Dear Ichiro

Rating:
Summary: A heartwarming and enthusiastically recommended picture book
Review: Dear Ichiro is a gentle and enjoyable picture book illustrated by Doug Keith and written by Jean Davies Okimoto that celebrates baseball as a sport cherished in both America and Japan. A young boy gets into an angry fight with his best friend, and vows to hate his former friend forever... but when he sees his grandfather, a World War II veteran, cheering for Japanese baseball players then the boy learns that it's possible for enemies to become friends again. A welcome addition for school and community library collections, Dear Ichiro is a heartwarming and enthusiastically recommended picture book story.

Rating:
Summary: A Modern Tale of Reconciliation
Review: This is a great children's book with a terrific message for both children and adults. Henry and his friend Oliver have a terrible quarrel, and then Grandpa Charlie comes to take Henry to a Seattle Mariners game. Henry tells Grandpa Charlie that Oliver is now his enemy. Grandpa Charlie and Henry both very much admire Ichiro Suzuki, and Grandpa Charlie tells Henry that at one time he thought of Japanese people as the enemy. Henry asks questions and Grandpa Charlie explains about World War II and says that people want to put the past behind them and live in peace. In the end Henry and Oliver resolve their differences. Because children already feel an affinity for Ichiro this story will be of high interest. The lovely writing and beautiful illustrations make this a very high quality picture book. I've read Dear Ichiro to both second and fourth graders, and they all loved it.