"Tree of Cranes"

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say was an insightful book with beautiful watercolor pictures. This is a multicultural book that combines the Japanese and American culture. The little boy experiences his first Christmas in Japan, when his mother digs up a tree from the backyard. She places it in the house and decorates it with paper cranes and candles. She tells the her son about Christmas in America, where she grew up. His mother tells him that Christmas was a day of peace and love. That year their family celebrated their own peace and quiet Christmas in Japan. This is a great book to read to children because they can relate to the American culture and also learn about Japanese customs.