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

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

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.

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.

Chidori is a beautiful book that I think children and adults alike can see themselves in. It's a moving story about change and grief. The artwork is beautiful, and I was moved by the visual of Hana's wave of grief resembling the wave of the tsunami. For such a short picture book, I find there is a lot of room for discussion on the meanings behind Hana's actions, specifically when she starts painting plovers. Not only is she painting the birds she loves, but she is painting herself out of her wave of grief the way the plovers flew away from the wave of the tsunami. This wonderful little book holds so much emotion and meaning, and I hope to see it in bookstores, schools, and libraries everywhere.

Thank you to Pajama Press and Netgalley for the ARC.