About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a bittersweet transition, such as the end of a special trip or saying goodbye to a long-distance relative. It is a gentle, comforting tool for navigating the 'happy-sad' feelings that come when we have to leave people we love. Through the relatable eyes of eight-year-old Jasmine, children learn how to process the anxiety of departure and the importance of staying present in the moment. Set in the beautiful city of Kyoto, the story follows Jasmine as she navigates the final days of her Japanese vacation. While she is sad to leave her grandmother, Obaachan, she uses her creativity to bridge the distance, planning a garden that will keep them connected across the ocean. This final installment in the series is perfect for readers aged 6 to 9, offering a healthy model for managing big emotions, celebrating cultural heritage, and maintaining family bonds through simple, tangible actions.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
An elementary student who struggles with transitions or feels 'homesick' for people who live far away. It is also excellent for children who enjoy stories about gardening or family traditions.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. It is helpful to have a map of Japan or look up photos of Kyoto to enhance the reading experience. A child expressing deep sadness about the end of a fun event or crying because they miss a grandparent.
Age Experience
Younger readers (6-7) will focus on Jasmine's fun adventures and the excitement of exploring Kyoto's landmarks. Older readers (8-9) will more deeply resonate with the emotional nuance of wanting to stop time and the maturity required to say a healthy goodbye.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books about travel which focus only on the sights, this book focuses on the internal emotional work of being a traveler and the creative ways families maintain long-distance connections.
Read plot summary
Jasmine Toguchi is enjoying the final leg of her family trip in Kyoto, Japan. While she loves exploring with her sister and grandmother, a cloud of sadness looms: she has to go home to the U.S. soon. Her Obaachan teaches her about being present, but Jasmine also needs a way to cope with the upcoming separation. She decides to become a 'Great Gardener,' planning to plant Japanese vegetables back home so she and her grandmother can grow the same things at the same time, maintaining a living connection despite the distance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Jasmine's Obaachan tells her to 'live in the moment.' What do you think that means, and how did Jasmine try to do it in Kyoto?
2
Jasmine uses vegetable seeds to feel connected to her grandmother. If you had to pick one thing to grow or make to remember someone, what would it be?
3
How does Jasmine's relationship with her sister Sophie change when they are traveling compared to when they are at home?
4
Jasmine feels 'happy-sad' at the same time. Have you ever felt two different emotions at once? When did that happen?
