Pistes d'exploration

Stop reading at the part where Hana envisions her grandfather in the audience. Predict what will happen, then read on. Are your predictions confirmed? 

Identify descriptive phrases used to convey Hana’s emotions. Have you ever felt like Hana? Share a story with the class about a time you overcame stage fright or needed to gather your courage. 

Has anyone ever given you the courage to believe in yourself? Write a thank you letter to that person explaining how they encouraged or supported you. 

What do you think is the meaning of the title? Revisit your ideas after reading. 

Discuss a talent that you use in an unusual or special way, like Hana imitating animals with her violin. 

Notice how the author makes images with words (e.g. her brothers laughing like monkeys in a tree; a shiver of happy sadness). Make illustrations of images that make you happy and add fitting expressions.

Suki's Kimono, Claire's Gift, Gifts

Mots-clés

Picture book , determination , intergenerational relationships , Japan , learning new skills , musical instruments , talent shows , violins

Commentaire descriptif

Hana’s brothers are incredulous when she enters the talent show with her violin: “‘You’re still a beginner.’ … ‘You’ll be a disaster!’”. Readers will learn that Hana’s inspiration is her violinist grandfather and an idyllic holiday spent in his home. The story expertly intertwines the sounds of violin music with a child’s joyful summer, while it conveys aspects of traditional Japanese living: “the clear, bright notes would drift upstairs, through the shoji screen doors.” Rich saturated colours make the illustrations glow. Detailed and delicate spot images show Hana practising: her brothers run away; the dog covers his ears. A double-page spread shows tiny Hana walking across the vast, empty stage of the talent show. In a fun twist, instead of producing a miserable song, Hana regales the audience with the different sounds her violin can make: a crow flaps off a branch, harassed by music notes (“squawky”), and oil-paper umbrellas seem to dance under the rain (the “soothing plomp-plomp-plomp” of plucked strings). Persisting with a dream and the accompanying anxieties are beautifully represented in both story and image. One day Hana hopes to be able to play like her grandfather does. Meanwhile, her brothers want to hear her sounds again.