Mayumie and her grandmother take a trip into Tokyo to see a surprise even more fun than the zoo and more beautiful than the shrine: cherry blossoms flowering in the heart of the city.
Jennifer Reed lived in Japan for three years and was inspired to write, The Falling Flowers after her first spring there. She was in awe of the flowering cherry trees, and the strong bond so often found between Japanese grandmothers and their grandchildren. This relationship reminded her of her own bond with her grandmothers.
Today, Jennifer writes children’s books, edits and is a professor of children’s literature, teaching others how to take their inspiration and create lasting stories. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. Several cherry trees grow in her back yard.Dick Cole is an illustrator and watercolorist with over 30 years of experience. A graduate of UCLA and the Art Center College of Design, Dick has worked as graphic designer, art director, and illustrator in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He has garnered awards from the three cities’ Art Director’s Clubs as well as the San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York Societies of Illustrators.
A fourth generation Californian, Dick has traveled widely, has a passion for jazz and classical music, and enjoys fly fishing and writing poetry. He shares his Sonoma home and studio with his wife Diane and a small spoiled dog, Max.