Thank You, Miyuki

Starred review from July 1, 2020
Joy emerges in the discovery of small things in the world. In this third story about effervescent Miyuki and her calm, kind grandfather, Miyuki wants to understand what Grandpa is doing as he dances through tai chi positions and then sits still and quiet. Grandpa guides bouncy Miyuki through the steps of meditation as they walk through the gardens, inviting her to look deeply at the light on the river, the fluffy clouds in the sky, the raindrops, and more. Miyuki, her mind wandering and so unaware of what's been happening, asks persistently, "when will we meditate?" A compelling double-page spread places a small Miyuki and Grandpa up and off to the side as he reminds her of all that they have contemplated, communicating to young readers that we are but a part of our world--not the whole of it. Soon Miyuki understands and says, "Grandpa, doesn't it feel good to be here right now?" The stylized nature of these highly patterned, textured illustrations plays with size and scale, light and color, to immerse readers in the delight and peace inherent in meditation, contemplation, and reflection. Galliez and Ratanavanh once again capture the simplicity of Miyuki's inner journey, and in so doing they invite young readers, especially those as vivacious and colorful as young Miyuki, to take part in meditation. A tale that blooms in its realism and message of kindness and love. (Picture book. 4-6)

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August 1, 2020
Grades K-3 When Miyuki finds her grandfather meditating, she'd like to try it, but she isn't sure what it is? Is it a game? Teach me! Grandpa shows her to the garden, where they notice bees hovering . . . stones standing still . . . grass slowly growing. Then they visit the riverbank and later watch clouds together. But throughout, Miyuki wonders and asks when meditating actually begins. Finally, once they're back home, after Grandpa recounts the experiences they've shared, Miyuki realizes they've practiced it all along. The lively, lyrical prose is an ideal complement to the gorgeous watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, which incorporate traditional Japanese imagery and yuzen patterns into fanciful, imaginative scenes, like the pair dwarfed by lotus bloom and inside a teacup. While the visuals don't always reflect the text, they beautifully evoke the contemplative nature of meditation and emphasize the objects Miyuki and her grandfather focus on. Though some concepts might need explaining (such as Tai Chi), this overall gives a sense of what meditation can be and highlights appreciating nature's beauty with someone special.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)