In 2011 a community called IWATE experience the tsunami. It that event that prompted this book. In this book in there is an earthquake that brings forth a tsunami that destroys the town. The main character’s mother is swept away, never to be seen again. The community plans to rebuild while our main character finds ways to cope with their grief, and hope for the future. This book is lovely. The illustrations are done with paper piece collage. They are amazing. This book in total is amazing. It’s about a natural disaster and isn’t all about I will survive and be better.

I adore Miki Sato's paper illustrations, which is why I read this book. It was gorgeous to look at. The story itself was fine, if a little simple.

This is a really sad but beautiful storybook. The art took my breathe away in a strong way I can’t describe. Hana painting the birds for her mother was bittersweet, I was glad she still had her grandma and father around. I think this is a sweet simple book that would be great for children to read with a parent.

Hana was at school when the earthquake came and everyone evacuated. But then the great wall of water came and took trees, houses, boats, and people away forever. Including Hana's mother. Before all this, her mother was teaching Hana to paint in the traditional way, and the meaning of this helped her and others as Hana painted a plover on simply everything she came across. This had great meaning.
In reality there was the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Iwate prefecture Japan.
The illustrations by Miki Sato are simple and styled in the Japanese manner but with collage artwork.
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley on Adobe Digital Editions from Publisher Spotlight | Pajama Press via NetGalley. Avail Apr 22, 2025
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Story of a girl who lived through the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

Why I started this book: Requested from Netgalley because I'm interested in picture books about Japan.

Why I finished it: Beautiful illustrations and solid story telling at a child's level of a difficult subject. After finishing, I immediately preordered for my library's collection.

The beautiful collage style art work told a sad, but hopeful story of the devastation of a tsunami and those left behind. The story was sweet and told how art and nature can be healing.

Chidori is a beautiful, gentle book about the 2011 tsunami in Japan and a girl coping with grief in its aftermath. Miki Sato's collage artwork is wonderful, and especially well-suited to depicting the tsunami and the wreckage it leaves behind. I have a few small quibbles with the text, which prevents me from giving it 5 stars, but I still recommend it as a powerful and thoughtful book. With careful guidance by an adult, it could elicit many discussions and art projects.

I received an ARC of this children's book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful story about loss and remembrance.

I received an electronic ARC from Publisher Spotlight through NetGalley.
A tender story of the tsunami that devastated Iwate in 2011. The book is told through the eyes of a young girl who shared about her home life and is in school up on the hill above the village. When the wave hits, they feel a rumble and evacuate the building. They can see what happens below them but can't understand the seriousness. The grief and resilience intertwine as the book concludes. I love the artwork. It captures both the devastation and the commitment to growth.

Your heart, too, will be swept up in this courageous tale.

A young girl perseveres in the devastating aftermath of the Iwate tsunami through the love of her grandmother and the gift of sumi-e (ink-brush painting). Having lived in Japan, Hana's choice to paint the chidori-one thousand birds, or a single plover-resonated deeply. Chidori is a profound symbol of hope recognized by all the people of Japan. Hana shares her brave message to help those around her face such hardship with courage.

You can really tell how much love and care went into creating this story. I love the textures on each of the pages!

Chidori is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of a young girl named Hana who lives through a tsunami in her small town. Her mother, who often painted birds in the Sumi-e tradition of ink painting, is killed during the tsunami. Although both her father and grandmother survive, Hana's grief is overwhelming. As a way to channel her pain and connect with her mother, Hana's grandmother teaches her Sumi-e, and she finds a way to look forward by drawing the beautiful birds herself.

While based in true tragedy, this story is ultimately a hopeful one, and the art style is especially engaging and memorable, giving real depth to a story that deserves it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderfully touching picture book with some of the gentlest collage art ever. The story itself was very engaging and was a great portrayal of individual (and community) grief and resilience. The subject matter does deal with natural disasters and the loss of a parent so make sure that your child can handle that. But for children who may need this sort of comfort, this book is perfect.

This was such a sad but resilient story for how short this book is! I’d say this would be best for children ages 4-6, the material would be about mature for 3 and under since it deals heavily with natural disasters and the loss of a parent. The illustrations in this were so unique though I loved it!

Jennifer Maruno and Miki Sato worked together to create a masterpiece. This is the story of Hana and her family. This is a heartbreaking story of an earthquake and tsunami that hits the village in which they live. I would read this over and over.

The artwork in “Chidori” is darling and captivating. It portrays a sense of innocence in contrast to the more mature tale.

I think there is a place I children’s literature for stories such as these. Many children are faced with grief and the loss of a parent far too young in life. I do think that older children or those who have experienced the loss of a mother can certainly use the tools in this book to cope. I would fear that children who have not lost a parent could become worried that when they go to school that their parent will not return, I would be cautious with the primary audience for this book.

As an adult, it is beautiful! The juxtaposition of the soft artwork and the sad story of beautiful!

This is a very gentle picture book, about a horrible time, when the tsunami that came after an earthquake in Iwate prefecture Japan, washed away the village. In this case, the village where Hana lives, and goes to school, where her mother works at the fish market, and whose father fishes out at sea.
Her mother loses her life, and the Hana has to go on without her, though she still has her father and her grandmother, who teaches her how to draw plovers, a symbol of hope.


Hana draws a thousand plovers, which is where the name of the book comes from. Chidori means a thousand birds or a thousand plovers.


Hana mourns her mother, and others who have died, but finds solstice in paining the plovers.


It is a story of loss, but also hope. Children’s books are often about loss, because it is a hard concept to explain, and yet children have loss in their lives, just the way that everyone loses someone as we age.


A natural disaster is a hard way to lose anyone, to be sure. But this is a sweet story of surviving afterwards, and moving on. The pictures a lovely too, created with paper collage, textiles and watercolor.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 22nd of April 2025

Chiodri, written by Jennifer Maruno and illustrated by Miki Sato, is the story of a little girl named Hana, who uses art to help herself heal during a troubling time. Hana is at school one day when there is an earthquake and tsunami. And although Hana has to deal with loss, she has her father and grandmother to help her heal, learn, and grow.
I really appreciated this book, and how it handled grief. I can see this book being very helpful for children in similar situations, children who are going through loss or trauma and want to accomplish something positive. I recommend this book to children who might need it, to read with a trusted adult or caregiver.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and illustrator of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This exquisite picture book delves into the most emotional subject matter: the death of a parent, a real life disaster, trying to put a life back together when you're just a kid. The story itself is spare and the illustrations are stunning. Some young readers experiencing grief will find comfort in this book but others could be triggered. Magnificent and brave, but caregivers should pre-read and decide first whether it will be appreciated by their child.
#JenniferMaruno #PajamaPress #Netgalley

Chidori is a children’s story about the real life event of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Iwate prefecture Japan.

It covers the loss and grief of the event and brought me to tears, the story is beautifully written and the art on the pages are absolutely gorgeous.

I love this book but also would suggest parents read it first and see if it’s something your child will be able to handle because although it is beautifully written it also is very sad.