An honest and touching story of grief and recovery: a book summary
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden
By Heather Smith and Rachel Wada
Theme: Loss and Grieving
Ages 6-8 years
Excerpt from book: Everyone lost someone the day the big wave came. Makio lost his father. Sadly, he was not alone. Everyone lost someone the day the big wave came. With the villagers silenced by grief, Makio’s anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, starts a mysterious project that helps the villagers heal. How? Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth on a hill, giving Makio and the villagers a chance to feel close to their loved ones again. Although the phone is not connected, words are carried on the wind. Inspired by a true story, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden is an honest and touching story of grief and recovery.
Art: The large-scale woodblock style illustrations perfectly complement the story’s text.
