book on the theme of friendship, insects, nature and tanka (it it told in tanka -- 3 lines like a haiku and then 2 additional lines). A Japanese child loves all the insects around her and is looking forward to meeting her cousin from far away for the first time but worries she'll dislike insects or be scared of them. The girls do all sorts of wonderful things in Japan and the cousin asks what that hum is. Natsumi explains what the hum of cicadas is and shows them to her cousin, who is similarly appreciative of them and promises to show her a type of insect common where she lives when Natsumi visits her someday. The art is lovely and it's nice to see characters who love insects and nature, plus kids will learn a bit about tanka and more from the end notes. This would make a great book for a nature study library or to learn about poetic forms, Japan, cicadas, insects, etc.

I read a digital temporary ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in grandma reads session. . .

Natsumi and her cousin Jill get together for the first time in Natsumi's Japanese home. Natsumi enjoys (and worries over) introducing Jill to the aspects of her home and life that she loves - natural features such as flowers and insects, beaches and urban settings, and cultural events. Readers / Listeners go along for the ride. The music of summer that Natsumi loves best is that of the cicadas, which gives rise to the title of the book.

The author also treats readers / listeners to the poetry form of "tanka" as that is the form used to write the book. This form uses a haiku form (5-7-5) which is followed by two additional lines, each with 7 syllables.

All in all a nice book to introduce all of us to a child's POV of life in Japan.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story written in the the form of tanka a traditional Japanese poem. Natsumi is named after the sea of the summer. She loves learning about bugs and summer is her favorite time of year. She meets her cousin Jill for the very first time. What is Jill like and will they have anything in common? These are the questions Natsumi is asking. When they finally meet, Jill like Natsumi likes to learn about new things together and they both learn from each other.

A sweet story filled with tradition and curiosity.

A Special Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Wendi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet picture book! Natsumi loves all things about summer in Japan, especially the cicadas. When her cousin, Jill, comes to visit, Natsumi wants to share her love of cicadas, but she's worried about Jill's reaction. Will she be scared? It was a cute story, and perfect for my preschooler as she overcomes her own fears of insects.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming tale features two cousins. Natsumi lives in Japan and Jill resides in America. It is summertime and soon Jill and her family will travel from the USA to Japan. They will to stay for the summer holidays. It is an extra special visit because Jill's family will be arriving in time for Natsumi's birthday.

Although they are related the two girls have never met. Natsumi is excited, nervous and concerned. She wonders what Jill will be like. She worries that they may not have much in common, that their language may be a barrier and if they will become friends. She has no way of knowing until she can finally meet Jill and spend some time with her.

When they meet at the airport Jill's first words are:

"Show me everything!" "Everything there is!"
"Everything!" asks Natsumi. Where would she even begin.

Natsumi assumes the role of travel guide and takes her cousin to the beach, to the obon festival, and to the fireworks display by the river just to name a few.

Jill becomes curious about the buzzing sounds that are emitted from the nearby trees and asks Natsumi what is causing the loud sounds? Once again Natsumi finds that she is anxious to respond to Jill's question. She fears if she tells Jill that thousands of cicadas are singing their music of the summertime, Jill may become frightened. She introduces her cousin to the the cicadas and to her delight Jill is just as much enamoured and she is.

This gentle, tender story celebrates the coming together of a family and the joy they share when they spend time together and get to know each other well. It celebrates family, a new found friend, and the mystery and love of nature. The book is written in series of tanka poems. This is a form of traditional, Japanese poetry that has five lines with thirty-one syllables. The first three lines look like a haiku (5-7-5), but it has two additional lines, each with seven syllables. The book gives instructions on how to write your own tanka poem. The author further provides information about the importance of the cicadas in Japanese culture at the end of the book. The illustrations are extremely well done and expressive. I highly recommend this book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books for the review copy.

Natsumi loves the summer. It’s when she was born, after all. She especially loves the song of the cicadas. This year is very special, because her cousin from far away is coming to visit. Natsumi has never met her cousin, and she’s anxious about how they’ll get along. When Jill arrives, however, the two become instant friends. Natsumi shows her all the wonders of summer, but she’s a little worried that Jill may be afraid of her insect friends, but Jill loves them as much as Natsumi. In the end, Natsumi makes a wonderful new friend and shares the best parts of summer with her.

The end of the story provides some fascinating context for this adorable little book. The book is written in Tanks, a form of traditional, Japanese poetry that has five lines with thirty-one syllables. The first three lines look like a haiku (5-7-5), but it has two additional lines, each with seven syllables. The book gives instruction about how to write your own, which would be a super fun activity for kids after reading the book.

I loved the art in the story, and there’s a cute little cat I want to keep for myself. Representation matters, and both girls are not white. Yes. More of this, please. More stories about all little girls doing whatever it is that little girls do. It comes out on May 12, perfect timing to share this story of summer with your little ones, and teach them a little about poetry, too.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't believe it when I saw this book. A little Japanese girl is about to meet her American cousin (who is Black) for the first time when the cousin comes to Japan to visit her. My brother is married to a Japanese woman so their girls are part Japanese and one of my daughters is Black and they are the same age! And my brother is living is currently living in Japan so my daughter DEVOURED this book and now talks non-stop about when she gets to go visit her cousin and see all the wonderful things they see in the book. This was an unbelievable treat for us!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natsumi's cousin comes to visit her in Japan, and Natsumi gets the chance to share all the things she loves---insects, the beach, the obon festival, fireworks---with her cousin.

This lovely book is written completely in tanka, a traditional Japanese poetic form.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute story about family, friendship, and culture. The art style was also very wholesome!

[Abby Johnson]

Composed in Japanese tanka poems, this is a super cute story that's just perfect for summer sharing. When Natsumi's American cousin comes to visit, she really wants to show her her favorite summer insects: the cicada which sings a distinct song all summer long. But what if Jill thinks bugs are gross? For any child who's listened to the summer song of the cicadas, this book will hit just the right note.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do I love this book so much? The drawings are so sweet, the poetic format for the story, the different songs of cicadas, the concept of being separated from someone for so long, the celebration of Asian culture during a time of increased racism. It just felt like a lovely summer book that I look forward to sharing!

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, there is a peaceful beauty to it but unfortunately this isn't enough to make a good book. The story is too slow, too peaceful, and we soon drift away, loosing attention to it, and that's isn't a good thing. A better pacing, a bit more «action» and it would have been a great book!

[Storytime With Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natsumi’s Song of Summer Is a delightful new picture book that will pull you into a reverie of summer. When we all could use some words to make us feel the summer warmth, Robert Paul Weston is a master at creating stories that draw you right in.

Written in Japanese Tanka poem style, Natsumi’s Song of Summer is music to your ears: lyrical and captivating. Along with the beautiful words, you get equally gorgeous illustrations by the talented Mika Sato to draw you in and keep you in Japan for the entire summer.

When summer arrives, Natsumi is expecting a visitor, her cousin Jill. They have never met but become fast friends enjoying all of the special summer events that Natsumi always enjoys. Natsumi is eagerly awaiting the hum of the cicadas. Her mother say’s that summer doesn’t begin until you can hear the song of the cicada. Natsumi is excited to share her favourite insect with Jill. Together they enjoy catching them and drawing them, daydreaming about the next time they will see each other.

Natsumi’s Song of Summer will inspire you to try and create your own tanka poems and thankfully Robert Paul Weston gives you a handy lesson in writing them at the end of the story.

[Kat Caric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful story of summertime and the explosion of insects, and girls learning about them, told in a traditional Japanese style called tanka (a style that starts like Haiku, and adds two more lines). It is hidden art (wonderful!) in the guise of a sweet summertime story of adventures with lovely illustration,

The story is for children perhaps age 5-7. It can be read to younger children, but the more lyrical prose will sink deeper with another year or few of age.

A verse where one child is considering summer adventures shared (to share, a thought of future memory) with the other:
"Or at the obon
festival, where together
they danced, hands waving

giving thanks to the spirits
of their countless ancestors."

Because of the complexity and tense shifting, referring to the future with a past tense thought, I do recommend for age 5 and up (perhaps this would have worked better even at age 5 without the tense shifts), but the illustration is diverse and colorful and bold, and the artwork can work for the youngest child. I do love the diverse cast and the cultural references, wonderful.

Beautiful work, a sweet gem.
4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Tundra Books for an advanced digital copy for review.

[Donald Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet, charming picture book set in Japan follows a little girl named Natsumi - born in summer and with a love or the season beyond all the others - who is nervous about the arrival of her visiting cousin from America, a girl her own age, who may or may not share Natsumi's love for summer and the various beautiful and multi-colored insects that brighten and enliven the season. Thankfully, when Jill arrives Natsumi learns the two little girls have a lot in common - a love for the warm summer weather, the beach, fireworks - and Natsumi is even delighted to introduce her cousin to the music of the cicadas, which Jill has never known before but to Natsumi symbolizes the entire season. The gentleness of the story - told in a series of traditional Japanese tanka poems (similar to haiku) - is married beautifully to the watercolor-toned artwork that reflects the book's Japanese themes and location, and is as warm and inviting to experience as summer itself. (Available May 12) 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, lovely story of a young girl named Natsumi, who lives in Japan and loves everything about summer, especially the song of the cicadas. For her birthday, Natsumi gets a special treat- her cousin Jill from America has come to visit! They become fast friends, enjoying many of the same things- going to the beach, eating watermelon, watching fireworks. But when Jill asks what the buzzing noise is she keeps hearing, Natsumi becomes nervous- some people don't like insects, will Jill be freaked out by the cicadas? The story plays out very sweetly, and the illustrations capture the season and its joys very well. To top it all off, the entire story is told in tanka, a Japanese form of short poetry, that consists of five units of syllables following a pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. I remember be fascinated by haiku as a child, and would've loved learning about this form as well. This form of poetry is discussed at the back of the book, along with the significance of the cicada in Japanese culture. Recommended for the "making new friends" aspect, and the "learning about another culture" aspect.

#NatsumisSongofSummer #NetGalley

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Natsumi's Song of Summer' by Robert Paul Weston with illustrations by Misa Saburi is a story about a little girl who likes bug and the concern for a visitor who might not.

Natsumi, whose name means 'the sea in summer' was born in summer. She loves everything outdoors, including the cicadas. When her friend Jill comes to visit, Natsumi wants to make sure Jill has a nice time. She realizes that Jill may not like the things she likes, especially the bugs.

I really liked this gentle story of summer and kindness. I loved that the whole book was written in a series of tanka poems. Tanka are like haiku with 2 extra 7-syllable lines. The illustrations are really colorful and cute. I think this would be a fun book for little ones to read.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natsumi loves summer. She loves the insects that come out and the festivals that happen and her birthday. And this year her cousin Jill is coming to visit for the very first time. Will they get along or will the visit be awful?

There's a lot to love about this little picture book. I like the way it introduces readers to some common Japanese summer activities and sights. I like the interactions of the cousins and how they bond over insects. And I was amazed to learn at the end of the book that the entire thing is written in a series of tanka poems. There's also information on cicadas and the way Japanese poets have celebrated them in the back. The illustrations are also adorable, and it is a sweet story of two girls from different cultures finding friendship. Highly recommended.

[Jennie Seaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable little picture book! I had so much fun reading about Natsumi and her love of cicadas. I loved how passionate she was about them and how much she was reminded of summer because of them. I also enjoyed her sharing her love of cicadas with her cousin from across the ocean. She wanted to be aware of her cousin’s feelings. I loved that they have a common interest in insects even though they live so far away.

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natsumi shares her love of summer and insects with her visiting cousin who she has never met before.

This book has beautiful surprising layers. Set in Japan, the story recognizes culture in the words and the pictures. Gorgeous for the art and the sweet appreciation of friendship. Focusing on a season and an interest in bugs. And finally, the entire story is written in Tanka, which is a Japanese style poem.

[Tonisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful illustrations made me long for the days of summer, romping and playing in the sun 🌞 And I love that it was written entirely in verse.

The information about cicadas and tanka poetry make this book a great selection for teachers and homeschoolers.

Overall, this is a really sweet story about family and the fun innocence of summer vacation.

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natsumi's Song of Summer was a lovely picture book about family, discovery, sharing heritage and overcoming fear. There were undertones of Japanese history and culture as well information about insects and poetry. So many pieces were so masterfully wound together to create this story of family and connection. I am looking forward to sharing it with my students during our poetry study.

[Vikki VanSickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this sweet friendship story, two cousins who are meeting for the first time bond over a love of bugs in Japan. The text is written in a series of tanka poems, which is a Japanese poetry style similar to haiku. A lovely story about making friends, Japanese culture, poetry, nature, and of course, bugs!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Natsumi smiled. She and Jill were truly two of a kind." A sweet story about cousins who live in different countries (and are different races), but who join together in their love and admiration for the natural world - specifically cicadas.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enchanting story of family, friendship, and summertime in Japan.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the artwork of this book. A charming and sweet story, as well. Too cute.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I didn't love it, nothing grabbed me about it, but it was a pleasant read. Natsumi loves summer, especially the summer insects. She is excited for her cousin to visit from far away, although we aren't told where from, and to show her all her favorite things. Natsumi lives cicadas but is afraid to share that with her cousins since some people are afraid of insects. It's a cute, gentle story about sharing time and interests with family. The illustrations are fine but since the story is about nature, I think I would have enjoyed less computerized-looking illustrations. The text is written entirely in tanka poetry, which is similar to haiku. It helps with the flow of the story, this could be used in April for National Poetry Month and in the summer. #Netgalley