Every Peach Is a Story: A Picture Book

K-Gr 4–A young girl named Midori asks her grandfather, or Jichan, if a peach is ripe, and what unfolds an extended metaphor about family, history, and agriculture. Midori learns not only patience, but also where she belongs in her community. When Jichan dies, she applies the lessons he taught her and grasps that her own life, too, is part of a larger story. Strong themes of family and reverence for the earth are prevalent throughout. The tale touches briefly upon the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. It emphasizes the importance of being patient, yet also persistent and focused. The artwork blends focal points with backgrounds, memories, and emotions, resulting in an exciting interplay throughout the text. The sometimes transparent characters are colored and enlivened by the objects and settings that shine through them. The peaches and peach trees are gorgeous. An author’s note covers the experience of Japanese Americans in more detail, tracing the origins and effects of anti-Asian racism in the U.S. Again, the emphasis is on the power of family, patience, and agriculture to overcome and survive hardship.